Non-profit organizations are calling on the city to combat disproportionate levels of homelessness in the black community.

Austin, Texas – In the late 1800s, blacks made up a third of Austin’s population; today it is less than 10%, but accounts for more than 30% of all homeless people within the city.

Despite the statistics, Anthony Jackson, founder of We Can Now, says the numbers don’t add up, so he’s doing his part to make a difference.

Jackson’s organization was founded in 2018 to help homeless people like him.

“This is the car that actually saved my life and I lived in it. It’s a ’95 DeVille sedan, so it’s a pretty big, spacious car,” says Jackson. This is the first time he has opened his car since he lived in it. “I was very lucky to have this model in the car because it was spacious enough for me to fit all my clothes, hop in the back seat and sleep in there for a bit, and I could adjust the seats.”

Four years later, he helps the people of Austin get off the streets.

“I had enough talk about what was going on in our community, and after those talks, there were no decisions,” says Jackson.

Austin’s coalition against homelessness, ECHO, acknowledges the frustration Jackson describes. Their latest annual report states that Black Ostinites are 6 times more likely than White Ostinites to become homeless.

“I think it’s about dealing with an organization that is color-leading because it’s more about the clients you serve,” says Jackson. “It just gives a more family connection when you see people like you serving you, especially when you know they’ve been through the same thing as you.”

Jackson spent his entire life in homelessness. As a child, he grew up in the Rosewood neighborhood of now gentrified East Austin.

“I grew up in Austin, my mother had me at 16, and she left home,” says Jackson. He is not alone: ​​an ECHO report says that almost 2 out of 5 people who also grew up in Austin are homeless.

“You see the same pillows right here in this photo. I leaned over there with my head resting on that blue pillow. I had blankets. Of course, I would put all my clothes in the front seat so I have more room in the back. Jackson says, looking into the car he once called home.

Jackson continues his work, asking the homeless for who they are.

“When you see a person [who’s] went through hard times, and it just so happened that that was the result,” says Jackson.

As Jackson continues his work, homelessness in Austin is still a problem.

The Salvation Army Shelter in downtown Austin was scheduled to close on Wednesday, March 15, but the city of Austin has agreed to provide emergency funding to keep it open for another month.

Jackson says he hopes the city will continue efforts to address our city’s housing insecurity and address the disproportionate number of homeless people in the black community.