People experiencing homelessness in Austin said they receive limited notice and insufficient assistance during homeless camp sweeps, despite a city resolution aimed at improving the process.
The Austin City Council passed a measure last year to increase advance notice and improve coordination with services when clearing encampments. The policy aimed to allow residents to retrieve belongings and access housing resources before removals.
Tony Carter, who lived in a camp in southeast Austin, said police and city crews cleared the site while he was at work, leaving him unable to collect his belongings. He said he lost his tent, clothing and other personal items during the sweep.
Carter now stays near the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, where he works and accesses basic services. He said the sweep left him with limited options for shelter.
Advocacy group VOCAL-TX said similar issues have occurred at other encampments. At a recent press conference, individuals reported receiving little warning and no assistance during removals.
Carrieann Smith said city crews removed her belongings, including a generator, without offering resources. Paulette Soltani, co-director of VOCAL-TX, said the city should focus on housing, services and healthcare rather than repeated sweeps.
City officials said they conduct sweeps under the Housing-focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) initiative, which targets camps in high-risk areas such as near roadways or flood zones. David Gray, director of the city’s Homeless Strategies and Operations Office, said each sweep can cost up to $150,000.
Gray said the city plans to improve outreach efforts and provide more time for residents to gather belongings. He said officials aim to give at least 72 hours’ notice before future sweeps.
Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said police will work with city officials to improve safety and coordination during operations.
Residents near encampments said the presence of camps has led to concerns about trash and safety, prompting requests for enforcement of the city’s camping ban.
City officials said they receive hundreds of complaints about encampments each month through 311. A proposed plan would increase the frequency of sweeps and include daily monitoring of cleared sites. The City Council is expected to review the proposal next month.
Carter said increased enforcement without expanded housing options will not resolve homelessness.