Austin News

A year after the Austin City Council decriminalized homelessness by repealing a 1996 law that made camping in public places illegal, the problem continues, now fueled by a COVID-19 pandemic and its economic-damaging business shutdowns, according to a report in the Texas Standard.

City Councilman Jimmy Flannigan said he hopes the city will seek a more proactive approach in dealing with the problem. 

Flannigan is seen as a progressive and is said to be a Democrat according to Ballotpedia. He told the Austin Chronicle on Oct. 9 that his vote to decriminalize homelessness and to defund millions of budgeted dollars for the Austin Police Department was to lighten officers’ non-patrol responsibilities and invest in anti-crime services instead of just police force. He said although this is controversial, it reflects the changing priorities of his 6th District.

Flannigan is up for reelection and represents the north side of Austin. He has served for three years and his term is up in 2021.

During a YouTube presentation on Clawback last fall, Flannigan said the goal is to develop what he termed “compassionate harassment,” not actual harassment, but finding out what people's problems are and what they need.

“To get folks the services they need and to get folks off the street,” Flannigan said. “That is everyone’s goal. There is nothing about what is happening today that is OK. It is not fine that people have to sleep on the street and if it’s not fine for them, it’s not fine for us. But just telling them they can’t sleep, they can’t be somewhere, doesn’t actually stop the problem from growing.”

Flannigan said the goal is to get people as quick as possible to a level of self-sufficiency and self-support.

“We have to think about, how do people enter homelessness?” he asked. “We need to ensure the system (social service) can scale to the level of need in the community.”

Flannigan said the homeless problem is not just what is visible on the streets, but includes people couch-surfing or sleeping in cars, while others are in shelters. He added that intervention is needed before a person’s homeless situation becomes so chronic they can’t be helped without great difficulty or greater cost.

He called for a more innovative approach rather than that of the past in many cities, simply spending most of the available homeless funding on shelters.

“If we can help more people up-front and help more people, the more affordable it will be,” he said.

Flannigan noted that the city had hired a new Homeless Strategy Officer, Lori Pampilo Harris, who relocated from Orlando, Florida. She began her duties on Sept. 9, 2019. He described her as very experienced.

Flannigan has opposed a return to criminalizing homelessness in Austin.  

In June 2019, the city council directed police to stop giving tickets to the homeless and, according to reports, homeless camps began mushrooming in plain sight around city streets and under highway underpasses.

Gus Bova, a columnist for the Texas Observer in a Sept. 21 column, indicated the homeless problem isn’t going away any time soon. After 30 years of criminalizing homelessness and then lifting its sanctions, Bova said Austin had bucked a trend in other cities, but created a controversial issue that exists today.

“Homeless Austinites emerged from the woods or other hidden crannies of the city. Many moved to highway underpasses, which offer rain protection, visibility and a regular breeze,” Bova said in the Observer op-ed. “Some who’d slept on cardboard and blankets now set up tents, obtaining a shred of privacy."   

One homeless man named Danny, a 51-year-old Texas native who had been squatting under an overpass on State Highway 71, told Bova homeless people were relieved at the criminal ban because they were afraid of camping in the woods with its snakes and bugs.

“People have disabilities and can’t get around there [woods],” Danny said.

Bova said the situation has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting unemployment and possible rental evictions.

Nevertheless, Greg Casar, the city council member who led the push to decriminalize the ordinance, said the city had taken the proper course by affirming the basic “civil rights” of the homeless.

The Observer report said Steve Potter, a 53-year-old filmmaker serving the city on its Homeless Advisory Council, predicted there could be a backhanded benefit to the homeless situation in Austin. The economic situation from COVID-19 could develop sympathy among the public for the homeless population.

“In the aftermath of these COVID shutdowns, people are going to be more understanding,” he said.

The number of homeless people in Austin and Travis County increased by 11% from 2019 to 2020, CBS Austin reports. The Austin Statesman reported that crime is also up in that population. The newspaper reported that the rate of violent crimes with suspects dealing with homelessness was up 10% in 2019. The suspect in a fatal stabbing earlier in this year in Austin was homeless.