Since 1889, The Salvation Army has provided services to meet the basic needs of homeless and low-income populations in Travis and Williamson counties.
The Salvation Army is the largest provider of emergency shelter and support services in Austin. Our shelter programs are designed to break the cycle of homelessness and guide struggling neighbors to self-sufficiency.
Opening in 1988, The Downtown Shelter and Social Service Center is a 242 bed multi-population that serves single men and women. In 2001, TSA began operating the Austin Women & Children Shelter, a facility funded by the City of Austin, with 81 beds for women and children. Despite being a large safety net to the housing insecure, TSA continues to have an average of 150-300 women and children on our shelter waitlist every day.
Recently opened in late February 2020, the new Rathgeber Center for Families is tackling this growing list and is greatly expand our shelter services for families with children. The Rathgeber Center currently houses 24 households of more than 70 parents and children with expectations to be at full capacity of 212 filled beds by the end of 2020.
