A report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services says about 2-3 percent of the U.S. population (5-8 million people) will experience at least one night of homelessness over a five-year period.

• One of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population is families with children; in fact, families with children comprise 40% of the homeless population (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2004)

More than 630 children have received shelter at Austin Street Centre since January, 2006. We provide transportation to school, school supplies, medicines and clean clothing. A new park/playground, donated by The Dallas Mavericks Foundation and the Eugene Straus Family Trust is available for these children to have supervised play in the afternoons.

• Homeless women comprise one-fifth of the U.S. homeless adult population

Austin Street Centre provided shelter to more than 21,000 women last year. We created our Women’s Work Therapy Program in 2001 to help our female clients make positive changes and become economically self sufficienty.

• The most troubling health issues for homeless women relate to violence, substance abuse and mental health…specifically depression. (National Coalition for the Homeless)

Austin Street Centre provides shelter to approximately 65 women per night. Weekly group therapy sessions are also available, as well as weekly social outings with shelter psychologists.

• Substance abusers account for about 30 percent of the homeless population in the United States (Report: U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2004)

Austin Street Centre provides FREE substance abuse counseling, group therapy and one-on-one therapy with licensed chemical dependency counselors. We partner with the UT Southwestern Medical School and the SMU School of Psychology to provide these services.

• "Education and training are essential elements in preparing parents for better paying jobs to support their families." (National Coalition for the Homeless)

Austin Street Centre's "Work Therapy Programs" have graduated more than 120 individuals in six years. The programs provide on-the-job training for more than 80 individuals each month.

• More than 600,000 men, women and children go homeless each night in the United States, according to figures provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Austin Street Centre currently provides shelter for more than 400 men, women and children each night.

• Approximately 23% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2004)

Austin Street’s "Club House Program" is available to help our mentally challenged and physically handicapped residents. This program provides a vocational and recreational day-time environment, as well as psychological counseling. It is supervised by our on-staff psychiatric nurse.