AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The City of Austin says efforts are continuing to reach out to homeless individuals across the city, as the effort to implement a voter-approved ban on public camping enters its second phase.
City Manager Spencer Cronk, interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, and homeless strategy officer Dianna Grey gave members of the media an update on their progress at APD headquarters Tuesday morning.
Chacon said during phase 1, which ran from May 11 through June 12, officers issued 390 warnings and spoke to more than 400 people in 70 different encampment sites across the city.
Now that the plan has moved into phase 2, officers will move on to issuing written warnings. Those who have already been warned may face citations, or arrest if they're a danger to themselves or public health or safety.
"At this point we’re strongly urging individuals that are in these camp sites to downsize their area to right size for movement and mobility, as the cleanup of the camp sites continue," Chacon said.
The second phase of the plan is scheduled to run through July 12.
Grey said in addition to possible sanctioned encampment sites, the city is working to see if congregate shelters at the ARCH and the Salvation Army might be able to expand their capacities, after reductions were necessary due to COVID-19. Originally, city staff had a list of 70 city-owned sites that were being considered, but that list has been cut to just one site that remains viable.
