Austin is facing two public health crises that are intertwined: homelessness and substance abuse. One can lead to the other, particularly in the case of substance abuse leading to homelessness.
There are several ways that addiction can lead to housing difficulties:
- Job loss that causes loss of income.
- Income being spent on the addiction rather than paying bills.
- Losing housing due to drug use or paraphernalia violations.
These are just some of the more common issues that can occur, significantly destabilizing housing for the addict and their family.
And of course, becoming homeless increases the chance of a person abusing drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. Recent reports emphasize that homelessness is seldom caused just by drugs. The trauma of losing a home can lead some people to use substances as a coping mechanism. Being unsheltered is itself traumatic, and sleeping outside or in a car heightens anxiety, isolation and health problems. These factors often coincide with depression, PTSD, emotion regulation or other conditions. Once people become homeless, they face relentless stress and limited options.
In recent years, Austin’s homeless population has skyrocketed while overdose deaths have surged. Recent data reported by KXAN about 3,238 people were counted sleeping on the streets or in shelters in January 2025. That’s roughly 800 more than the last count in 2023, which works out to be an astounding 36% increase in just two years. However, it’s important to acknowledge that other estimates suggest nearly 5,000 Austinites experience homelessness at some point each year.
At the same time, Travis County had about 440 accidental drug deaths in 2023 – well above the Texas average. The powerful opioid fentanyl is a major contributor of this surge: in 2022 the county recorded 417 overdose deaths, of which 245 involved fentanyl. Today three years later, approximately 90% of poisoning deaths include fentanyl.
Simply put, more people are unhoused and more are overdosing than ever before in Austin. Our men’s addiction recovery center is dedicated to being part of the city’s growing support system. As a part of that effort, we are trying to educate the public about the issues and what is being done to help local families that are struggling.
What’s Behind the Recent Rise in Substance Use Disorders and Homelessness in Austin, TX
The reasons for these two disturbing trends are complex and interconnected. From the cost of housing to co-occurring disorders that aren’t being treated, the City of Austin is fighting the issues on multiple fronts.
Economic Pressures and Housing Costs
Austin’s booming economy has driven up rent prices and property values at a very fast pace, making housing unaffordable for many people. City auditors report the number of identified homeless people has increased largely because of this issue. Local leaders have also pointed out the surge in homelessness is tied to “high living costs, low wages, and systemic racism” like gentrification and redlining.
Many working families and seniors that have lived in Austin for decades earn below-market wages, and when emergencies hit that causes financial distress, eviction can follow.
Meanwhile the supply of affordable housing has not kept pace with demand. The city and Travis County have responded with more funding. In 2024-25 the city budget set aside over $30 million annually for homeless services, including $8 million to keep a 300-bed emergency shelter open. Another $2 million was allotted for street outreach programs.
Supportive housing is also expanding: in April 2025 the City opened a new 100-unit apartment complex with on-site case management for chronically homeless residents. Officials are also pushing for 1,000+ new permanent housing units to be constructed by 2027.
Texas’ Notorious Shortage of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services
Self-medicating is common for the uninsured in Texas on the streets. Local studies show that homeless clients with mental health or substance disorders are far less likely to be stably housed without more support.
The problem is Texas doesn’t have the resources in place to meet the demand. There is a shortage of mental health professionals, treatment centers and support programs. Currently, the state and city’s like Austin are having to play catch up, doing what they can to bolster the mental health care system.
Emergence of Fentanyl and Synthetic Opioids
At the same time, fentanyl and synthetic opioids have ripped through the community, turning Austin’s substance use problem more deadly. Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine, and often contaminates other drugs unknowingly.
APH and medical examiners report that 50–90% of overdose deaths now involve fentanyl, and it’s showing up mixed into everything from meth to cocaine. Public health experts warn that any city resident could face an accidental exposure because fentanyl has no odor or taste. National research finds unhoused people overdose at higher rates than housed peers, because street life often means using alone and not having easy access to medical help or treatment.
What the City of Austin is Doing to Curb the Crisis
The situation may seem bleak, but help is on the way. Our city, county and nonprofit partners are mobilizing many programs and initiatives to save lives and offer people a path out of the crisis.
Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction
Austin-Travis County has ramped up naloxone (Narcan) distribution and training. Federal grants recently provided 15,000 doses of Narcan in reusable kits to be given to first responders, businesses and community groups. The Texas Dept. of Health also launched “One Pill Kills” campaigns, and lawmakers passed House Bill 6 to crack down on fentanyl trafficking.
Thanks to these efforts, dozens of local overdose victims have been revived in recent months, and the message “everyone carry Narcan” has taken hold among Austinites.
Supportive Housing and Shelters
Austin is building affordable housing that’s linked with support services as well as emergency shelters. The city and Travis County together have committed over $100 million in spending plans to maintain shelters and increase rapid-rehousing programs. And these “Housing First” models don’t require that residents be sober to qualify. The idea is to provide a stable home first, then offer addiction recovery, counseling and life skills training on site.
Street Outreach and Services
Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office created the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST), an interdisciplinary crew of APD crisis officers, paramedics and mental health specialists. HOST walks the streets and encampments daily, building trust and connecting people to shelters, medical care and addiction counseling services.
Since 2017, HOST has made over 10,000 visits and prevented hundreds of emergency room visits and arrests by offering on-the-spot help. Nonprofits are also staffing mobile units that deliver meals, hygiene kits and information about recovery programs right on the sidewalk.
Treatment, Recovery and Outpatient Services
In addition to these direct interventions through the city, Austin has expanded the number of clinics and programs for treating addiction and mental health concerns. The diverse ecosystem of addiction treatment now includes:
- Opioid treatment (methadone/buprenorphine) clinics
- Emergency addiction centers
- Sobering centers for people who are too intoxicated to be safely transported home
- Residential treatment programs
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Peer-led support groups and recovery meetings
- Local recovery residences (sober living homes)
Many organizations offer “warm handoffs” – for example, paramedics carrying naloxone now have direct connections to counselors who follow up with people after an overdose. Faith-based programs also fill gaps by providing safe, substance-free housing for people coming out of rehab.
Despite all these initiatives, the situation remains dire for many families at the moment. If you or a loved one are struggling with homelessness or addiction in Austin, know that help exists and you are not alone.
For those seeking a supportive recovery community grounded in faith, Any Length Retreat offers a compassionate, highly-successful non-clinical substance abuse program for men and their families. We utilize proven strategies, provide spiritual guidance, offer peer support (including family programs) and have created a safe, structured environment for healing. In our supportive retreat in the Austin area, men are able to address the roots of addiction for long-term recovery and successful community integration after addiction.
Let’s solve Austin’s substance abuse crisis one family at a time! Together, we can work toward a future where every person has a home, a community and a chance to heal through a proven recovery process.
