Governor Greg Abbott has been cracking down on the homeless population in Austin, Texas recently. Remember his charming tweet on Twitter which said, "Texas will hammer Travis County”? Greg Abbott has inserted himself into the city’s debate over the recent decriminalization of homelessness. He is right in the middle of everything regarding this debate.
His threats have continued to override Austin's elected officials. Abbott has threatened to take action if officials do not clean up the streets. He has imposed deadline a for November 1.
Governor Greg Abbott feels Austin’s land code policies allow the homeless to do whatever they want. The new homelessness ordinances that allow anyone to camp anywhere on city property as long as they don't create a nuisance, are not an immediate threat, or impede the right of way. His demands are not in the best interest of those facing homelessness or experiencing anything similar.
The homeless population in Austin, Texas has soared to one of the highest records of all time in 2019. Current estimates of the homeless population in Austin is 15,500. 7,500 people face homeless each year in Austin. Over half of the homeless population in Austin are not even from the area.
Tent cities has sprung up overpasses of several highways across town. Some homeless people have even taken refuge in public parks in overgrown areas covered with shrubs. An estimated 60% of the homeless population in Austin suffers from some form of mental health issues. Drug addiction is one of many issues homeless people face in Austin.
The homeless population rate has soared in Austin ever since Donald Trump had taken office as president in 2016. There is no coincidence in the homeless population rate soaring ever since Donald Trump took office.
Now let’s look at the historic estimates of the homeless population in Austin.
The homeless population in 1977 was 4,200. 300 out of the 3,300 patients from the Austin State Hospital were released into society. Many of these patients had nowhere else to go. So they ended up being homeless transients taking refuge in parks among other places. Mind you, this was before the Reagan era where President Ronald Reagan defunded and dismantled our healthcare system.
In 1998, there were 5,000 homeless people living in Austin. Many of the homeless people congregated in South Austin in places along Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway), SH 71 (Highway 71), US 183, and I 35.
An estimated 50% of the-then homeless population in Austin suffered from some form of mental health issues and drug addiction. Drug addiction among the homeless was not uncommon at that time. Many homeless people in Austin developed unhealthy addictions to certain drugs. Many of which are illegal.
As of 2019, there are almost 16,000 homeless people living in Austin and Travis County. The homeless population rate has soared in Austin ever since Donald Trump has taken office as president. Homeless population rates have soared across the country as well. 200% higher than the homeless rates from 20 years ago.
Many of the homeless congregate Downtown, Wooten, Rundberg, Rutland, William Cannon, Oak Hill, and South Austin. Homeless shelters such as KOA and Community First have sprung up in the Decker neighborhood east of US 183.
Over 60% of the homeless population in Austin suffers from some form of mental health issues or suffer from drug addiction. Many of the homeless people in Austin are drug addicts. Drug addiction is one of many issues homeless people face in Austin.
Austin faces a sad reality of an ever-growing homeless problem which both political parties hardly protect. The visibility of homelessness needs to be addressed. Both Republican and Democratic policies have failed to protect society’s most vulnerable population. Both parties need to be held accountable for the damage they have caused towards the homeless population in not only Austin, Texas but America.
The homeless rate continues to rise and shows no signs of decreasing anytime soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment