Austin Parents Rally for Cleanliness and Safety Amid Homelessness Crisis Near Schools

Austin Parents Worry Over Trash and Safety Around Schools

AUSTIN, Texas — Residents of South Austin are grappling with ongoing concerns about safety and cleanliness in their neighborhoods, particularly around schools. As the Austin City Council is taking steps to address homelessness in the upcoming 2024-25 budget, one local mother is taking matters into her own hands after witnessing the challenges first-hand.

Ashley Hammock, the mother of a 5-year-old who attends Joslin Elementary, has become increasingly frustrated with the mounting trash and used needles found near the school playground. The school is situated right next to a neighborhood park, a common hangout for individuals experiencing homelessness. “It’s devastating,” Hammock shared. “My son can’t even play here anymore because I’ve found exposed needles with the tip still on them. We shouldn’t have to teach kids about needles at this age.”

Cleaning Up the Park

On a recent Monday, Hammock decided she had had enough of the mess and took it upon herself to clean the park. Armed with a couple of trash bags, she was shocked to realize how much litter she encountered. “I thought I’d only need two bags, but it ended up being a lot more than that,” Hammock said. Her cleanup efforts revealed not only trash but also several needles, bottles of Narcan — a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses — and even some items better left unnamed. “I found something that looked like human feces, but I didn’t dare touch that. That’s a smell you don’t want to smell, trust me.”

Community Concerns

The challenges surrounding homelessness in South Austin are not new; the city has been working for years to remove encampments and provide better resources for those in need. Currently, the nearest Homeless Navigation Center—which offers specialized resources for the homeless—is located just across from Joslin Elementary. District 5 Councilmember Ryan Alter expressed his concerns about the concentration of these services in one area. “It’s totally unfair to the neighborhood that they’re the only operator doing this in the entire city,” he explained. “That puts way too much pressure on this one area.”

Looking for Solutions

In light of these issues, Alter recently directed the city manager to explore the possibility of establishing two additional navigation centers throughout the city, aiming for a more equitable distribution of support services. “We’re proactively looking for new locations that are better suited and more appropriate than what’s across from an elementary school,” he noted. “We’ve got some ideas, and discussions are happening about identifying these locations soon.”

However, despite these encouraging plans, Alter stated that there is currently no fixed timeline for when these new centers will open. “We know this situation can’t continue as it is,” Hammock insisted, emphasizing the urgency of the matter. “For the sake of our children, things have got to change.”

The Bigger Picture

While the city grapples with homelessness, community members like Hammock are doing their part to create a cleaner and safer environment for everyone. The situation in South Austin highlights the delicate balance between providing necessary resources for those in need and ensuring the safety and well-being of the surrounding community.

As the city council continues to work on feasible solutions, residents are left hoping for positive changes that can benefit all parties involved while ensuring their children can safely enjoy their local parks and playgrounds.