Where did Austin clear homeless encampments in the first week of its surge?

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After the city of Austin launched a homeless encampment cleanup surge last week, we now know which parts of the city were the first to be targeted.

According to a memo sent to city council and mayoral staff, the first week of the effort resulted in “five large operational zones” being “fully cleared.” The city says those five areas contained 57 individual sites.

According to that memo, those areas included:

• East Cesar Chavez and East 7th Street, from IH-35 to Pleasant Valley (including adjacent roadways and alleyways)
• The Cesar Chavez corridor from IH-35 to Mopac (westbound) and areas around Austin Pets Alive! and Amtrack Station

The city also cleared underpasses and frontage roads (and adjacent areas) near Mopac including:

• From William Cannon Drive to TX-360 Loop/Capital of Texas Highway
• Capital of Texas/TX 360 Loop to Wells Branch Parkway
• Barton Skyway to Stratford Drive

“These activities are personnel intensive and cost money. Simply cleaning up a camp and not having a place for people to go, such as a shelter or other housing, doesn’t solve the main issue— it just moves vulnerable people someplace else in the city. The city has also put significant resources into those aspects so that we don’t just move the problem from one place to another,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said on social media. “We will give regular updates on this city effort.”

Moving forward, the city will focus on the following areas:

• Week 2: Certain street levels, neighborhood parks and playgrounds, public library campuses and recreation areas
• Week 3: Large greenbelts and parks that pose major wildfire risks

“Outreach teams continue to engage directly with individuals ahead of cleanups to provide
information, offer shelter and services, and address barriers to housing whenever possible,” the memo from David Gray, Director of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations, said.