February 4, 2015
City Manager
Marc Ott
PO Box 1088
Austin, TX 78768
Police Chief
Art Acevedo
715 East 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Public Safety Commissioner
Kim Rossmo -Chair
C/O Jennifer Heatly, Administrative Assistant
Office of the Fire Chief
Austin Fire Department
4201 Ed Bluestein
Austin, TX 78721
Human Rights Commissioner
Sara Clark-Chair
C/O Jonathan.Babiak@austintexas.gov
Dear City Manager Ott, Chief Acevedo, Commissioner Rossmo and Commissioner Clark:
House the Homeless Inc. is the oldest, all volunteer, action, homeless advocacy organization in the state of Texas. It was founded in Austin in 1989 with a board of directors that is comprised of no less than 60% of homeless and formerly people.
Since our inception, House the Homeless, Inc. has conducted surveys that shed light on issues that affect the lives of people experiencing homelessness. These have included work, employment, wages, disability, health, etc. This survey is focused on daily interactions with Austin police officers.
The questions arose from my daily interactions with people experiencing homelessness through my role as Director of Legal Aid for the Homeless and President/Founder of House the Homeless since 1989.
I am a US Marine, Viet Nam Veteran. I am a former volunteer fire fighter. I am a graduate of the Austin Citizen’s Police Academy. I am author of the police program; Blue Grey Task Force and creator of our nation’s Mobile Mini Police Stations. Please see my enclosed autobiography for greater detail. I mention these things to give clarity and inform the readers that I and the members of House the Homeless, Inc. have the utmost respect for the Austin Police Department and its men and women who protect our citizens.
While an undergraduate of Saint Edward’s University, I studied Statistical Survey Taking under Dr. Robert Ambrosino at the University of Texas. Our surveys are not intended to disparage anyone. The goal is to shed light on the social conditions that affect the lives of people experiencing homelessness.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard R. Troxell
President
CC: Mayor Bill Adler
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo
All City of Austin Council Members
All Public Safety Commissioners
All Human Rights Commissioners
National Coalition for the Homeless
