Austin advances South I-35 housing navigation center, naming a 13-member community advisory board roster
A city-owned homelessness resource hub is moving into its next phase
Austin has formally seated a 13-member advisory board for the South Austin Housing Navigation Center planned at 2401 S. Interstate Highway 35 Frontage Road (78741), a milestone that advances the city’s first municipally owned navigation center for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
The site was identified in early September 2025 and the Austin City Council voted on Oct. 9, 2025, to authorize purchasing the property. City materials describe the project as a housing navigation hub intended to connect residents to services that can prevent homelessness when possible and help people who are already unhoused move toward stable housing.
What the center is designed to do
City planning documents outline a service model that prioritizes housing navigation and stabilization. That includes help completing rental applications, addressing barriers tied to tenant rights or prior housing history, and connecting participants to supports that can strengthen long-term stability. The center is also expected to provide connections to physical and behavioral health care, substance use recovery resources, workforce development referrals, and basic-needs assistance while clients engage with services.
Advisory board: composition, role, and timeline
The advisory board is structured to balance nearby stakeholder input with lived experience and service-provider expertise. The charter establishes four representation categories and clarifies that the body is advisory only, without fiscal or policy-making authority. Under the charter, members serve two-year terms with a two-term maximum. The board is expected to meet monthly through the first year of operations and quarterly thereafter.
- 5 seats for local area representatives
- 3 seats for individuals with lived experience of homelessness
- 4 seats for homeless services and housing partners
- 1 seat for a local faith-based or civic representative
An open application window ran from Dec. 10, 2025, to Jan. 21, 2026. The city reported receiving 69 applications. A blind scoring process was conducted by evaluators drawn from multiple city-related entities involved in homelessness response and housing work, followed by a holistic review aligned with the charter’s criteria.
Named roster includes neighborhood, service-provider, and public-safety representation
The city’s March 18, 2026, memo lists the inaugural roster, including five local area representatives identified by residence proximity and council district, representatives from homelessness and housing-related organizations, three members designated as having experience of homelessness, and a civic/faith-based seat held by a Travis County constable.
The advisory board’s first order of business is expected to be advising on the development of a competitive social service solicitation for future navigation center operations.
What happens next at the South I-35 site
With the advisory board seated, city staff are onboarding members and moving forward with preparations for capital improvements, including building system upgrades. Temporary perimeter fencing has been installed. Any renovation contracts, lease arrangements, or new social-service agreements tied to the center are expected to require City Council authorization as the project proceeds toward opening.