AUSTIN, TX — A 50-unit apartment complex that offers permanent solutions to the homeless in Austin has opened it's doors on Monday.
Terrace at Oak Springs is located at 3000 Oak Springs Dr. in Austin. It is a 4-story, 40,000 square-foot community, according to their website. They embrace the notion of "housing first" - meaning people need a safe place to live before they can start addressing other problems in their lives that lead to homelessness.
Each unit is equipped with a kitchenette, bedroom and living area. They also offer Community HealthCare Clinic, which is open to the public. It offers primary health care, mental health care and substance abuse support.
They say they will provide employment services, as well as offer assistance in training people how to access benefits.
According to their website, rent is based on income, and the minimum is $25 per unit. Residents must be labeled as chronically homeless.
The homeless population in Austin continues to rise, leaving the city and legislators scrambling to find a solution. The city counted 2,255 homeless people on the streets on a single night in 2019, a 5% increase over last year’s count, according to the Huffington Post.
