Acronyms
CoC
What is Continuum of Care?
Basic necessities like food and a roof over one's head must be provided in order to best address other needs, such as getting a job or resolving substance use.
What is Housing First?
Responding, Engaging, Connecting
What is Street Outreach?
The name of this agency comes from the Latin word meaning “charity” or “love.”
What is Caritas of Austin?
HSO was originally called this when it was created at APH in 2020
What is the Homeless Strategy Division?
HMIS
What is the Homeless Management Information System?
This practice acknowledges the need to understand people's life experiences in order to: 1) deliver effective care and 2) actively avoid re-traumatization.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Fast, Rent, Support
What is Rapid Re-Housing?
This org started with a van that connected homeless individuals with work opportunities
What is The Other Ones Foundation/TOOF?
This HSO team member has served as a hostage negotiator.
Who is Melanie Carter?
ARPA
What is the American Rescue Plan Act? (2021)
Focusing on making substance use safer and offering, but not requiring, options to end reliance on drugs/alcohol are essential parts of this practice
What is Harm Reduction?
Safe, Food, Bed
What is Emergency Shelter?
There are 5 agencies that had 7 or more Contracts with HSO in 2024. Name 2.
What is Integral Care (9)? LifeWorks (9)? Caritas (8)? Family Endeavors (8)? Family Eldercare (7)?
Two of the three departments that contributed staff to the formation of the new HSO Office.
Who are PARD, EMS and/or APH?
CA/CE
What is Coordinated Assessment/Coordinated Entry?
If you have lived experience and are providing support and mentorship to others by drawing on your own experiences, you are providing this.
What is Peer Support or Peer Counseling?
Avoid, Resolve, Support
What is Homelessness Prevention?
Our two local Public Housing Authorities (PHA)
What is the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) and the Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC)?
The first Homeless Strategy Office baby
Who is Lucy? (Gary's daughter)
The HIC and the PIT
What is the Housing Inventory Count and the Point-In-Time Count?
Continuous problem-solving conversations and reassessment of client needs focus this practice on providing minimal assistance to achieve housing stability.
What is Progressive Engagement?
Conversation, Immediate, Resolution
What is Diversion? or What is Rapid Exit?
This local business association launched the Homelessness Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART), and advocates for homeless services and resources
What is Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA)?
These two staff members hail from the great City of New Orleans.
Who are David and Jade?