Austin’s Homeless Navigation Center Debate: NIMBYs vs. Reality

Ah, Austin—the city where the only thing growing faster than the skyline is the number of people sleeping under it. The latest chapter in our never-ending saga of Where Do We Put The Unhoused Folks? has arrived, and this time, it’s East Oltorf’s turn to clutch their pearls. The proposed homeless navigation center, set to replace a former motorcycle dealership (because nothing says fresh start like a building that once sold Harleys), has neighbors in a tizzy.

Residents are worried about crime, drugs, and—most terrifying of all—other homeless people showing up. Ashley Pound, a local who has bravely endured the East Oltorf wilderness since 2020, fears the center will ‘bring in a lot more unhoused people that might not be in this area.’ Ah yes, the horror of new homeless people. Because the ones already there? Totally fine. They’ve been vetted by the neighborhood watch, presumably.

Mary Fealkoff, president of the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Association, chimed in with the classic NIMBY battle cry: ‘Let’s help the people we already have!’ Translation: Let’s not help anyone new, lest they ruin the vibe of our already-vibrant, crime-riddled block.

Meanwhile, city officials are scrambling to assure everyone that this won’t be like those other navigation centers—you know, the ones run by faith-based groups that Ken Paxton sued for being ‘common nuisances.’ No, this one will be city-run, which means it’ll be underfunded, understaffed, and probably close in two years when the next budget crisis hits. But hey, at least it’ll have a fresh coat of paint!

And let’s not forget Councilmember Zo Qadri’s masterful political sidestep: ‘If a vote were held today, I would not be able to support this.’ Bold stance, Zo. Really groundbreaking stuff. Homelessness has been a ‘priority’ since day one, but apparently, that priority is not actually doing anything until everyone stops complaining.

So here we are, Austin—debating whether to help people in need while pretending we’re not all just one missed paycheck away from joining them. But don’t worry, folks. If this falls through, there’s always the next empty lot. Or the one after that. Or… well, you get the idea. Welcome to the circus.