Our History

OUR HISTORY

Because of an un-silenced voice, House the Homeless leadership – largely Richard R. Troxell – sees and is able to communicate the problem and potential solutions as free-agents. As a grassroots organization that accepts no government funding, our voice has always been loud and clear, whatever the consequences. On the contrary, others feeling job vulnerabilities may not be in a position to be as vocal. One example includes our campaign to oppose the “quality of life” ordinances that criminalize homelessness and restrict people’s civil rights. In 2008, when others worked to pass the “no camping” ordinance, House the Homeless bought a full-page Sunday ad in the Austin American Statesman, showing the cost of jailing vs. job training. We framed the issue so people could understand the moral and economic concerns. Sadly, the City and the nation are returning to those days when homelessness was, and is now AGAIN, criminalized.

Universal Living Wage / Livable Incomes Campaign is a national empowerment project, with adopters and advocates https://www.UniversalLivingWage.org. Conceived by Richard R. Troxell in the early 2000’s as a unique formula, devised to ensures that anyone working 40 hours in a week will be able to afford basic food, clothing, shelter, public transportation, and access to the emergency room. The U.S. Military and the federal government have both adopted our tenet of making their wages relate to the local cost of housing.

Over time, Richard R. Troxell broadened the Campaign to end economic homelessness by promoting “Livable Incomes” to address those who cannot work. Thus, our advocacy includes an increase to the federal Social Security disability stipend so that they too can afford basic housing, while continuing to promote the Universal Living Wage with its formula indexed on the cost of housing wherever that person lives.

HTH Highlights (Partial)

2024

– Blythe Plunkett is our 2024 President, doing a great job with Amplify Austin, the Memorial, and Planning the 2025 HUGSS event. Will Hyatt is our apostle of giving, working with dozens of individuals at any given time, to empower and equip; to pray with; to lift up and restore hope as HtH is Boots on the Ground. PJ Liles continues to be a force (of faith) as he brings the gift of music to HtH events and more. We also completed and are distributing the 18th edition of the HtH Plastic Pocket Resource Guide, designed by Richard R. Troxell.

2022, 2023.

Richard continues the ULW Campaign, including automating the Local Wages calculator (thanks to Bo@YanboSolutions.com), utilizing the formula devised by Richard that considers that anyone who works a 40-hour hour week should be able to afford the most basic of housing – indexed on
housing costs and more wherever that work is done. HtH Boots on the Ground continued to reach into camps and where we could find folks trying to survive.

2019, 2022.

HTH Statues dedicated! After a few years of raising funds, HtH placed life size bronze Homecoming Statues at Community First! Village in Austin, Texas (2019) and at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. (2022). The three piece statues stand as a memorial to the men, women, and children who die while homeless locally and across the United States. Designed by Richard R. Troxell and sculptured by artist Timothy P. Schmulz.

2020

– Not stopped by COVID, the 16th annual House the Homeless HUGSS Thermal distribution, occurred on New Year’s Eve with three entities set up to for their regular Thursday meal ministry: Central Presbyterian Church, Angel House, and Sunrise Church. Volunteers and staff from First Baptist Austin helped to fill nearly 400 new back packs with HUGSS purchased with donations to House the Homeless. HUGSS includes hats, under-thermals, gloves, scarves, socks – plus safety whistle, flashlights, poncho, bus passes and more! (In 2021, the event returned to First Baptist Church Austin).

– Also in 2020, Caritas, led by Jo Kathryn Quinn, Executive Director, presented our annual Homeless Memorial Service virtually. This followed Caritas’ coordination of the Memorial when Richard first moved from Austin in 2019.

2019

– Richard R. Troxell moved into a voting Board member role of National Education Director (NED) and as HtH’s representative to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Knowing that half of the homeless can work and half are disabled, Richard is actively promoting Livable Incomes: Universal Living Wages and changes in Social Security Disability Benefits. He and his wife, Sylvia, are now based in North Carolina nearer their daughter and young grandson. Richard continues to drive action in Austin and nationally through HtH and the National Homeless Coalition.

– We again engaged many in our “Days of Action” encouraging housing and livable incomes. Richard has for many years led our Tax Day action, replicating same at post offices around the nation. House the Homeless has historically incentivized participation nationally by contributing a camera, and in return, participants would return photos to us. P.J. Liles and Will Hyatt led our “Bridge the Economic Gap” action around Labor Day, ensuring a voice by those experiencing homelessness and displaying our banner over the 12th Street bridge, pointing to www.UniversalLivingWage.org. Other activities include Marching for Peace on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and with Veterans for Peace on Veterans’ Day.

– For the 25th year, HtH updated and printed a laminated, folded Plastic Pocket Resource Guide (18 printings with 10,000 distributed each time), thanks to sponsors, such as City of Austin Parks and Recreation, Austin/Travis County Integral Care, and others.

2015

– Designers, volunteering through Leap to Success, gave HtH a world class, interactive website: www.UniversalLivingWage.org.

– New House the Homeless Logo that includes the world’s cutest dog who promises to love our people unconditionally.

– Using art and education to humanize individuals experiencing homelessness, Timothy P. Schmalz –world renowned bronze sculptor, began sculpting The Home Coming statues in miniature – 250 purchased to leverage donations for the three-piece life size statues.

2013

– Mobile Loaves and Fishes got the final go-ahead for the RV Park that creates an entire community for our disabled homeless citizens. HTH is proud and honored to have played a small role -helping get those good folks the disability benefits for the next six years, to enable them to live there.

– HTH led the nation with our White Paper on the Prevention of Homelessness – a game-changing document, mailed to all members of the U.S. Congress, all 50 governors, select cabinet members, President Obama, and Mrs. Obama; then raised funds to mail to many mayors.

– Richard studied under sculptor Steve DuBois and sculpted “The Home Coming.” Subsequently, two world-renowned sculptors, seeing the sculpture story in the Austin American Statesman, have contacted us and offered their skills to sculpt our concept into full life-size statues … at reduced costs. This is separate and apart from all of our other programs.

2008-2009

• Launched the release of a “Know Your Rights” guide prepared by Legal Aid for the Homeless (R. Troxell) and Texas C-Bar (both programs of TRLA) regarding laws affecting the homeless. Continuing wide-spread distribution throughout Austin Metropolitan Area.
• Provided targeted financial assistance to homeless and working poor persons for identification documents (birth certificates, etc.) necessary to access social services; for mobility-impaired bus passes; and for other critical needs.
• Initiated a collaboration with the Community Action Network, TX Homeless Network, Mobile Loaves and Fishes and Ending Community Homelessness Organization, for Troxell’s HtH-sponsored “Let’s Get to Work” Forum and Initiative creating a living wage work program (May 2009). It brought together three “Best Practices” groups, including Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, and a panel of local experts already doing employment programs and ready to create a “Pathway” for people experiencing homelessness whereby they would emerge as a workforce earning living wages.
• Let’s get to Work secured support of Austin Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Austin Alliance, Seton Family of Hospitals, TX Dept of Child Protective Services and many more.
• Developed and conducted a survey that revealed 90 percent of Austin’s homeless would work a full 40-hour week if it provided them food, clothing and shelter (including utilities); i.e., a living wage. Findings widely distributed