Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a new Austin fund could reshape homelessness services long-term

Spotted on the Austin calendar: Beauty And The Beast

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 12th Patch AM
Friday December 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey hey Austin! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a new Austin fund could reshape homelessness services long-term
  • What we know about Thursday’s intense fire in east Austin
  • How will Austin enforce Texas’ new “bathroom bill” in city buildings?

Also on today's calendar: Toasty Badger Christmas Book Swap and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 78 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partial sunshine, temps: high: 76, low: 47.
  • Sunday: Mostly cloudy; breezy, cooler, with a high of 52 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Austin City Council approves nearly $1 million for homelessness endowment fund (statesman.com) — Austin City Council has approved nearly $1 million for a new homelessness endowment, seeding a long-term fund to support housing and services without raising property taxes. Using excess hotel occupancy tax revenue, the HOPE Fund is expected to grow to more than $4 million next year, aiming to stabilize funding for housing navigation, supportive housing, and rapid rehousing in Austin.
   

2. Fire consumes east Austin building (kxan.com) — A building near Manor Road and Manorwood Road in east Austin caught fire Thursday afternoon, drawing at least two Austin Fire Department engines. The structure, a former body shop, appeared fully engulfed as crews worked to contain the blaze. No injuries or cause have been reported yet, and more details are expected.
   

3. Austin to craft gender-inclusive plan amid 'bathroom bill' enforcement challenges (kvue.com) — Austin City Council has unanimously directed the city manager to create a gender-inclusive capital improvement plan while still complying with Texas’ new “bathroom bill” governing restrooms in public buildings. City leaders and local advocates in Austin are wrestling with how to enforce the law, which applies to government buildings and schools, while maintaining privacy, dignity, and safety for all residents.
   

4. City council approves disannexation of 152 Lake Austin properties from city of Austin (kxan.com) — Austin City Council has approved disannexation for 152 properties along Lake Austin, meaning those homeowners will stop paying city property taxes and see several city services change. Law enforcement will shift to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Resource Recovery will halt trash and recycling, and some planning and code services will end, though Austin Energy, EMS, libraries, and certain health and floodplain protections will continue.
   

5. DPS Personnel Recognized at December PSC Meeting (thecomanchechief.com) — Several Texas Department of Public Safety personnel were honored Thursday at the Public Safety Commission meeting held at the new Legacy Hall at DPS headquarters in Austin. Leaders presented Purple Hearts, Lifesaving Awards, a Unit Citation and a Director’s Award, recognizing officers’ serious injuries, lifesaving actions and long recoveries in service to Texas communities.
   

📸 Around Austin

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Austin

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Austin Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Austin PatchAM possible:

  • K&M Steam Cleaning — (512) 836-8900
    Carpet Cleaning in Austin, Texas
  • The Steam Team — (512) 451-8326
    Austin’s trusted experts in water, fire and mold restoration

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Seasoned firewood for sale.
    Seasoned Oak FirewoodStandard Cord 4'x4'x8'$5751/2 Standard Cord 4'x4'x4'$300Face Cord 8'x4'x16"-18"$2251/2 Face Cord 4'x4'x16"-18"$125They are... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Porter - Unit 736 in Austin. Apply here.
  • Remington posted a job opening for Front Desk Agent - DoubleTree by Hilton University Area in Austin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Austin here.

Ok Austin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Austin