Adequate shelter is a basic human need. It’s also part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the United States signed on to in 1948. Yet adequate and stable housing is still an issue in this country. But not having adequate shelter—and being homeless—doesn’t necessarily mean a person is without some sort of shelter. Being homeless can mean living on the street or moving between temporary situations, like living with friends and family, or public or private emergency accommodations.
The United Nations declared, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security.”
The ELCA Church Council adapted a four-page Message in 1990, A Message on Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment, that included the following: “This church commits itself to the public policy goals of …decent housing… as fundamental rights of every citizen of …the United States.
The pathways to homelessness are complicated and can include the following:
- Domestic Violence
- Forced Eviction
- Foreclosures on landlords
- Gentrification
- Lack of accessible healthcare
- Lack of affordable housing
- Transition from foster care
- Disability
- Afflicted with a mental disorder
- Migration
- Mortgage foreclosures
- Mental illness
- Natural Disasters
- Unemployment
- Prison release and re-entry into society
Several organizations in the Central Texas area provide a variety of services:
Lake Travis Crisis Ministries
- Phone: 512-266-9810
- Email: lcrisis@att.net
- Address: 107 RR 620 South, Suite 114
Austin, TX 78734 (Map)
Services: Food, financial aid, and support to all in need within the boundaries of the Lake Travis Independent School District, on an individualized case-by-case basis.
Travis County Health and Human Services – Family Support Services
- Phone: 512-854-2130
- Email: oakhill@traviscountytx.gov
- Address: 8656 A State Highway 71 West, Suite 100
Austin, TX, 78735 (Map)
Services: Social services and supports, case management, information and referral for employment, housing, medical, mental health needs and more.
Burnet Housing Authority
- Address: 229 South Pierce Burnet, Texas 78611
- Phone: 512-756-4745
Services: Provides subsidized housing for families with low income living in Burnet.
Marble Falls Housing Authority
- Address: 1110 Broadway Marble Falls, Texas 78654
- Phone: 830-693-4521
Services: Provides subsidized housing for families with low to moderate income. Provides public housing, Section 8, and rent assistance.
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Address: Marble Falls, Texas
- Phone: 830-755-3299
Services: Provides a food pantry and limited assistance with rent, utility bills, and prescription medication.
Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities, Inc. (WBCO) Community Resource Center
- Address: 1016 Broadway Street Marble Falls, Texas 78654
- Phone: 830-693-0700
Services: Provides limited emergency financial assistance with electric, gas, and rent bills for qualified residents with low income. Provides help with completing forms for government assistance programs and offers referrals to community services.
Street Youth Ministry
- Phone: 512-553-3796
- Email: info@symin.org
- Address: 408 W. 23rd St, Basement
Austin TX 78705 (Map)
Services: Meals, clothing, camping gear, first-aid kits, toiletries and personal hygiene items, resource navigation, guidance counseling and more.
Integral Care
- Phone: 512-472-4357
- Email: Website Contact Form
- Address: 1430 Collier St.
Austin TX 78704 (Map)
Services: Local Mental Health Authority, Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority
Capital Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center
- Phone: 512-916-6054, 888-622-9111, 855-937-2372
- Email: AAAInfo@capcog.org
- Address: 6800 Burleson Rd. Bldg. 310, Suite 165
Austin, Texas78744 (Map)
Services: Access and Assistance programs, Benefits Counseling, Long-term care and Assisted Living Facilities Ombudsman services, Care Coordination and Information, Referral and Assistance services for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties.
If you are looking for services such as WIC, SNAP, TANF or Medicaid, please visit 211Texas.org.