STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Livable
AGENDA DATE: September 24, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Office of Homeless Solutions
EXECUTIVE: Alina Ciocan
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the second of two, one-year renewal options to the service contract with Austin Street Center to provide access to homeless recovery services for the Office of Homeless Solutions for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 - Not to exceed $575,000.00 - Financing: General Fund (subject to annual appropriations)
Body
BACKGROUND
This program was initially funded through Senate Bill 58 of the 83rd regular legislative session amended Subtitle I, Title 4, of the Texas Government Code to add Chapter 539 establishing or expanding community collaborative projects to improve the access to care, quality/comprehensiveness of care, and outcomes for persons who are both homeless and have a mental illness.
Community collaborative of service providers focused on meeting the needs of the mentally ill homeless population including the establishment, operation and/or maintenance of minimum services (assistance accessing benefits, detoxification units, integrated medical services, housing services and education, job training and/or supported employment).
The City participated in this program previously through grant funding from the Texas Department of State Health Services, which lapsed in fiscal year (FY) 2022. Since FY 2022, the City has continued to support this program model using general funds to provide access to recovery-oriented services that enable eligible individuals to secure independent housing, secure competitive employment, build or improve existing relationships to achieve and maintain ongoing recovery from medical, mental health, and substance use disorders.
The services were originally procured through solicitation by Request for Proposals for performance of specified tasks, and payments to Bridge Steps d/b/a The Bridge, Austin Street Center, and CitySquare were based only on the amount of the services directed to be performed by the City and properly performed by Bridge Steps d/b/a The Bridge, Austin Street Center, and CitySquare. In 2024, the City exercised the first renewal with Austin Street Center only, as another partner agency now provides funding for Bridge Steps d/b/a the Bridge and has taken over for CitySquare after it closed.
Effective October 1, 2025, the Office of Community Care and Empowerment, the Office of Homeless Solutions, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the Department of Housing and Community Development will merge and become the new Office of Housing and Community Empowerment.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On September 27, 2023, the City Council authorized a service contract with Austin Street Center in an amount not to exceed $575,000.00 per year, CitySquare in an amount not to exceed $475,000.00 per year, and Bridge Steps dba The Bridge in an amount not to exceed $450,000,00 per year, approved as to form by the City Attorney, for a term of one year, with two one-year renewal options, for access to homeless recovery services on behalf of the Office of Homeless Solutions for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30,2024, in a total overall amount not to exceed $1,500,000.00, by Resolution No. 23-1341.
On September 25, 2024, the City Council authorized the first renewal of two, one-year renewal options with Austin Street Center, approved as to form by the City Attorney, to provide access to homeless recovery services for the Office of Homeless Solutions for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $575,000.00 per year by Resolution No. 24-1406.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2025 |
FY 2026 |
Future Years |
|
General Fund |
$0.00 |
$575,000.00 |
$0.00 |