Programs & Services
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Our Programs
Statement of Need:
A survey conducted in January 2021 by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) found that an estimated 3,160 people were experiencing homelessness in Austin and Travis County. This figure has remained consistent for the last three years: the homeless population was pegged by ECHO at 3, 194 in 2020 and at 3, 024 in 2019. The 2021 estimate includes 2,238 people living in tents, cars, abandoned buildings and other places not meant for human habitation, as well as 922 persons sleeping in shelters, transitional housing or city-provided lodges. Almost 70 percent of Austin's homeless population are people living with a disability. Fifty-one percent are chronically homeless, 41% are domestic violence survivors and 34% of the population are families with children. Also, African-Americans and veterans are overrepresented among homeless persons, the ECHO survey found.
Homelessness leads to early death, according to the advocacy website Street Sense Media. Across the nation, people who are homeless die at about 50 years of age - nearly 30 years younger than the general populations lifespan of 78.7 years. In fact, unhoused people have roughly the same life expectancy as Americans did in 1910, more than a century ago.
How Can We Help
Current Accommodations:
These Include cleared tenting areas, limited RVs and micro-shelters, picnic tables, portable grills, fire pits, food refrigeration, fully equipped kitchen, laundry facility, community bathroom that includes a shower, several porta potties on property, media room, limited electrical connections and a hard-packed driveway traversing the property and leading to a paved public road.
Ride Requests
We understand that not everyone has access to a vehicle, and we want to help. We offer assistance, but our ride request service is mostly dependent on what volunteers can do to help. Your request is not a guarantee.
Laundry Facility
We offer a full laundry room and provide laundry detergent. We also try to provide fabric softener when made available by donations.
Pet Policy
We accept one animal per person or two animals per family unit. We ask that you have your animal spayed and neutered. You will need to fill out an animal application for every animal.
Guests and Overnight Guests
We allow guests at any time and overnight guests with an application approval. Residents are never allowed to knowingly bring someone that is a registered sex offender onto the property.
Movement Restrictions
We are a gated community and require our residents to keep the gate locked at all times. However, our adult residents are free to come and go as they please.
If someone applies and gets accepted, we will help get you to our facility.
We can provide transportation for those without a vehicle to relocate to our facility, and can help with ride assistance while at our facility, based on volunteer availability.
Around the Center
At Camp Haven Sanctuary we strive to build a community that meets the needs of our residents. We have limited micro-shelters, RVs, tents, and camp space.
Community kitchen
We offer a full kitchen to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. We provide a community dinner every night and most mornings. It's available for anyone to use from 8am to 8pm.
Free Store
We strive to provide our residents with clothing, linens and hygiene items made possible by our generous donors.
Hygiene Facilities
We currently have a community laundry facility, bathroom with a shower and toilet. We also have several porta potties and hand washing stations on property.
Library and Entertainment Center
We have books, DVDs and board games for the benefit of our residents.