West Campus(Austin, TX) is the name of an area just west of The University of Texas at Austin that many college students call home. It includes co-ops, fraternity and sorority houses, but mainly large apartment buildings... West campus was created to be a small community for students to be able to live amongst fellow students while being just a short walk away from campus and the many restaurants and shops conveniently close by. 

As a member of the West Campus community, I have created this petition regarding a serious issue affecting me and my fellow college students in the area. While West Campus offers convenient proximity to campus and a sense of camaraderie among fellow students, it is also home to a sizable homeless population, many of which suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. These individuals pose a direct threat to the safety and well being of our community.

The presence of homeless individuals in our community is a concrete and pressing problem that strongly affects students. College students living in the West Campus area often encounter homeless individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and may behave erratically or even violently. This creates a possible sense of fear or insecurity that could negatively impact academic performance and general quality of life.

In addition to the direct threat to our safety, academic performance, and quality of life, the homelessness problem in West Campus has also led to a rise in theft and crime. As a resident of one of the apartment complexes in the area, I have personally witnessed a string of robberies in our parking garage. Homeless individuals living in the alley next to my building have broken into our garage and stolen items from cars on multiple occasions. One of my fellow residents even had their entire truck stolen straight from a spot that they are paying $200 a month for. While we understand that individuals who are homeless may be lacking food and resources, so they feel that they have no other options, these crimes are unacceptable and put the safety and security of our community at risk. We urgently need action from Students, The University of Texas at Austin, and the city of Austin to address this issue and protect the safety and well-being of all residents in the West Campus area.

Inaction should not be an option. The continued presence of a neglected homeless population poses a serious risk to the safety and security of our community and the wider Austin area. Addressing this issue requires providing assistance and support to those struggling with addiction and mental illness, and investing in programs that help lift homeless individuals out of poverty.

I ask you to act now. Our community cannot afford to wait any longer. I urge you to sign this petition and help provide resources toward programs that support homeless individuals in their journey toward stability and recovery. This includes access to housing, mental health and addiction treatment, and other resources that can help homeless individuals transition out of homelessness and make the city of Austin, and specifically West Campus a better living environment.