Sunrise Mobile
The Sunrise Mobile outreach program brings resources and housing navigation directly to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness in the Austin metro area. Services include humanitarian aid, coordinated assessments, physical and mental health wellness, substance abuse support, harm reduction, housing interventions, benefits enrollment and more.
About
The Sunrise Mobile outreach program started as a pilot program in January 2022 and became a cornerstone of our organization in June 2022. Our mobile teams take the portable services like humanitarian aid and coordinated assessments from our Hub location and bring them directly to an individual or homeless encampment with the ultimate goal of helping individuals acquire safe, supportive housing.
Sunrise has developed a strategy that allows us to map encampments over time, track the movement of individuals and take direct referrals through our Outreach Request Form from members of the public who would prefer to see social workers visit camps rather than police or enforcement personnel.
To assist people experiencing homelessness in Austin-Travis County with Sunrise services, please fill out an Outreach Request Form to dispatch a Mobile outreach team to the area. For information about making an outreach request please email mobile@sunriseaustin.org.
Hours of Operation
The Sunrise Mobile outreach teams are in the community Monday through Friday.
Contact Information
For more information about the Sunrise Mobile outreach program please email mobile@sunriseaustin.org.
FAQs
When should I make an outreach request?
If you recognize someone sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation i.e., on the streets, outside in a tent, in a park, in a vehicle (does not include habitable RVs), in an emergency shelter or safe haven, or in a place not meant for human habitation, or is immediately exiting an institution with nowhere to go (hospitals, jail, prison, treatment center). Then you can help them by making an outreach request and alerting us as to any specific concerns you may have regarding the people/person's well-being.
When should I NOT make an outreach request?
If there is a medical or mental health emergency. Please call 911.
If this is in response to crime or illegal activity. Please call law enforcement.
How soon will the mobile outreach team respond?
Due to high demand and limited hours, it may take anywhere from a few hours to a few days for a mobile outreach team to be deployed, and we may need to prioritize those individuals who are most vulnerable. With over 5,000 people living on the streets of Austin-Travis County, the need for outreach services is great.
What does the mobile outreach team do?
The mobile outreach team has many different skills including homeless services navigation, mental health first aid, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care, among others. They start by building a trusting relationship with and determining the needs of individuals living on the streets. Our mobile team takes the portable services like humanitarian aid and coordinated assessments from our Hub location and brings them to the individual or homeless encampment with the ultimate goal of helping individuals acquire safe, supportive housing.
Can I get an update on what happened?
If you provide your contact information, we will let you know we received your request and when it was fulfilled. We are required by law to protect the privacy of those we serve, therefore we are unable to share further updates (unless the client approves). However, if you agree to be contacted, we may reach out to you to ask additional questions that will help us locate and connect with the person referred.
How else can I help my unhoused neighbors?
Volunteering and donating to organizations serving people experiencing homelessness is a great way to help! Check out our ways to get involved or email development@sunriseaustin.org for more information on how to get involved with the Sunrise.
Sunrise Housing Success Story
CaRL’s Story
In June 2022 Carl was brought to the Sunrise Hub by a concerned mother whose formerly unhoused son had just passed away. Ashamed, vulnerable, and with tears in his eyes, Carl said he was ready for help. Staff told him how much strength it takes to be vulnerable and that we would help him through this. The mother said, "I don't know what to do. I am still grieving, and I can't do this." Sunrise gave her support, resources, and a plan that the Mobile outreach team would check on Carl the following day. The next morning, the Mobile team met up with Carl at his campsite. During his assessment, he mentioned his father in Oregon said he could come home to sober up and live with him. After speaking to Carl’s dad, the Mobile team purchased Carl a flight landing at 12:00 a.m. that night. Carl was suddenly energized! He was excited to start a new chapter of his life and talked about his daughter as he packed, "One is my daughter's skateboard, and the other is mine. She loves skating and I can't wait to skate with her when I'm back in Oregon...I have to get off these streets...they're going to kill me." The next day the team checked in with Carl's father who said shared how grateful he was to see his son home even in the "rough" shape he arrived in.