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We gather as neighbors to express our extreme concerns for our community—one defined by families, schools, and the aspirations of our children. We’ve now learned that the City is considering placing the *controversial* Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center—currently under legal scrutiny by the State of Texas—at **2401 S. I‑35 Frontage Road near East Oltorf**.

While we recognize the importance of providing necessary services to the homeless population and support solutions to address this urgent issue, the urgency, lack of transparency and complete lack of community engagement in the planning process raises significant concerns.

A Homeless Navigation Center, in principle, is a positive step toward aiding our vulnerable population, fostering rehabilitation, and ensuring access to essential resources. However, the placement of such a facility without comprehensive dialogue with the community members of EROC undermines the principles of trust and collaboration.

The establishment of any public facility, especially one that alters the community dynamics, must involve detailed discussions with affected residents. Official studies from urban planning authorities, such as the American Planning Association, underline the necessity for public consultations in urban developments to enhance community support and decrease resistance (American Planning Association, "Community Engagement for Resilient Cities," 2020). We deserve to be a part of the decision-making process!

Furthermore, Texas Attorney General has filed suit alleging that Sunrise, currently operating out of Menchaca Road adjacent to Joslin Elementary, has become a public nuisance. The lawsuit documents egregious incidents: drug paraphernalia, syringes, public masturbation and fornication, machetes, and students and staff feeling unsafe due to exposure to indecent and disorderly conduct. The State seeks injunctive relief prohibiting Sunrise from operating within 1,000 feet of any school or youth center.

For the following reasons, we believe that the city should absolutely find a more suitable location for this facility and commit to far more community input and transparency rather than trying to sneak this through with as little public comment as possible:

1. Proximity to At‑Risk Children and Schools

The proposed site at 2401 S. I‑35 Frontage Road places the center worryingly close to several schools:

**Linder Elementary School** — approximately a **5-minute walk**

**Hillside Early Childhood Center** — approximately a **5-10-minute walk**

**Travis Heights Early College High School** — roughly an **5-minute walk**

**Travis Heights Elementary School** — about an **15-minute walk**

The previous location’s proximity to Joslin Elementary led to complaints about drug paraphernalia and increased unsafe conditions for children, which prompted the center’s relocation in the first place. The institutions listed above serve a high population of low-income and at-risk youth. Families must pass near the proposed site daily and the City Council and Homeless Strategy Office are knowingly placing our most vulnerable populations at a high risk of crime with ZERO community input.

2. Burden on the Working Poor

Many lower-income families reside in the apartments near East Oltorf and I‑35. In fact, this area is in the heart of the most economically depressed, immigrant-rich neighborhoods in all of Austin. While we support compassionate solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness, locating a center associated with the Sunrise nonprofit—which has been accused of attracting disruptive and criminal behavior—directly in the heart of a residential pocket risks undue burden on working-class households indicates the lack of concern that the City Council has on these populations. These residents already face daily struggles; exposing them to environments where drug use or unsafe behavior is visible or systemic is counterproductive.

3. Safety Risks to Students, Staff & Residents

Students as young as four witnessed individuals engaging in indecent conduct, drug use, and public defecation and urination—often in sight of the school and neighborhood staff. Allowing a similar environment near our schools again would not only risk students’ physical safety but also their sense of security, well‑being, and readiness to learn.

Several public parks and areas have been named HEAL zones in the past year due to overwhelming amounts of crime and delinquency due to community activism to protect our vulnerable populations. Rather than meet with us to try to help advance these populations, the city has, behind closed doors, conspired to move this massive navigation center into our backyard JUST as we are fighting to free ourselves from the extraordinary amount of criminal activity that often surrounds these types of facilities.

4. Transportation & Accessibility Concerns

Unlike a downtown setting where robust transit, employment centers, and municipal services converge, the proposed location near I‑35 and East Oltorf offers extremely poor public transportation connectivity. Many of those seeking services rely on public transit—placing the center here would increase foot traffic through family-oriented neighborhoods and limit access for vulnerable individuals, undermining both service efficacy and neighborhood safety.

5. City’s Opportunity for a Better Fit

Thankfully, the City is already pursuing relocation options. Recent planning efforts—including a prospective site outside Council Member Ryan Alter’s district—suggest that a future location is being actively evaluated. Downtown or near well-structured transit corridors would offer improved connectivity, proximity to social services, and better capacity to manage client traffic—all while avoiding historic misconduct patterns seen with Sunrise.

CONCLUSION:

Given these grave concerns: the legal precedent, the documented public safety risks, and the proximity to at‑risk children and working‑class families, we strongly urge our City Council to reject the proposed 2401 S. I‑35 location.

Instead, take a few months to do a more thorough exploration of alternative options, cast a broad net for community input and hold to the City’s search for a more suitable, centrally connected site. Prioritize community safety, family well‑being, and effective service delivery.

We respectfully ask that the city commit to additional transparent, respectful, and data-driven neighborhood forums to ensure that residents’ voices are not only heard, but meaningfully incorporated.

Please sign this petition to urge city David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer, the City Council, city planners and officials to prioritize transparency and actively engage with residents in the decision-making process for the introduction of the Homeless Navigation Center and ultimately find the most suitable location, not the most convenient for the city to acquire a run-down building. Together, let's ensure that our voices help shape the development of our community in a way that supports all citizens.

Our neighbors at Greenbriar made the news with their concerns!