Austin Staff Met With Think Tanks on Homeless Program
City officials discussed the No Wrong Door initiative despite concerns from advocacy groups regarding civil rights.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Austin city staff have held meetings with the Cicero Institute and the Texas Public Policy Foundation concerning the No Wrong Door program. The initiative aims to reduce the cycle of homelessness, jail, and hospitalization for high-utilizer residents.
Why it matters
The program seeks to lower the heavy public costs associated with frequent service users, while advocates express alarm over potential police involvement and civil liberties.
The No Wrong Door program currently includes 17 groups and has identified 950 high-utilizer residents in Travis County. Participant police calls fell 31% after services began, with a 57% reduction for the 28 highest-risk individuals.
The players
Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson is the Mayor of Austin who has advocated for changes to state standards regarding involuntary psychiatric intervention.
Cicero Institute
The Cicero Institute is a think tank that focuses on public policy solutions for issues including homelessness and healthcare.
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit think tank that promotes free-market and limited government policies in Texas.
Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute provides data and research to improve mental health care access and systems in Texas.
Lois Kolkhorst
Lois Kolkhorst is a Texas state senator who received a proposal from the Austin mayor regarding psychiatric intervention standards.
The details
City staff provided outreach and individual treatment plans to 99 participants to address the annual $137 million cost of services for high-utilizers. Mayor Kirk Watson has pushed for lower standards for involuntary psychiatric intervention, though he stated his office did not coordinate with the Cicero Institute on this specific initiative.
Timeline
The No Wrong Door program began operating in spring 2026.
Providers began offering services to participants in May 2026.
Mayor Watson sent a letter to state Senator Lois Kolkhorst on July 24, 2026.
A study by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute was released in August 2026.
Political Context
Opponents and civil rights advocates argue that the proposal to lower standards for involuntary psychiatric intervention contradicts the Texas mental health civil commitment statutes. These groups suggest that the current focus on police-led interventions prioritizes institutionalization over voluntary care and community-based support.
Residents may see changes in how public safety agencies respond to homelessness-related service calls as the program evolves. The shift aims to reduce taxpayer costs currently estimated at $144,000 per high-utilizer annually.
The takeaway
The city initiative highlights the complex tension between reducing the public financial burden of homelessness and protecting individual civil rights. Future success will likely depend on balancing these programmatic cost-savings with transparent oversight and community feedback.
Further reading
Find more local policy updates on the Civic Engagement section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Austin Chronicle.
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