Absolutely! We have never quit providing our services to any of our clients. We are still a full-functioning non-profit organization dedicated to serving and helping those experiencing homeless within our community.

Unfortunately, we no longer provide shelter services downtown as of September 30, 2022. We have loved serving at the ARCH for over 25 years. In this new area of development, our growth allows us to expand into affordable and rapid rehousing for our clients as, Front Steps Homes! 

There are various measures to the word homeless. One is homeless if one lacks housing or a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. These types range from episodic to transitional or chronic homelessness. One may have a roof temporarily or for the evening and still be homeless. We are here to help and serve those experiencing these circumstances. 

Please call us at (512) 696-1484 or email us at info@frontsteps.org

To be housed, one must have a valid government-issued driver’s license or Identification Card (ID), birth certificate, and social security card. Our fantastic team is here to help obtain these items for our clients if necessary. 

Although there is typically a waiting list for housing, the wait varies depending on the situation. We follow a coordinated system that allows us to determine the intensity of each individual’s situation. We are here to serve and help

You can help Front Steps’ mission of serving those in need by dedicating your time, donation, or support to help our clients in need.

To volunteer, please visit our volunteer page or send us a message at development@frontsteps.org

To donate, click on the DONATE button located on the website or also donate here: https://frontsteps.org/donate/

You may be eligible for several veteran and non-veteran programs in our community. Even if you are not eligible for VA benefits, or if you have an honorable or dishonorable discharge status, you are encouraged to complete the coordinated assessment process. You may also visit our Veterans page for more information.

A guide to local emergency shelter resources found here.

See our Austin Community Resources page

Front Steps focused on our programs: Veteran with our SSVF (Supportive Services for Veterans), PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing) and our First Steps. You may learn more about our programs by visiting our programs page.

SSVF is for very low-income Veterans, SSVF provides case management and supportive services to prevent the imminent loss of a Veteran’s home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for the individual and his or her family; or to rapidly re-house Veterans and their families who are homeless and might remain homeless without this assistance.

Eligibility Criteria:  

• Reside in Travis County
• Currently experiencing homelessness/ Imminently at-risk of literal homelessness       
• Household income less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
• Be a member of a Veteran family (single individual or multi-person household)
• Have a discharge status other than dishonorable

PSH is permanent housing in which housing assistance (e.g., long-term leasing or rental assistance) and supportive services are provided to assist households with at least one member (adult or child) with a disability in achieving housing stability.

 Eligibility Criteria:  

•               Households must meet the HUD definition of homelessness  
•               One adult or child member of the household must have a disability  

To further our mission of preventing and ending homelessness, Front Steps has launched two new programs under our homeless prevention initiative called First Steps; the Housing Displacement Prevention Program and Housing Placement Program. These programs are run solely by Front Steps therefore do not need a coordinated assessment. 

The Housing Displacement Prevention Program is designed to help people keep their housing.

The Housing Placement Program is designed to help people who are already unhoused and need to be placed in short-term housing right away. 

Find more information about the First Steps here. 

Currently, completion of a coordinated assessment is required to receive services for Veterans with our SSVF (Supportive Services for Veterans) and PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing). 

First Steps and its programs; Homeless Displacement Prevention Program and Housing Placement Program DO NOT need a coordinated assessment.  

Coordinated Entry provides a single entry point for people experiencing homelessness to access vital community resources. A Coordinated Assessment is a chance for you to let multiple programs in the community know that you would like some help finding housing. You will also get the chance to tell us what your housing and support needs are, and we will try to give you as many resources as possible.

Contact the following: 

Sunrise Navigation Center

Address: 4430 Menchaca Road

Phone Number: 512-522-1097

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC)

Address: 505 Barton Springs Road, First floor

Phone Number: 512-974-4879

Hours: Wednesday, 12-4 p.m.

First Baptist Church

Address: 901 Trinity St

Phone Number: 512-476-2625

Hours: Monday-Friday, by appointment only. Call ahead to request in-person or phone appointments.

Salvation Army

Phone Number: (512) 476-1111

Address: 501 E 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m.-11a.m/ 2 p.m.-4p.m.

Caritas of Austin (By Phone Only)

Phone Number: 512-472-4135

Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-10 a.m.

Step 1: Speak with an assessment staff.

Step 2: Complete an assessment.

Step 3: Discuss your options

Step 4: Keep your information up-to-date.

Persons currently accessing emergency shelter or safe haven; are on the streets, in a car, or camping are able to complete Coordinated Assessment. Persons can also complete the assessment if they stayed at one of these locations before entering a hospital/jail/rehab center and they will not be there for more than 90 days.

Persons currently housed, living in a boarding home, paying for a hotel, staying with a friend/ family member, or primarily staying at one of these locations before entering a hospital/jail/rehab center cannot be served at this time.

If you were homeless before being in jail or prison, and have stayed in jail or prison for 90 days or less, then you are eligible to complete as assessment