[Virtual News Conference on Phase 4 of Proposition B ]
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I'M ISMI HASSAN WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, AND I AM GOING TO BE SERVING AS YOUR MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE FINAL PHASE OF PROPOSITION BEAKERS TODAY.
THAT IS THE INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE, JOSEPH TACONY, AND OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY.
I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL BE ALEX CAFFREY, YELLOW WAVE KX.
AND HE'S GOING TO BE ASKING ALL THE QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA, BUT FIRST WE WANT TO BEGIN WITH YOU CHIEF.
AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
JOSEPH CHUCK ON, ON THE INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE HERE IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT HOW, UH, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING, UH, PROP V AND TRANSITIONING HERE TO PHASE FOUR, WHICH IS THE FINAL STAGE OF OUR PHASED APPROACH TO THIS IMPLEMENTATION.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, UH, IN OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE MADE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, A SUCCESS TO THIS POINT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PLAN AS WE HAVE LAID OUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
SO JUST TAKING A MOMENT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE FIRST THREE PHASES, UH, WHICH BEGAN ON MAY 11TH, AND THESE NUMBERS WILL RUN ALL THE WAY THROUGH AUGUST THE SECOND.
SO NOT QUITE TO THE END OF PHASE THREE, BUT THESE ARE THE MOST UPDATED NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
UH, OUR TEAMS HAVE CONDUCTED 133 SITE VISITS AT 86 SEPARATE SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND HAVE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 1,290 TENTS OR ENCAMPMENTS.
DURING THOSE VISITS, WE HAVE A CONTACT AT 605 INDIVIDUALS THAT AGREED TO BE SURVEYED AS PART OF OUR OVERALL EFFORTS.
UH, ALTHOUGH MANY MORE THAN THAT WERE ACTUALLY CONTACTED.
THAT'S JUST THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT AGREE TO BE SURVEYED.
WE'VE OFFERED COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GET ON THE PATHWAY TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
ALONG THOSE LINES, 124 HAVE COMPLETED A HOUSING ASSESSMENT WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, 71 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
67 HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND 34 VETERANS HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE VA, UH, TO OBTAIN BENEFITS FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE HAD TO ISSUE 572 WARNINGS DURING THIS TIME.
AND WE HAVE ISSUED 24 CITATIONS TO, UH, THE, UH, THE EARLY AUGUST DATE.
WE HAVE NOT HAD TO MAKE ANY CUSTODY ARREST YET.
ALL OF THOSE CITATIONS ARE BEING HANDLED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COURT, AS WAS OUTLINED IN THE PHASED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
THIS PAST SUNDAY, WE ENTERED PHASE FOUR OF THE PLAN DURING ALL PHASES, INCLUDING IN PHASE FOUR, WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE FROM A HARM REDUCTION STANDPOINT, WITH THE OBJECTIVE TO GET INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON A PATH TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE CONTINUE CAMP CLEANUP EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR PARTNERS AT AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY AND AUSTIN PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE'RE MAKING IT OUT TO ABOUT 10 TO 20 INDIVIDUALS SITES PER WEEK.
OUR OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE HOMELESS OUTREACH STREET TEAM, ALSO KNOWN AS HOST, UH, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PRIORITIZATION OF PHASE FOUR OF OUR PLAN, UH, FOR PROP B IMPLEMENTATION, WE CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PERSONS ENCOUNTERED DURING THIS ENDEAVOR ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY COURT LEADERSHIP.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO THE COURT EITHER THROUGH CITATION OR IF NECESSARY A CUSTODY ARREST ARE CONNECTED WITH APPROPRIATE SOCIAL SERVICES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO, TO MAKE, UH, TO KEEP MAKING ARREST A LAST RESORT AND FINDING ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO ACCOMPLISH PROP B IMPLEMENTATION.
THOSE ARE KIND OF MY OPENING COMMENTS.
I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO OUR HOMELESS, UH, HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY, OFFICER DIANA GRAY.
THANK YOU, CHIEF STEFAN, DIANA GRAY HERE, HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTEXTUALIZE THIS CONVERSATION ALWAYS WITHIN THE, UM, UH, IN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR OVERARCHING EFFORTS TO END HOMELESSNESS IN
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OUR COMMUNITY.AND, UM, AND THAT ONGOING WORK SINCE, UH, THE BEGINNING OF JUNE, WE HAVE OPENED TWO ADDITIONAL CITY SHELTERS, UH, BOTH OF THOSE IN, UM, CONVERTED HOTELS, UH, AND MOVED OVER, UM, 110 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS THROUGH THE HEAL INITIATIVE.
IMPORTANTLY, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MOVED INTO BRIDGE SHELTER ARE OFFERED NOT ONLY SHELTER, BUT ARE IMMEDIATELY WORKING WITH CASE MANAGERS AND HAVE RESOURCES TO FIND, UM, THEIR PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT, UH, AND OPEN UP THOSE SHELTER BEDS FOR NEW INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN COME OFF THE STREETS AND INTO SHELTER.
JUST AUGUST 2ND, WE CLOSED ON THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER HOTEL.
UH, IT IS A 60 A UNIT OR 60 ROOM CURRENTLY HOTEL, UH, IN DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, NEAR MOPAC MOPAC AND, UH, SCHOFIELD FARMS LANG.
AND THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE, UH, LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR 60 OF THE MOST CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN JUST YESTERDAY, KARA TOSS OF AUSTIN AND THEIR PARTNER RACINO GROUP BROKE GROUND ON 171 UNIT PROJECT CALLED A SPARROW AUSTIN AT RUTLAND.
AND THAT TOO, UH, WILL PROVIDE LONG-TERM HOUSING, UH, FOR PEOPLE EFFECTIVELY ENDING THEIR HOMELESSNESS.
ALL OF THIS IS, UH, UH, SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE HISTORIC, UH, COMMITMENT THAT COUNCIL HAS MADE LAST MONTH, UM, REGARDING THE USE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS, UH, TOWARD ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO AS FOLKS, UH, LOOK FOR PLACES TO COME, UM, OUT OF ENCAMPMENTS, AS WE TARGET CERTAIN ENCAMPMENTS THROUGH THE HEAL INITIATIVE, AS INDIVIDUALS MAY EVEN COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY OR OUR, UM, ORIGINAL AND LASTING GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES TO MEET THEM THERE, UH, AND THAT WHEN THEY ARE THEN CONNECTED WITH THAT SOCIAL WORKER, WE CAN MOVE THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
THANK YOU, DIANA AND CHIEF TACOMA.
NOW I WANT TO BRING IN ALEX
WE HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS FROM SEVERAL LOCAL OUTLETS.
THE FIRST COMES FROM US AT KX A N WHILE THE CITY HAS MADE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO CLEAN UP AREAS DESIGNATED THROUGH THE HEAL INITIATIVE.
THERE ARE STILL HOMELESSNESS SEEN ACROSS THE CITY IN OTHER UNDERPASSES INTERSECTIONS AND MEDIANS IN PARTICULAR, I'M THINKING EAST OF I 35 ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE, WHERE THERE'S STILL A SIZABLE ENCAMPMENT THERE.
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR CONNECTING IN ADDRESSING THOSE PEOPLE? IF IT'S NOT ONE OF THE FOUR DESIGNATED HEAL INITIATIVE SITES? UH, SO I'LL SPEAK TO THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE HEAL INITIATIVE IS A NEW APPROACH TO TAKING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND PROVIDING THEM SHELTER AND EVENTUALLY HOUSING, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT OUR ONLY, UM, OUR ONLY AVENUE WE FUNCTION LARGELY THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT'S CALLED A CONTINUUM OF CARE, UM, AND ESSENTIALLY A COMMUNITY PRIORITY LIST OR WAITING LISTS FOR HOUSING AND, AND HAVE HISTORICALLY REHOUSED ABOUT 1800 PEOPLE OVER EACH YEAR THROUGH THAT SYSTEM, THAT SYSTEM AND THOSE RESOURCES REMAIN IN PLACE HEAL WAS IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, OF WHEN SOMEONE, WHEN ONE PERSON IS PLACED OUT OF AN ENCAMPMENT, UH, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THE VISUAL DIFFERENCE AND PEOPLE MAY NOT NOTICE, UM, SECONDARILY WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN, UM, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING FRAME DOES THE FIRST PHASE OF THE HEAL INITIATIVE.
SO THESE FIRST FOUR SITES, UH, FOR US TO, UH, ESTABLISH A PROCESS, UH, MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AS NECESSARY AND FIND OUT WHAT WORKS BEST.
WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THAT AND, AND COUNCIL, WELL, UH, NO FINAL BUDGETARY DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, WHO WAS THE SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION OF, UH, CREATING THE HEAL INITIATIVE ORIGINALLY HAS SIGNALED A STRONG INTEREST IN, UH, DIRECTING STAFF TO CONTINUE THE HEAL INITIATIVE AND PROVIDING FUNDING TO DO SO.
SO THAT WOULD OF COURSE, UH, ALLOW US TO TARGET ADDITIONAL SITES.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN WHEN WILL HEAL.
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LIKE THIS AS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO YOUR RESPONSE, WHEN WILL HEAL PHASE TWO BEGIN AND WHAT AREAS IN THE CITY WILL BE ADDRESSED.SO I, I NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE IS A PENDING BUDGET BUDGET AMENDMENT, BUT, AND SO NO, UM, NO COUNCIL DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THIS FRONT, BUT, UH, I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN AND SOME OF THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE, UH, PHASE TO BEGIN VERY EARLY IN, UH, IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, WE ANTICIPATE, UM, COMPLETING PHASE ONE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH AND TO THE QUESTION OF WHERE THE SITES WILL BE PART AND PARCEL OF THE DIRECTION TO STAFF.
AND THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION WAS TO COMPLETE THE INITIAL FOUR AND CAMP MINTS AND THEN DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING FUTURE SITES.
SO THOSE CRITERIA OF COURSE, WILL BE FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY OF, UH, BOTH THE ENCAMPMENT OCCUPANTS AND SURROUNDING CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES.
UH, SO ANY DANGERS, UH, THAT ARE, ARE CREATED BY VIRTUE OF THE SITE OF THE, OF THE ENCAMPMENT ITSELF.
UM, UH, UH, BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE IN PHASE ONE, UH, DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WOULD EXPECT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL, UM, CERTAINLY BETWEEN THEN AND THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, WHICH IS, UH, GENERALLY WHEN WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEGINNING PHASE TWO, OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE TEXAN AS APD TRACKED CRIME RATES AMONG THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN WHICH HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE PERPETRATORS OR BOTH.
IF SO, WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THOSE FIGURES? YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY TRACK THAT, UH, PER SE, UM, ON AN ONGOING BASIS, WE HAVE HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY A COMMUNITY AND BY COUNCIL IN THE PAST RELATED TO THAT TYPE OF DATA.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY COULD, UH, PULL THAT KIND OF DATA.
AGAIN, WE JUST DON'T HAVE A GOOD SET OF HISTORICAL, UH, DATA THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO COMPARE, TO SAY, UH, BEGINNING, UH, BEFORE OR AFTER, UH, YOU KNOW, THE HEAL INITIATIVE OR, OR PROP B IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY CAN PULL THAT DATA AND WE'LL BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT.
THE NEXT QUESTION FROM THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, WHEN APD OFFICERS HAVE CLEARED OUT CAMPS DURING PROP B PHASED IMPORT ENFORCEMENT PERIODS, HOW MANY ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR OFFENSES UNRELATED TO THE PUBLIC CAMPING AND NO SET, NO LIE ORDINANCES.
WE HAVE NOT HAD TO MAKE ANY ARRESTS RELATED TO ANYTHING OTHER WE'VE NOT HAD TO MAKE ANY ARRESTS PERIOD.
SO, UH, NONE FOR THE CAMPING, UH, FOR, UH, OR THE OTHER ORDINANCES AND NOTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT EITHER.
UH, IT WAS SET TO, TO BEGIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
UM, AND, UH, TO MY UNDERSTANDING HAS, UH, HAS BEGUN AND CONTINUES, UM, WITH REGARDS TO WHO KIND OF MADE THE DECISION TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY WAS A COLLECTIVE DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST, IT WAS REALLY ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.
AND WE HAD INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE CAMPED THERE THAT WERE GOING TO NOT BE SAFE ONCE THAT CONSTRUCTIONS, UH, STARTED, OR WE'RE GOING TO BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED, PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION FROM STARTING AT ALL.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE NOTIFIED FOLKS, UH, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY NEEDED TO MOVE AND THEN ULTIMATELY, UM, HAD TO, TO SHOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT OCCURRED IN A SAFE MANNER.
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CONSTRUCTION TO MY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE IS CONTINUING.OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM OSTEOPENIA NEWS, WHERE OUR POLICE TELLING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO GO WHEN ASKING THEM TO VACATE THEIR CAMPS, DO YOU ANTICIPATE A SPIKE OF ARRESTS? SO OUR OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, I, WE JUST HEARD, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, DIANA TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO FIND, UH, SHELTERS AND LOCATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GO AS THAT INFORMATION COMES TO THE OFFICERS THAT IS BEING PASSED ALONG TO FOLKS THAT WE'RE ENCOUNTERING, UH, AS PART OF THIS OVERALL INITIATIVE, WE ALSO HAVE OUR TWO DESIGNATED PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO CAMP, UH, MCKINNEY FALLS, STATE PARK, AS WELL AS EMMA LONG PARK.
AND, UH, THAT INFORMATION IS PASSED ALONG AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS FUTURE SITES ARE DEVELOPED, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD BE PASSING THAT INFORMATION, UH, TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ENCOUNTERING.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT.
COULD YOU DETAIL THE COST IN TERMS OF ACTUAL DOLLARS AND TIME SPENT OFFICER'S CITY DEPARTMENT RESOURCES USED OF PROPERTY IMPLEMENTATION SO FAR, IS THAT SCOPE EXPECTED TO CHANGE THROUGH PHASE FOUR AND BEYOND? I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS ACTUALLY TRACKING, UM, HOW MUCH THE COST HAS BEEN SO FAR.
UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THIS WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER, UM, CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, RESOURCE RECOVERY, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS AND OTHERS THAT ARE ALL DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE, UH, THAT THIS WORKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS WOULD HAVE TO GET WITH THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL BUDGET OFFICERS TO DETERMINE, UH, WHAT TIME WAS SPENT AND, AND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT COST LOOKS LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DETAIL THAT OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE IT IN THE PAST, UH, BASED ON WHATEVER, UH, INCIDENT THAT WE WERE WORKING ON OR WHATEVER EFFORT THAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, UH, AND, AND COULD DO IT AGAIN FOR THIS TYPE OF EFFORT, BUT EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS WOULD NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DETAIL THAT OUT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM K U T K U T SPOKE WITH A DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADMINISTRATOR, WHO SAID FRIDAY ONLY ONE TICKET HAD GONE THROUGH THE DACC OVER THE ENTIRE TIMEFRAME OF REINSTATING THE BAN ON CAMPING.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THEY ONLY SAW ONE, BUT CHIEF CHECON SAID 24 TICKETS ISSUED, WENT THROUGH DACC.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE CASES GOING THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURTS NOW? SO ALL OF THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT PARTICULAR TITLE CODE WHEN IT'S LISTED ON ONE OF OUR CITATIONS IS, UH, ROUTED TO OUR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
WE, UH, AS TIME HAS GONE ON, REMEMBER FOR DURING THE FIRST TWO PHASES OF IMPLEMENTATION, WE WERE NOT ISSUING CITATIONS, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL LATE IN PHASE THREE THAT WE BEGAN ISSUING CITATIONS.
UM, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE CITATIONS OF LEAVING THE OFFICER'S HAND, UH, TO GET TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
AND SO THEY MIGHT HAVE ONLY AT THE TIME THAT, UH, THE, THAT THE REPORTER SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT DACC HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE WHEN I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, UP TO THAT POINT, NOW WE'VE ISSUED, UM, 20, 24.
SO, UM, THE REST OF THEM WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, UH, AND WE'LL GET THERE AND WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY TICKETS HAVING TO GO TO REGULAR MUNICIPAL COURT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM CVS AUSTIN, HOW OFTEN IS APD CLEARING OUT HOMELESS CAMPS NOW THAT WE ARE IN PHASE FOUR, OUR CAMPS NOT BEING CLEARED OUT AS FAST, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AS I KIND OF MENTIONED DURING MY OPENING COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UM, EVERY WEEK, UH, TWO DAYS A WEEK WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT RESOURCE RECOVERY ON CAMPUS,
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UH, CAMP ENCAMPMENT SITE CLEANUPS, UM, AND WE ARE USUALLY MAKING IT TO BETWEEN NOW DURING THIS PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION.UM, OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO MOVE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THAT TAKES, UH, AT EACH INDIVIDUAL ENCAMPMENT, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE, THERE WILL DICTATE HOW MANY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERY WEEK, BUT THAT EFFORT HAS BEGUN AS OF SUNDAY.
AND, UH, AND IS ACTUALLY CONTINUING EVEN TODAY.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM SEVEN AUSTIN, ARE YOU SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAMPING IN GREENBELT AND WOODED AREAS AS HOMELESS CAMPS ARE CLEARED OUT? I CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
I THINK, UH, DIANA GRAY HERE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, AS A CITY HAVE A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS REGULARLY, UM, AND, AND HAVE BEEN CHECKING IN WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, IN PARKS AND RECREATION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, ET CETERA, WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEING MOVEMENT IN ENHANCEMENTS, SEEING A LOT OF ABANDONED ENCAMPMENTS, UM, UH, AND SEEING PEOPLE MOVE AROUND AT LAST CHECK-IN THE FEELING WAS THAT IT WAS AS YET UNCLEAR WHETHER WE WERE SEEING A MARKET INCREASE IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION LANDS VERSUS TANGIBLE ACREAGE, OF COURSE, UH, AND, UH, THE WATERSHED, UH, PROTECTION PROPERTIES.
UM, WE KNOW THAT FOLKS ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING SOMEWHERE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE KEEPING OUR EYE ON WHAT IS A FLUID SITUATION, UH, IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIAL MOVEMENT OF ENCAMPMENTS AND, AND CAN CONTINUE TO, TO, UH, PROVIDE INFORMATION AS WE HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE'RE BACK AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM KX, A M CAN YOU GIVE US MORE DETAILS ON THE DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED DURING PHASE ONE OR TWO? I BELIEVE, UH, AT THAT TIME, CHIEF CHACONE HAD SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS STILL BEING DEVELOPED.
IS THERE MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US THERE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OVERALL ARREST DIVERSION? WHAT TYPE OF DIVERSION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I BELIEVE AT THE TIME YOU HAD SAID A PARTICULARLY WAS TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
AND SO THERE WERE DIVERSION TACTICS THAT YOU WERE GOING TO USE TO, TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, AND PERHAPS IT WAS RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, UH, WHETHER IT IS, UH, SOMEBODY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR NOT, YOU KNOW, IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR, UH, MANY LOW LEVEL OFFENSES, UH, MYSELF AND MY STAFF HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH, UM, WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WITH OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AT INTEGRAL CARE, UH, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE, UH, DIVERTING THOSE THAT ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO, UH, THAT CONTINUES AS AN EFFORT IS ASSIGNED, UH, UNDER A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT ON ONE OR ONE OF MY ASSISTANT CHIEFS, UH, TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.
AND, UH, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT UPDATES ON THAT AT THIS MOMENT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE DAYS IN HOTEL, THE CITY LEASED IN CENTRAL AUSTIN? SO TH THE DAYS IN HOTEL WAS OPERATED AS ONE OF OUR FIVE PROTECTIVE LODGES OVER THE COURSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, UH, IN THOSE PRO LODGES, WE SHELTERED PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO WERE AT PARTICULAR RISK OF DEATH, OR VERY POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES.
SHOULD THEY ATTRACT COVID, BUT WE HAVE BEEN DEMOBILIZING THOSE PROPERTIES.
NOW FOR SOME MONTHS IN JUNE, UH, AS WE LOOKED AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS WERE TO CREATE ADDITIONAL CRISIS CAPACITY, UH, FOR, UH, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WE WERE AT THE POINT OF DEMOBILIZING THE PROLOGUE THAT WAS IN, UH, THAT WAS AT THE DAY'S END.
SO TO EXTEND THE OPPORTUNITY THERE, WE EXTENDED THE LEASE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS
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POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER BRIDGE SHELTER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, COVID AGAIN, SURGE IN THE COMMUNITY.AND ANOTHER NEED THAT WAS IDENTIFIED, UH, AS AN URGENT NEED WAS THE NEED FOR AN ISOLATION FACILITY, OR THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY INFECTED WITH COVID AND CANNOT, UH, ISOLATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR LOVED ONES OR OTHERS IN THEIR HOMES.
AND SO THAT FACILITY IS NOW, UM, BEING UTILIZED, UH, IN THE COVID RESPONSE AS AN ISOLATION FACILITY.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM THE TEXAN, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2019, HOW MUCH HAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN SPENT ON ALL OF ITS HOMELESS INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS? I THINK THAT THAT IS A QUESTION THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO ANSWER WITH, UM, A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GATHER, UH, AND REPORT.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD SIMILAR QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS IN THE PAST, UM, YOU KNOW, NAIL DOWN THE, THE TIMEFRAME, A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME OF THE REQUEST AND THE SCOPE.
AND WE'LL SAY THAT OUR BUDGET FOR, UH, BOTH LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THIS FISCAL YEAR IS AROUND $65 MILLION OR ALL THINGS THAT TOUCH HOMELESSNESS FROM, UH, BUILDING HOUSING TO PROVIDING SERVICES, TO CLEANING UP AND CAMP MINTS.
UH, AND AGAIN, THAT AMOUNT, UH, WHILE, UH, IT LEVEL FUNDING INCLUDES BOTH SORT OF ONGOING SERVICES THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE IN HOUSING THAT ARE FUNDING OUR SHELTERS, ET CETERA, AND, UM, SUBSTANTIAL SUMS, WHICH GO TOWARD, UH, INVESTMENTS IN THE CREATION OF LONG-TERM HOUSING UNITS FOR THIS POPULATION, A QUESTION FROM THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, THE DAYS IN WAS NOT USED FOR BRIDGE SHELTER, PARTLY BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS, THE CANDLEWOOD MOTEL IS FACING SIMILAR RESISTANCE.
WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO MAKE THE OPENING OF A NEW SHELTER OR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SPACE SMOOTHER GIVEN THE URGENT NEED TO PROVIDE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO? SO I THINK THAT THE, THE TH THERE ARE SOME FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN THE CANDLEWOOD, UH, AND IN, UH, AND IN ANY BIRD SHELTER THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, FIRST OF ALL, THE CANDLEWOOD IS PERMANENT HOUSING.
THEY HAVE ONGOING SERVICES, THEY DO NOT LEAVE UNLESS THEY WISH TO DURING THE DAY.
UM, AND PEOPLE ARE TYPICALLY VERY STABLE.
IN TERMS OF BRIDGE SHELTER, WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT BRIDGE SHELTER CAN BE A VERY GOOD NEIGHBOR.
UM, HOWEVER, WE PARTLY, BECAUSE OF PROP ME, UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY, UH, NOT JUST TO MAKE A DECISION, BUT TO STAND SOMETHING UP.
WE NOW, UM, HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, BEEN DISCUSSING CANDLEWOOD FOR OVER SIX MONTHS.
UM, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO, TO COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION, WE WERE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN 30 DAYS.
AND SO IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SOME NEW CONCERNS THAT HAD ARISEN FROM, UM, THE, AN ADJACENT CHILDCARE, UH, THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD TIME TO DISCUSS AND ADDRESS, UH, AND IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAD ANOTHER URGENT NEED FOR AN ISOLATION FACILITY, WE MADE THE DECISION TO, UH, UTILIZE OUR, UH, OUR COUNTRY IN A FORMER COUNTRY INN AND SUITES HOTEL THAT THE CITY ALSO OWNED AS A BRIDGE SHELTER.
SO I CERTAINLY THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UM, COGNIZANT OF THE NEED TO EDUCATE AND INFORM AND, AND, UH, UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
UH, IN MANY CASES, WE HAVE CERTAINLY INVESTED A LOT OF TIME IN ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS OF SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, THE, WHAT IS NOW THE CANDLEWOOD HOTEL, UM, AND, UH, ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE CASE OF THAT PARTICULAR BRIDGE SHELTER, WE NEEDED TO MOVE QUICKLY AND HAD OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
I UNDERSTAND THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION.
I THINK THAT WE ARE SEEING SIGNS OF PEOPLE LEAVING ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, I THINK ACROSS THE CITY, PERHAPS THE MOST VISIBLE OF THAT, UM, IS IT
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UNDER, UH, AT OUR UNDERPASSES WHERE, UM, AS OUR REGULAR CLEANUP CREWS MAKE ROUNDS, THEY ARE FUNDING SUBSTANTIALLY, UH, MORE, UH, TENTS AND, AND, AND ITEMS THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN DISCARDED.THE INDIVIDUALS ARE NO LONGER THERE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS HAPPENING MAYBE HAPPENING, UH, IN, IN MANY PARTS OF THE CITY.
THE LAST UPDATE THAT WE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL, UH, WAS, UM, I BELIEVE JULY 19TH IS FOLLOWED BY BRIEFINGS IN SOME CONVERSATIONS DURING THE BUDGET SESSIONS AS WELL.
WE PROVIDED COUNSEL WITH OUR ANALYSIS OF THE TWO CITY-OWNED SITES THAT, UM, THAT MOST FIT THE CRITERIA THAT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR DESIGNATED ENCAMPMENTS, PROVIDED THEM WITH, UM, COST ESTIMATES, SOME, UM, TIMELINE AROUND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO COMPLETE REZONING AND ENTITLEMENT, AND WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE ADEQUATE IN TERMS OF RESOURCING AND TIMELINE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, AND, UH, UH, AT THAT POINT HAVE SAID THAT WE WOULD LOOK TO COUNCIL FOR FURTHER DIRECTION IF THEY WISH US TO CONTINUE, UH, THE EXPLORATION OF THOSE CITY OWNED SITES IN PARTICULAR, OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, IF THERE'S ANY EXPECTATION FOR THE SCALE OF POTENTIAL ARRESTS, WHAT PORTION OF THOSE DO YOU EXPECT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO LINK THROUGH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT IS STAFFING THERE IN SHAPE TO HANDLE A POTENTIAL INCREASED LOAD THROUGH PHASE FOUR.
AND IF NOT, WHAT ALTERNATIVE PATH WILL THOSE ARRESTED BE SENT DOWN? SO, UM, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE TO HAVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY SCALE UP THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
AS PART OF THIS, WE WILL LOOK TO FOR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, ALWAYS GO WITH THE LOWEST LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT, GENERALLY, THAT IS THE CITATION.
AND BEFORE WE EVEN GO TO THE CITATION, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
UM, WE FOUND THAT IN THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CASES, UH, THAT, UM, ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS IS, IS SUFFICIENT TO GO AHEAD AND GET PEOPLE TO MOVE.
UM, BUT FOR THOSE CASES WHERE WE DO HAVE TO MAKE A CUSTODY ARREST, UM, WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO THAT DURING THE BUSINESS HOURS OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
SO THAT RATHER THAN TRANSPORTING THEM DIRECTLY TO JAIL, WE'RE TAKING THEM DIRECTLY TO THE COURT SO THAT, UH, THEY CAN GO DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF A MAGISTRATE THERE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH, UH, THE LEADERSHIP AT DACC HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.
THEY ARE CERTAINLY READY TO, UM, TAKE PEOPLE THAT ARE, OR ANY OFFICERS THAT HAVE SOMEONE IN CUSTODY IMMEDIATELY.
IF WE HAVE TO MAKE A CUSTODY ARREST OUTSIDE THE HOURS OF DACC NORMAL OPERATION, THEN THOSE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL, AND THE NEXT MORNING WOULD BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO DACC FOR DISPOSITION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO, TO AVOID THAT, BUT THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE A PUBLIC SAFETY'S AT RISK, THEIR OWN SAFETY IS AT RISK, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE AN ARREST, UH, THAT WOULD BE AFTER HOURS.
AND THAT'S HOW WE WOULD HANDLE THAT PIECE.
BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE CERTAINLY READY FOR, UH, FOR WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, ANY WRESTLE WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE.
UH, AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE SIGNIFICANTLY SCALING THAT UP.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TAY YOU T WHAT'S AUSTIN'S CURRENT INVENTORY OF BRIDGE AND EMERGENCY SHELTER CURRENTLY DO Y'ALL ANTICIPATE REACHING THE SUMMIT BENCHMARK OF GETTING 200 PEOPLE INTO SHELTER BY THE END OF AUGUST.
SO WE NOW HAVE OPERATIONAL APPROXIMATELY 140 BEDS OF BRANCH SHELTER IN THE TWO FACILITIES THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
UH, WE MAY BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR NUMBER OF BEDS IN THOSE, UH, IN THOSE TWO FACILITIES, AS WE REPAIR SOME EXISTING ROOMS, THE NUMBER OF SHELTER BEDS IN OUR TRADITIONAL SHELTERS HAS FLUX WEIGHTED, UM, DUE TO COVID OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAD SEEN A DECREASE OF OVER 200 BEDS FOR SINGLE INDIVIDUALS DUE TO COVID, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE, UM, ARE LOOKING AT OUR, OF COURSE, WE'LL LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS HOUSED, UH, AT THE END OF AUGUST AND, UH, WOULD HOPE TO MEET THAT NUMBER.
UM, BUT, UH, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE DO
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KNOW IS THAT THROUGH THE HEAL INITIATIVE, WE'VE GOT, UM, 110 PLUS PEOPLE IN SHELTER THAT WILL BE ENROLLED IN HOUSING PROGRAMS AND WHO ARE ACTIVELY, UH, MANY OF THEM ARE ACTIVELY ALREADY SEARCHING FOR THEIR APARTMENT WITH HOUSING, UH, SUPPORT, UH, SECURE IN THEIR NAME.THAT LOOKS TO BE THE END OF THE QUESTIONS FROM OUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA WHO DID SUBMIT THEIR QUESTIONS.
I DO ALSO WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES IF A CHEECH, A CONE, OR A DIANA, YOU HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS, THINGS THAT YOU'D LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE RUDE AND GO FIRST, BUT I I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN THERE FIRST.
UH, THANK YOU, YOU AS MEAN, AND THANK, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA THAT THEY'RE TAKING TIME TO CONTINUE TO, TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS REALLY IMPORTANT AREA.
UM, THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE OBVIOUSLY TO WORK WITH OUR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND UNDER CITY LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULLY IMPLEMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DESIRE OF THE VOTERS AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO, TO WORK THROUGH THIS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, IN A WAY THAT, UH, THAT WE MAKE SURE, AS I STATED EARLIER, THAT WE'RE TREATING PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THOSE, UH, THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THERE, THEN THE HELP THEY NEED, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE CALL, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHETHER THE FACT THAT THEY'RE IN SHELTERED OR IF THEY HAVE OTHER NEEDS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING THEM WITH THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE FOCUS AND THE WAY THAT WE'VE HANDLED THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HANDLE IT, UM, WHILE OF COURSE HAVING TO DO SOME ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WHEREVER NECESSARY.
SO, UM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIANA, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU AND TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
UH, I WILL, UM, I THINK ECHO THE CHIEF'S SENTIMENT.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US TODAY, ALLOWING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND FRANKLY, TO TALK, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH ABOUT, UH, PROPPY ENFORCEMENT, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE VOTER APPROVED BALLOT INITIATIVE ALONGSIDE, UM, CONTINUED CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE ARE RESOURCING AND, AND, UH, THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND HOUSING AND SERVICES, AND REALLY ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LAST QUESTION THERE WAS, ARE WE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY FOLKS ARE WE GOING TO HAVE HOUSED BY THE END OF AUGUST AND, AND WHAT I'D LIKE US TO BE DOING LONG-TERM, UH, IS TO BE REALLY KEEPING OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE IN TERMS OF, UH, THE STRATEGIES THAT REALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, UH, WHICH ARE, UH, LET'S GET PEOPLE, BUT DIGNIFIED PLACES TO LIVE, UM, UH, SUPPORT SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, ET CETERA, THAT THEY WANT A NEED, UH, AND, UM, AND, AND BE PROUD OF ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE COLLECTIVELY MAKING AS A CITY AND A COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO GIVE A VERY SINCERE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR REALLY WHAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
I KNOW THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, AND THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT THE CITY HAS SET UP A WEBSITE WITH ALL THE VERY BEST INFORMATION WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT UPDATED IS AUSTIN, TEXAS DACA SLASH HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING.