Max Moscoe, Public Information Officer for The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF), an Austin-based nonprofit organization, emphasized the societal benefits of addressing homelessness. He made this statement on January 22 during an interview with the Lone Star Standard.
"Unsheltered homelessness is taxing on society at large in a variety of ways," said Moscoe. "Unsheltered homelessness causes excessive use of emergency services, detrimental interactions with figures of authority, and a variety of other social issues. It is said that “A rising tide lifts all boats,” and this is certainly true for homelessness: When a person becomes a contributing member of society instead of a person that has been cast aside, everyone benefits."
Moscoe said that homelessness is taxing on individuals, noting, "homelessness is an absolute drain on people’s physical and mental health. As they are able to get out of the elements and stabilize, they can take back control of their health and their life as a whole." TOOF addresses this issue by designing its services to be "extremely low-barrier," removing sobriety requirements, curfews, and other obstacles to meet people where they are.
According to Unity Parenting and Counseling, homelessness imposes various strains on communities. It increases financial burdens and contributes to public health issues due to limited access to hygiene facilities among the homeless population. Furthermore, the social stigma associated with homelessness fosters shame and isolation, impacting society negatively.
In October, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee conducted public hearings and invited testimony to study programs addressing the homelessness crisis in Texas. The aim was to propose legislation targeting the root causes of homelessness by expanding successful programs across cities of all sizes. A report on these hearings was released in January.
The Senate State Affairs Committee report highlighted testimony from The Other Ones Foundation’s Camp Esperanza. It recommended that Texas support centralized campuses offering onsite services such as healthcare, substance abuse programs, and workforce development. This idea was endorsed by Chris Baker, Founder and Executive Director of TOOF, who said during the hearings that "state organizations can improve homelessness in their respective communities by offering a variety of intervention types for individuals experiencing homelessness and increase funding for organizations dedicated to addressing this topic."
According to its website, The Other Ones Foundation was founded in 2017 and initiated construction on the Esperanza Community in 2021. In 2023, the organization assisted 596 individuals, with 288 people transitioning into stable housing. The group's 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."
