Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO)

05/11/2026

Housing is needed now more than ever.

This recent article from Austin Current highlights the impact locally funded housing vouchers have had for hundreds of Austinites transitioning out of chronic homelessness and the very real conversations happening around future funding disappearing.

Behind every number is a person, a story, and a community effort involving outreach workers, housing providers, healthcare partners, people with lived experience, and advocates working together every day to help neighbors move from surviving to thriving.

Read the article below!

Austin’s local housing voucher program for chronically homeless residents may face cuts amid budget deficits and increased encampment clean-ups.

05/11/2026

🗓️ Make plans this Saturday to celebrate affordable housing with Foundation Communities! We are hosting a LEASING DAY at Norman Commons, our brand new and beautiful apartment community in East Austin. You'll enjoy music, snacks, games, face painting, Kona Ice & more! Plus, you can get an up-close look at this exciting community that could be your next home! We're offering a grand opening special, two months free, plus no application fee, no security deposit and no move-in costs!

➡️ Located at 5712 Jackie Robinson St, next to Norman-Sims Elementary, Norman Commons features upscale and energy-efficient 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments at prices you can afford. Plus, residents enjoy no-cost services like a Learning Center for afterschool and summer programs and a Healthy Food Pantry, and a variety of amenities, including a playground, and picnic and recreation area.

You can learn more at NormanCommonsApts.org or call 512-610-0814, or come enjoy Leasing Day on Saturday, May 16 from 9:00AM to 3:00PM. Hope to see you there!

04/21/2026

The Roz is a place for stability, support, and new beginnings.

Grateful to everyone who made this possible. This is the work.

04/17/2026

Join us April 28 at 11 AM at the ECHO office! 🤝

Whether you’re a new partner, exploring ways to get involved, or just want a clearer picture of how the Homeless Response System (HRS) works in Austin and Travis County then this session is for you.

We’ll break down how the system operates, where your organization can plug in, and how to effectively engage with ECHO, Coordinated Entry, and the broader network of care.

Come connect and learn more!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexPZFHNoNJidR_a0ePq3DvDzGs_u8Dh-iMGh1o7JHGg58USg/viewform

04/16/2026

The Austin/Travis County Continuum of Care (CoC) is now accepting applications for open seats on the Leadership Council. We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

System Partner Seat (2)
Healthcare/Disability Seat (1)

The Leadership Council provides governance, oversight, and strategic direction for the homeless response system. Members play a critical role in shaping policies, guiding funding decisions, and supporting system performance across the community. We are seeking individuals who bring relevant expertise, strong collaboration skills, and a commitment to improving access to housing and services. Applications are open throughout the month of April.

We encourage community members, partners, and stakeholders to apply and to share this opportunity within their networks.
https://www.austinecho.org/leadership-council/

04/16/2026

The 2026 Fair Housing & Economic Mobility Conference is bringing together Austin’s leaders across housing, health, education, policy, philanthropy, community, business, and workforce sectors under one roof.

Matthew Mollica, Executive Director of ECHO, will present at 3 PM, diving into the systems shaping opportunity in our city.

If you’re interested in housing, economic mobility, or community well-being, we’d love to see you there.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-fair-housing-economic-mobility-conference-tickets-1984803775522?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

04/06/2026

Austin Homeless Advisory Council (AHAC) is a powerhouse group of leaders with lived experience of homelessness, helping shape a stronger, more informed Austin. Over the past year with ECHO, AHAC has been on a mission to stay in the know learning, exploring, and connecting with the services supporting our unhoused neighbors.

Huge shoutout to the City of Austin and Endeavors for opening their doors and giving AHAC a behind-the-scenes look at the work happening in our community 👏

Know an organization offering tours or opportunities to learn more about local services? Drop them in the comments or invite AHAC to visit through the ECHO website. Head to the Lived Expertise page and click AHAC.

04/02/2026

MEETING REMINDER: Join us for the Leadership Council public meeting on Monday, April from 12-2 p.m.! In addition to these updates, there will be a public comment period to close the meeting. See the full agenda and find the meeting link at austinecho.org/leadershipcouncil (link in bio)

Leadership Council is the governing body for Austin/Travis County’s Homelessness Response System, made up of people with firsthand experience of homelessness, service providers, local government leaders, and community advocates. The group is responsible for setting and upholding best practices, policies, and procedures for organizations that provide services to unhoused people in our community.

04/02/2026

Grateful to see our national partners come together in response to this HUD injunction. This kind of collective advocacy that moves real change forward!

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.

03/31/2026

Austin City Council Member Jose "Chito" Vela for Austin City Council, District 4 joined 1A - NPR radio last week to discuss the housing crisis impacting cities across the country. He leaves us with an important question to reflect on:
"What can you do to support the creation of more housing particularly, in the most walkable and high-opportunity areas of our city?"

Owning a house appears further and further out of reach for many people in the U.S. The problem is a national one. The median price for an American home is now just over $400,000. On average, houses cost five years of the median salary for someone working in the U.S. In some cities on the West Coast...