Accessing Resources

After shelter, many individuals experiencing homelessness prioritize one or more resources (such as food, clothing, or medical care) as a focus for their day. This focus need can vary day-to-day, but food is often a top concern.

In Austin, while resources for individuals experiencing homelessness (such as clinics, clothing donation centers, food pantries, shelters, and navigation centers) have historically been adequate in number, access to these resources has not been equally distributed.

Video: Navigating Social Services

In the video below, youth with lived experience of homelessness talk about utilizing resources in Austin, organizations they found particularly helpful, and struggles they have encountered in the process.

Local Example - Austin, TX

Resources for individuals experiencing homelessness are usually centered in downtown areas, as discussed in the video and seen in the map below of resources in Austin, TX. This contributes to the high concentration of individuals experiencing homelessness finding shelter or camping near the city center. For those that are located outside of this central district, options are limited. Take some time to explore the Austin Resource Map below.

The dots show information about resource locations |The double arrow in the upper left corner of the map opens the legend |The category checkboxes in the legend can be used to view one or more resources at a time

Take note of the food resources on this map in particular - you can sort to see only the food providers. Though many service providers offer hot meals and food pantries, barriers exist that make these resources hard to access for some individuals experiencing homelessness. As Thomas mentions in the video, locations can be difficult to access, have odd hours, or may give out food that requires preparation. Additionally, some individuals may be uncomfortable with lines, crowds, and small locations with limited exits.

Since these interviews were recorded, the world has had to adapt to the newly emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The obstacles and barriers in accessing resources have been compounded by the pandemic. Some homeless services have reduced hours of operation or have closed entirely. Many health services are transitioning to a heavier telemedicine model. This can create an additional hurdle to obtaining services for those experiencing homelessness, with walk-in clinic hours varying significantly from their normal operations.

The City of Austin published a list of community homelessness resources in Austin during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the city is providing additional services such as more public bathrooms, hand-washing and sanitizing stations, and porta-potties, they are sparser the further you move from the city center.