Integral Care is building Housing First Oak Springs, an apartment community in Austin where residents can build a better life through recovery from homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorder.
Integral Care is proud to announce taking the first steps toward making Housing First Oak Springs a reality. See some of our demolition photos here.
Housing First Oak Springs Rendering
Be part of the solution – donate today and help us end chronic homelessness for people with mental illness.
Housing First is Changing the Way We Think About Homelessness
Cities around the world are implementing Housing First Programs and changing the lives of hundreds of people affected by homelessness. Here are some videos showcasing just how much a stable home can benefit one’s mental health.
Integral Care’s Homeless Outreach Team in the News
Integral Care is partnering with the Austin Police Department, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and the Downtown Austin Alliance on an important community outreach program for homeless individuals who may also be experiencing mental illness or substance use disorder. Listen to a story about the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) on KUT, featuring an interview with Darilynn Cardona-Beiler.
Meet the Team
Ali Khataw is a Housing First Oak Springs Leadership Advisory member. He is the CEO and Founder of Encotech Engineering Consultants, INC. and is very involved in the community. Mr. Khataw recently attended an Integral Care Housing First tour where we had a chance to ask him some questions.
Last year, over 2000 individuals experiencing homelessness slept on Austin’s streets, in doorways or in a park. Many of them were veterans. Integral Care provides a variety of services for veterans that include mental health treatment, crisis care, housing and other social supports. Integral Care’s Safe Haven model was recognized as the best program in the nation due to its success in reaching and housing homeless veterans with complex needs. Read what one of our Safe Haven residents had to say about his stay.
“One of the things I like most about being here is the friends. To be with other people who can relate to military training, principles and values. We have something in common. I felt lonely in the civilian world but here there are a lot of good friends. It’s a good place to hold you over until you get your place: that’s the mission. It makes it easy to get back up and the day will come when you will be doing the same.”
David A. – Veteran and Safe Haven Resident
June is PTSD Awareness Month
June is PTSD Awareness Month – a great opportunity to encourage our community to learn more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, find out who can be affected and how treatment can help. Visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network web site for more information and to see what you can do to raise awareness for our veterans and others affected in our community. PTSD Awareness Day is on June 27.
Tours
See how our teams work with people experiencing chronic homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Join us as we support them on their journey to stable, safe and permanent housing. Tours happen every Wednesday at 9 am. Interested parties must RSVP.
We know that housing is more than four walls. It’s the basic foundation for physical and economic well-being. Be a part of the solution at housingfirstatx.org.
Ellen Richards
Chief Strategy Officer
Austin Travis County Integral Care
Housing First Oak Springs is a project of Austin Travis County Integral Care