Texas cities face difficulties counting their unsheltered homeless population at a time when their numbers matter most
Texas Tribune
Updated:
Tags:
Nicole Aurit sits by her tent under a highway overpass in downtown Austin last month. Aurit had been working as a manager at a Supercuts before her job shut down due to COVID-19. (Credit: Evan L’Roy/The Texas Tribune)
Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day’s latest updates.
Nicole Aurit came to Austin from San Antonio expecting to live in her van, get a job and eventually find stable housing. She managed to find work as a manager at a Super Cuts, but when the pandemic hit in March, the city suddenly shut down, and she lost her job.
Nicole Aurit sits by her tent under a highway overpass in downtown Austin last month. Aurit had been working as a manager at a Supercuts before her job shut down due to COVID-19. Credit: Evan L Roy/The Texas Tribune
Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day s latest updates. Sign up here.
Nicole Aurit came to Austin from San Antonio expecting to live in her van, get a job and eventually find stable housing. She managed to find work as a manager at a Supercuts, but when the pandemic hit in March, the city suddenly shut down, and she lost her job.
/
Nicole Aurit sits by her tent under a highway overpass in downtown Austin last month. Aurit had been working as a manager at a Supercuts before her job shut down due to COVID-19.
Nicole Aurit came to Austin from San Antonio expecting to live in her van, get a job and eventually find stable housing. She managed to find work as a manager at a Super Cuts, but when the pandemic hit in March, the city suddenly shut down, and she lost her job.
That halted a search for a permanent home. And the pandemic also slowed services for people experiencing homelessness, and donations from people suddenly limiting their contact with others.
COVID-19 puts San Antonio s annual counting of the homeless population on hold
Referred to as the point-in-time court, the effort gathers data on homeless San Antonians in order to provide them with better resources. Author: Alan Kozeluh Updated: 8:20 PM CST January 26, 2021
SAN ANTONIO In a normal, non-pandemic year, January would play host to the annual point-in-time count a coordinated effort between hundreds of volunteers to gather valuable information on the local homeless population, in order to better provide a route for them to emerge out of it.
But this isn t a normal year.
“Due to COVID-19 and safety concerns, we decided to cancel the event this year,” said Katie Vela, executive director of the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH).