ECHO

Ending Community
Homelessness Coalition, Inc.

www.austinecho.org

February 6, 2011 11
ECHO Vision

A community fiercely focused on

ending homelessness

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ECHO Mission

To provide dynamic, proactive leadership

that engages policy makers and the
community to end homelessness

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ECHO History
Mid 1980’s homeless organizations began to meet
Became an Issue Area Group of CAN
Kirk Watson named the Homeless Task Force in the
mid 1990’s
Plan to End Chronic Homelessness released in 2004
Joining of Chronic Homelessness and Homeless Task
Force into ECHO in 2007
Incorporation of ECHO as non-profit in 2010

44
ECHO Board Members
Donna Carter – Carter Design Associates
Donald Christian – Concordia University
Ann Denton – Advocates of Human Potential
Corky Hilliard – Hilliard Resources
Alan Isaacson – Seton Shoal Creek Hospital
Marshall Jones – Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
Tim League – Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas
Perry Lorenz – downtown developer
Ed McHorse – Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody
Calvin Streeter – UT School of Social Work

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ECHO Members
AISD p CommunityCare
Austin Travis County Integral Care p Housing Authority of City of
Green Doors Austin
LifeWorks p Salvation Army
Front Steps p Community Action Network
Family Eldercare p City of Austin, Health and Human
Goodwill Services
Caritas of Austin p City of Austin, Neighborhood
SafePlace Housing and Community
Saint Louise House Development
Foundation Communities p Downtown Austin Alliance
Austin/Travis County Re-Entry Roundtable p Travis County Adult Probation
AIDS Services of Austin p Travis County Health and Human
Foundation for the Homeless Services and Veteran Services
Legal Aid for the Homeless p Knox Woollard Professional
Casa Marianella Management
p Numerous individuals

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Key ECHO Roles
Serve as the homeless planning entity for the community
Coordinate annual HUD Continuum of Care (CoC)
application;
Conduct annual homeless Count;
Provide outreach through annual Homeless Fair;
Sponsor Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week;
Provide oversight of HMIS & homeless data; and
Advocate and Educate on homelessness

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What is the Continuum of
Care?
An annual funding application from HUD
Requires community planning and
community application
Brings approximately $4.5 million to the
community annually
Opportunity to apply for Permanent Housing
Bonus – 15% of allocation

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 Components of a CoC Plan

Prevention
Permanent
Affordable
Outreach, Intake, Housing
Assessment

Permanent
Transitional Supportive
Emergency
Housing Housing
Shelter

Supportive Services
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9
Five Community Goals for
COC
Increase in permanent supportive housing for the
chronically homeless (ECHO 125 beds)
Percentage staying in PSH over 6 months (HUD 77%,
ECHO 82%)
Percentage moving from transitional to PSH (HUD
65%, ECHO 79%)
Percentage employed at exit (HUD 20%,ECHO 39%)
Decrease in the number of homeless families (ECHO
196 families)

1010
Current Status of Housing
731 Emergency Shelter beds (258 for families &
473 for individuals)
472 Transitional housing beds (360 for families and
112 for individuals)
540 Permanent housing beds (392 for individuals
and 69 for families)
125 PSH dedicated for the chronically homeless

Source: 2010 HUD HDX for the Continuum of Care

1111
The Annual Count

Point-in-time count conducted each year in

January
Required by HUD every two years
270 volunteers 2011
Canvass the City and County
Survey component for data

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The Numbers
2011 Annual Count**
Approximately 2,900 homeless individuals
Approximately 1,000 of whom unsheltered
Estimates of 4,000 homeless in Austin on any given
day
HMIS reports between 6,000-8,000 unique
individuals per year

** Preliminary numbers – likely to change

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Policy and Planning
Community Plan to End Homelessness
Roadmap to reduce or eliminate homelessness through
● Coordination
●
Prevention
● Rapid re-housing of short-term homeless
● Housing and Services for chronic homeless
www.austinecho.org/communityplan
Supportive Housing Report
Identified best practices for support services
Types of services, cost and impact
www.austinecho.org/announcements/echohousingreport-supportiveservicesforpsh

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Advocacy and Education
100,000 Homes Campaign
Goal: Identify and house the 100 most vulnerable
homeless in community
www.100khomes.org
Planned for Summer 2011
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Homeless Resource Fair
Education Events
www.hhweekaustin.com
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What Can You Do?

Join ECHO
Add your voice
Receive Information
Volunteer to help with the Count
Volunteer to help with the Resource Fair
Volunteer with the 100,000 Homes
Participate in ECHO workgroups
Advocate for resources and policies
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