Max Moscoe, Public Information Officer for The Other Ones Foundation, an Austin-based nonprofit focused on aiding the transition of individuals out of homelessness, outlined his organization's comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis. Moscoe shared his statement with the Lone Star Standard on January 22.
"Investing in a holistic approach to homelessness response is the only way to end homelessness," said Moscoe. "A robust homelessness response requires adequate housing that is truly affordable (often free to the end user), safe and dignified shelter, effective outreach into the homeless community, and a wide array of interventions ranging from workforce re-entry to accessible healthcare and more."
According to Moscoe, The Other Ones Foundation addresses homelessness both at a personal level and on a broader scale. Their "goal for individuals is for them to achieve stability and independence through engaged [an] community." They envision "homelessness to be rare, short, and non-recurring" for those experiencing it.
In 2023, The Other Ones Foundation assisted 596 individuals, facilitated the exit of 288 people from their program into stable housing, and removed 838,031 pounds of trash from Austin’s green spaces. This environmental cleanup was conducted through TOOF’s Workforce First program, which provides homeless individuals the opportunity to earn a living wage by "performing large-scale environmental clean up and invasive species removal." Additionally, TOOF made significant improvements to their Esperanza Community in East Austin—a homeless shelter complex offering support services and on-site work opportunities. The Esperanza Community currently features 100 climate-controlled cabins along with several communal areas and hygiene facilities.
In October, the Texas Senate State Affairs committee held public hearings and invited testimony to examine programs addressing the homelessness crisis in Texas. They aimed to propose legislation targeting the root causes of homelessness by expanding successful programs across cities of all sizes.
The Senate State Affairs committee report released this January highlights testimony from The Other Ones Foundation's Camp Esperanza. It recommends that the state legislature "should consider supporting the development of centralized campuses modeled after Haven for Hope," integrating emergency shelter, healthcare, mental health and substance abuse services, workforce development, and permanent housing options.
Founded in 2017 according to their website, The Other Ones Foundation initiated their Workforce First Program in 2018 and began construction on the Esperanza Community in 2021. Their mission is to create "sustainable pathways to stable housing and independence by providing reliable shelter, developing workforce skills and opportunities, and offering a supportive environment."
