The Austin Shelter for Women and Children (ASWC) is a low barrier, housing focused emergency shelter serving women and dependent children experiencing homelessness. Our goal as operator of the program is to provide “wrap-around” services designed to assist homeless women in ensuring that homelessness is brief, rare, and non-recurring.
Case management, rapid rehousing, employment assistance, computer learning lab, child care, and child/family therapy are provided on site. Based on a model of trauma-informed care, objectives focus on obtaining safe and stable housing, income necessary to support housing, and personal stability. Applicants are accepted on a first call first serve basis, and the center maintains a call-back list which has averaged more than 300 women and children for the past year.
During an average stay of approximately 90 days, clients work on plans to acquire permanent housing and increase their skills and income. Many are linked to rapid rehousing, transitional and permanent housing opportunities through The Salvation Army’s collaborative initiatives such as the Passages Program.
Austin Shelter for Women and Children staff provide follow -up case management in these cases for 6 to 18 months after participants are housed. The Austin Shelter for Women and Children has a highly qualified staff of social work, counseling and educational professionals who work as an interdisciplinary team.
The focus on trauma-informed services, health/wellness, and connection to mainstream housing and employment resources contribute to the successful percentage of exits to safe and stable housing.
Read about a woman’s experience of checking in to the Austin Shelter for Women and Children on pages 6-7 of our 2018 Annual Report.
The Austin Shelter for Women and Children is operated by The Salvation Army since 2001, in partnership with the City of Austin. The facility was built in 1933 and recently was renovated with City of Austin bond funding. Capacity was increased by 81 beds, a new day care center was built, ADA improvement and facility upgrades were added.
Meet LaChantia, a former resident of The Austin Shelter for Women and Children.
Community Partners
141
women
305
children
48,286
meals served
34,200
bed nights
446
clients received case management
85%
of adults and children exit to safe and stable housing
71%
of adults improved their financial status
*Service numbers for 2019 calendar year
The Austin Shelter for Women and Children Renovation in 2018
In 2018, renovations were completed to the existing 17,000 square-foot Austin Shelter for Women and Children building, including a new 4,900 square-foot residential wing, and a new 3,200 square-foot child care facility, which will aid in improving and increasing services. The project was constructed in phases allowing the existing facility to remain continuously operational to serve women and children in need. The additional residential space has increased the shelter from 60 beds to 81.
The architectural design of the renovation project received recognition from the American Institute of Architects. The Austin Shelter for Women and Children has also been recognized by The Salvation Army as one of its highest performing programs and was awarded The Salvation Army National Excellence in Programming award in 2014. In 2016, the ASWC received the highest evaluation score in The Salvation Army Southern Territory, which included Best Practices in Case Management.
View our renovation and ribbon-cutting ceremony photos.
Inspired by our Christian mission, we offer the resources and support to lift up our neighbors in crisis. As the largest provider of emergency shelter in Central Texas, annually we serve more than 100,000 men, women, and children with shelter, addiction rehabilitation, clothing, meals, holiday support, and direct client assistance. We case manage hundreds from crisis to stability and self-sufficiency.