Announcements

In response to elevated cases of COVID-19 in Dallas County, Austin Street Center opted to conduct shelter-wide testing in early December. There was no immediate concern motivating this action other than the general rise in Dallas cases. Six people tested positive. Those who test positive are immediately sent to recover at a separate isolation facility … Continue reading Austin Street Center conducts COVID-19 testing for all clients

In response to spiking COVID-19 cases in Dallas County, Austin Street Center has temporarily adjusted staff work schedules and locations. Beginning November 30, administrative staff will work from home. Essential shelter staff will move to a 4-40 (4 days, 10 hour days) schedule.

In response to elevated cases of COVID-19 in Dallas County, Austin Street Center opted to conduct shelter-wide testing to identify anyone who may be asymptomatic. 13 people tested positive. All were asymptomatic. Those who test positive are immediately sent to recover at a separate isolation facility (clients) or at their home (staff). We immediately begin … Continue reading Austin Street Center conducts another round of COVID-19 testing

Earlier this month, three clients were tested and diagnosed with COVID-19 at off-site facilities. In response, Austin Street decided to make COVID-19 testing available to all staff and clients in the shelter. Three people tested positive. One of those was later cleared. Those who tested positive were immediately sent to recover at a separate isolation … Continue reading Austin Street Center conducts proactive COVID-19 testing

Church of the Incarnation funded and assembled 84 additional partitions in the Hope Garden. With 12 volunteers, the team was able to provide more privacy and social distanced beds due to COVID-19.

The pain and suffering of generations of Black Americans run deep across the United States, including right here in Dallas. When calling for justice, we must also put our beliefs into action, which in turn will create better communities in which we live. Austin Street Center has been on the frontlines for the past 36 … Continue reading A Message from Austin Street Center’s CEO, Daniel Roby

Austin Street Center pauses to remember and give thanks for Jim T., a longtime friend and volunteer who recently passed away. Jim helped to touch lives through providing and serving meals at Austin Street Center. Jim shared a story of when his church group made a variety of sandwiches to serve at Austin Street Center, … Continue reading In Remembrance of Jim T., Longtime Friend and Volunteer

Austin Street Center has begun daily temperature checks and symptom tracking procedures for staff and clients. Austin Street also hired a temporary, part-time EMT to ensure temperature checks are conducted daily and to assist with client needs.

Hill and Wilkinson General Contractors donated and constructed bed partitions to create appropriate social distancing and increase privacy for Austin Street Center clients.

Support Austin Street Center on the May 5th North Texas Giving Tuesday Now. Early giving is available now through May 4. Thank you, Dallas Cowboys, Communities Foundation of Texas, and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas for spearheading this special effort to raise critical funds for COVID-19 relief and recovery. Our homeless response system is stepping … Continue reading Support Austin Street Center on “North Texas Giving Tuesday Now” on May 5

In response to COVID-19, Austin Street has executed a new shelter model, transforming from a night shelter into a 24-hour shelter. This gives our clients the option to shelter-in-place and not be pushed back onto the streets every morning to fend for themselves. However, many clients must still leave the shelter every day for work, … Continue reading Austin Street Center changes from night shelter to 24-hour shelter

March 13, 2020 Friends, Over the past few weeks, it’s become clear that the world is facing an unprecedented challenge. Like you, we are deeply concerned and want to do what we can to help keep our communities and families safe and healthy. As the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) evolves, I want to send a … Continue reading Austin Street Center’s Commitment to Community During COVID-19 Outbreak

Anytime you look at an infectious disease in a community, people at the most risk are those who have experienced poverty. Daniel Roby, CEO of Austin Street Center Learn more about how Austin Street Center is working to minimize the risk of the coronavirus: https://www.fox4news.com/news/homeless-centers-ready-for-potential-coronavirus-outbreak-in-north-texas

Mr. K didn’t hesitate to become the primary caretaker for his mother when she needed it most. He juggled a lot for years as her caregiver—working to support himself and his mother, while also navigating the ups and downs of a sibling with an addiction. He was not immune to the higher levels of stress, … Continue reading Former Client Gives Back to Help Others at Austin Street Center

Logan Ferguson, Austin Street Center’s Veterans Case Manager, received the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) Case Manager of the Year 2019 Award. “As a case manager, it’s my job to empower our clients and provide the resources, but it’s up to them to make things happen,” said Logan. “It makes me proud when they are … Continue reading Logan Ferguson Receives 2019 MDHA Case Manager of the Year Award

The new Dallas Connector Project launched in October 2019 to provide free and regularly scheduled transportation to individuals experiencing homelessness. This project ensures that clients are able to easily access services to secure healthcare, employment, and housing. In addition to a grant assistance from the City of Dallas, the Dallas Connector Project is a collaboration … Continue reading The Dallas Connector Project will Provide Transportation for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

For individuals experiencing homelessness, getting a professional haircut is not a priority, and most often not a possibility. “Haircuts for the Homeless,” a monthly event at Austin Street Center, is a collaborative partnership with The Gents Place, a prestigious men’s hair salon, and Sincerely You, an independent nonprofit which advocates for equal rights and treatment … Continue reading Making a Difference, One Haircut at a Time

Homelessness is challenging in every season! Frigid winter nights always spark concern over the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness; however, long days of summer are more dangerous. The National Weather Service reports that severe heat is the number one deadliest form of extreme weather, killing over two times as many Americans as almost … Continue reading Summer Heat Impact on Homelessness

This is the first Distinguished Service Award to be awarded for service to those experiencing homelessness in Dallas. Dallas – March 19, 2019 – Austin Street Center, an organization providing safe shelter and basic needs to help the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness, announces its inaugural Norm Hitzges Distinguished Service Award.  Hitzges will receive this … Continue reading Norm Hitzges to Be Honored with Distinguished Service Award at Austin Street Center’s 35th Anniversary Humble Beginnings Luncheon, Host Committee Announced

Austin Street is uniquely blessed in that the overwhelming majority of the meals we serve —more than 325,000 annually—are prepared, delivered, and served by volunteers. We simply could not fulfill our mission to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable homeless without the dedicated and generous volunteers who make sure that our clients are … Continue reading When Dinner isn’t just Dinner

There are as many reasons for homelessness as there are people who experience it. No two people are the same. The men and women who come to Austin Street are often in the most difficult season they have ever experienced. Because of this, the Austin Street team is committed to working with each individual by … Continue reading Homelessness Has Many Faces

Austin Street Center was excited to participate in Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance’s “90 in 90 Emergency Shelter Challenge,” alongside The Bridge and The Salvation Army. What began as an effort to find homes for 90 men and women experiencing homelessness turned into so much more. In total, 217 men and women are no longer homeless! … Continue reading 217 People Housed in 90 Days

myth #1: Homeless people are lazy and don’t want to work About 25 percent of homeless people around the country are employed, with between 40 to 60 percent of the homeless population having some form of full or part time employment in the last month according to the Urban Institute. Austin Street Center has approximately … Continue reading Common Myths about Homelessness

Summertime is just around the corner! With more daylight and no school, you may be looking for ways to engage your family and friends in helping to support the men and women experiencing homelessness that Austin Street serves. We would love to have you volunteer! Check out some of the summer volunteer opportunities we have … Continue reading Serve Your Homeless Neighbors This Summer!

Humble Beginnings is always a highlight of the year for us at Austin Street. It’s a time when we focus on sharing stories of courage and overcoming—from our special guests, and from those we serve every night. This year, we focused on The Sisterhood program, sharing Irene’s story (video below), featuring photography created by members … Continue reading Bob Lilly and Randy White Inspired at the 18th Annual Humble Beginnings Award Luncheon

Veterans experiencing homelessness face a unique set of challenges and opportunities for recovery. In partnership with Carry the Load, Austin Street’s veterans program offers individualized case management to help our nation’s heroes find their way home. Jeff* was discharged from the Army in 1975, already showing signs of what would much later be diagnosed as … Continue reading Homeless Veterans Find Help at Austin Street

We are thrilled to announce that our Executive Director Daniel Roby has been selected by the Dallas Business Journal as a member of the 2018 class of 40 Under 40 ! The Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awards celebrate the up-and-comers and people that North Texas community should know—they’re the future executives and influencers … Continue reading Executive Director Named One of the 40 Under 40!

The Third Annual No Place Like Home is Thursday, February 22! Held this year at TreeHouse, it’s an amazing party with food, drink, and Friends! Come bid to win stays in vacation properties and resort hotels, and new this year, home services and décor. The idea behind No Place Like Home is simple—we auction off … Continue reading Join us for No Place Like Home!

Winter, even in Texas, is a hard time to be homeless. Perhaps more difficult in Dallas where we can have temperatures in the 70s one day followed by a hard freeze the next. Cold weather is brutal—even life threatening—for those we serve. Austin Street works hard to ensure safety and warmth for all who seek … Continue reading Finding Shelter in the Cold

On Thursday, October 26, around 300 people and special guests Rich Dalrymple, Seth Littrell, Dave Manders, and Eric Nadel came together to celebrate the mission of Austin Street Center and to raise a record amount! Guests were encouraged to learn their gifts — provide life changing programs and services along with a strong focus on … Continue reading The 12th Annual Night with Norm Breaks Fundraising Records

Austin Street Center relies on thousands of volunteers to help us care for the most vulnerable members of our community. WELCOME CENTER SUPPORT We are always looking for energetic, friendly, and flexible volunteers to help provide excellent customer service at our Welcome Center! Volunteers in this position are the front line for assisting client services, … Continue reading Serve With Us this Holiday Season!

Austin Street Center understands that beyond their basic needs, our guests are often deeply in need of spiritual support and guidance. Through the generosity of two of our steadfast donors, Austin Street now has a full-time chaplain to meet the needs of our guests who seek spiritual refuge.. Felecia Burns is an ordained AME minister … Continue reading Spiritual Support for the Most Vulnerable

Dennis knows what it is to be hungry and homeless. He lived next to a dumpster for seven years before finding his way to Austin Street Center. Overwhelmed by most people and places, he carved out a little spot for himself away from the world and depended on scraps and handouts to survive. As the … Continue reading From Hungry and Homeless to Housed

Austin Street Center, which has provided safe shelter for the homeless since 1983, is impacted with a unique challenge as thousands of Hurricane Harvey evacuees are arriving in Dallas. Austin Street is coordinating with the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management to offer assistance. Six local mental health organizations have asked Austin Street for flexibility with … Continue reading Austin Street Center’s Response to Hurricane Harvey

Austin Street Center is blessed to have hundreds of amazing volunteers who come together to serve men and women experiencing homelessness. We wanted to know more about them, so we’re introducing a series of Volunteer Spotlights. First up: Leah Lucas, a college student who wanted to spend her summer giving back to the community. How … Continue reading Volunteer Spotlight on Leah Lucas

It’s easy to think that anyone who seeks services at a homeless shelter is actually homeless and in need of a safe place to stay for the night. However, according to Austin Street’s Executive Director Daniel Roby, that’s not always the case, “Sometimes people come to us in shock, having just been kicked out of … Continue reading Ending Homelessness Through Prevention

In its second year, The Sisterhood program at Austin Street Center has become a mainstay of our guest services. For 32 women, it is the lifeline they need to change their lives and embrace a future free from trauma and homelessness. The Sisterhood was developed to serve women who have experienced trauma that contributed to … Continue reading Seeking Shelter… Finding Family

The benefits of good quality food are well known, but growing that food can also be emotionally and psychologically beneficial. This is the premise behind the creation of a brand-new community garden at Austin Street Center (ASC). From a vacant city lot, the 2017 class of Leadership Dallas is creating the New Hope Garden to … Continue reading Sowing Hope… Harvesting Healing

What do you get when you take a class of fourth grade students and a group of women experiencing homelessness? A bunch of unlikely friendships and some beautiful poetry. This is the vision of the Common Ground Experiment, a collaboration between Wesley Prep and the Austin Street Sisterhood program.

If you have visited Austin Street Center in the last few years, chances are you’ve seen Mr. Campbell. But you’ll no longer find him here.

On Monday, April 24, friends and supporters of Austin Street Center gathered at the Omni Dallas to be inspired by honoree Chad Hennings and long-time supporter of Austin Street Norm Hitzges at the 17th Annual Humble Beginnings Award Luncheon.

We are thrilled to reveal our brand new website along with a freshly designed logo.