The goal of the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) is to identify individuals who are experiencing homelessness, learn what challenges they face, and work to connect them to essential services such as medical and behavioral health care, case management, and housing. HOST helps the individuals identify their needs and serves a s a conduit to get them in to the appropriate social services. HOST is a collaboration of the Austin Police Department (APD), Austin-Travis Count Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Integral Care, and the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC). Together, the team members proactively reach out to individuals living on the streets to help them connect to the services they need to get back on their feet and achieve long-term stability.
The HOST team works in collaboration with the Sobering Center to connect persons encountered during outreach to much need short term stabilization and long term substance use services. The co-location of the teams allows for close collaboration and referral. Both HOST and the Sobering Center are committed to meeting community members where they are and connecting them to services to help them succeed.