After forcing Austin’s homeless population out from under state overpasses earlier this week, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office on Thursday announced a plan to provide a five-acre plot of land for homeless people to camp temporarily until more permanent shelter can be identified.
The shelter will be located near Highway 183 and Montopolis, the governor’s office said, an area of land that spokesman John Wittman characterized in a text message to The Texas Tribune as “the closest to downtown the State has available.” It’s about 4.9 miles away from the Texas Capitol, in a clearing adjacent to the historically low-income Montopolis neighborhood, across the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The location will include “portable restrooms, hand washing stations, and comes with commitments from local charities to deliver food multiple times a day” and “will provide access to healthcare providers and homeless case workers to provide care for the homeless.” Wittman said the portable restrooms are already in place and will be serviced by the state, and the Department of Public Safety will provide 24-hour security.
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