'Homelessness in Austin' Panel Series Slated

AUSTIN, TX — The City of Austin will present the Homelessness in Austin panel series during the upcoming National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, officials announced on Friday.

The week-long observation is scheduled between Nov. 15-21 featuring leaders from more than ten homeless-serving agencies and organizations. Conversations will explore the causes of homelessness, current programs in action and what’s coming next to address the community crisis, officials said in an advisory.

“Our community of service providers, stakeholders and government partners are working overtime to support people experiencing homelessness across our city,” Assistant City Manager Chris Shorter said in a prepared statement. “This series is an opportunity for residents of Austin and Travis County to get good information about what is happening in our community from trusted and respected sources. The greater the understanding, trust and connections across the city, the more opportunities we will have to create solutions that work for everyone.”

LifeWorks, an organization participating in the first panel, advocates for youth and families finding their path to self-sufficiency. For more than 25 years Executive Director Susan McDowell has led the organization as it navigated the changing landscape of youth homelessness and resources available to address needs.

“Earning the support and trust of the community in working to end youth homelessness is a critical piece in solving this complex social issue,” McDowell, said in a prepared statement. “To do this, we have to begin with a shared understanding of the root causes of homelessness, and continue to build great partnerships with other public and private agencies that have the same goal in mind.”

Austin PBS journalist Judy Maggio is moderating the second panel exploring the efforts currently underway to address homelessness. “The visibility of homelessness is one of many changes and challenges the city is facing as it continues to grow," she said in a prepared statement. "We’ve been told addressing the problem is a top priority, but we've also seen camps move and multiply around Austin. We need opportunities like this to bring vital, diverse voices together to not only look at the root causes of homelessness but to search for lasting solutions."

Each panel, listed below, will air at noon on ATXN 1 and www.facebook.com/austintexasgov.

Information about the panels and all follow up materials will be listed in the Get Involvedportal of the City of Austin website.

SCHEDULE

• Monday at noon: Understanding the Crisis and How We Got Here. Featuring leaders from Austin Public Health, SAFE, Integral Care and LifeWorks; moderated by Kathryn Flowers of Dell Medical School.
• Wednesday at noon: What’s Happening — Programs in Action. Featuring Leaders from ECHO, The Other Ones Foundation, Homeless Outreach Street Team, The Office of Sustainability; moderated by Judy Maggio of Austin PBS.
• Friday at noon: Innovations and What’s on the Horizon. Featuring Leaders from Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Family Eldercare, UT School of Pharmacy and the City of Austin; moderated by Taylor Cook of the Design Institute for Health.