AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- As the Austin City Council considers establishing sanctioned homeless encampments in several areas across town, a new city memo reveals what city staff is proposing for building these encampments.
The memo, released Friday, is the first of three reporting phases due under the council's May 6 resolution.
Dianna Grey, the city's homeless strategy officer, and Kimberly McNeeley, the city's Parks & Recreation director, put together a list of best practices and necessary infrastructure for the potential campsites.
According to the memo, "sanctioned encampment sites should be equipped with basic infrastructure including electricity and water service, restrooms, hygiene stations, and showers (mobile, if necessary), adequate lighting, and perimeter fencing where appropriate." Staff also looked at successful encampment sites in other cities across the country, and found those sites included laundry facilities, storage for personal belongings, and transportation support.
The staff proposal also calls for the campsites to have "operational staff, 24/7 security personnel and social services."
A preliminary budget included in the memo lays out the operational costs for encampment sites of 50 people and 100 people, with some economies of scale factored in by housing more individuals at one site.
According to the preliminary estimate from city staff, an encampment capable of supporting 50 people would cost $1.37 million a year to operate, while an encampment capable of supporting 100 people would cost $1.87 million a year. The proposed plan calls for an encampment in each council district, meaning the preliminary costs could be near $19 million.
The preliminary costs are "in alignment" with costs at the state-owned encampment site in southeast Austin.
In addition to the operational costs, the memo outlines potential one-time costs to establish the encampment sites, which may include utility work, site grading, perimeter fencing, creating or improving vehicular access, and mitigation of wildfire and/or flood risk.
According to the memo, staff has reviewed more than 70 city-owned sites, including locations managed by the city's Parks and Recreation department, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, Public Works, Austin Resource Recovery, and Austin Water Utility.
Each of the sites being considered are 2 to 4 acres, along with other criteria including access to utility services, the site's availability for up to two years, access to public transportation, critical retail, services, and schools, and the potential disruption to existing public services or development plans.
By June 1, staff is expected to provide council with a proposed implementation schedule, estimated total costs, possible community partners that might be able to share costs, and other potential financial resources.
