Austin Community Resource List

Pastoral Care Team – food, driving to doctor visits, deep listening, and covenantal conversations. careteam@wildflowerchurch.org

Minister’s Discretionary Fund – financial help available to Wildflower members for help with emergent needs. pastoralcare@wildflowerchurch.org

Pastoral Care Team – support in navigating this list. pastoralcare@wildflowerchurch.org

988 – New Mental Health Hotline for Austin: On Saturday, July 16,  2022, a new Mental Health Hotline was initiated for the Austin area. Calling 988 will provide direct access to counselors who can support the mental health of you or someone you know that is going through a difficult time. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/behavioral-health-services-providers/crisis-service-providers/988-suicide-crisis-lifeline

Calling 911 is still an option; however, few 911 responders are trained to handle a mental health crisis. 

Suicide Prevention Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7: 988

RAINN: (LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual Violence) https://www.rainn.org/articles/lgbtq-survivors-sexual-violence. 800-656-4673

Statewide Mental Health Support Line 24/7: 833-986-1919

• National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI)  National Helpline Resource Directory. 800-950-6264

• Integral Care (formerly known as ATCHMR – Austin Travis County MHMR): https://integralcare.org/en/247-crisis-helpline/. Supports adults and children living with mental illness, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Travis County. Our services include a 24-hour helpline for anyone who needs immediate support, ongoing counseling to improve mental health, drug and alcohol treatment to help  with recovery, and housing to regain health and independence. Integral Care helps provide a strong foundation for well-being.
• Mental Health Crisis Hotline/24 hour walk-in: https://integralcare.org/en/247-crisis-helpline/

LGBTQI crisis hotline (The Trevor Project): 866-488-7386 https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Shelters: https://www.shelterlist.com/city/tx-austin (updated list of shelters in Austin)

Housing Services: https://caritasofaustin.org/need-help/get-started/

Domestic Violence & Children’s Shelters/Services: www.safeaustin.org, Call: 512.267.SAFE (7233)  |  Text: 737.888.7233  |

Community First Village – east Austin. This is a Christian community several miles past Airport Blvd which houses unhoused folks in tiny homes and trailers. https://mlf.org/community-first/ 

Trinity Center Austin – Irit Umani, exec dir https://www.trinitycenteraustin.org/about

Attendant services/Personal Care Services – how to obtain

https://www.hhs.texas.gov/doing-business-hhs/provider-portals/long-term-care-providers/community-attendant-services-cas\ Medically related personal care services for eligible persons.

Employment:

https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-services

Transportation:

https://www.capmetro.org/metroaccess

SPEECH AND DEAF SERVICES/TTY: Relay Texas

https://Relaytexas.com: Relay Texas is a service that provides telephone access for people with speech or hearing loss who find it challenging or impossible to use a traditional telephone. There are several different types of relay services, each designed to accommodate different users’ needs and capabilities.

DISABILITY ADVOCACY:

https://www.adaptoftexas.org  ADAPT of Texas is a grassroots disability rights group for and staffed by people with disabilities. ADAPT fights to free people from nursing homes and other institutions and works for more accessible communities including transportation, housing, and more. 

Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH)

500 East Seventh Street Austin, TX 78701

Phone: 512-978-9920

Casa Marianella, www.casamarianella.org 821 Gunter St, ATX 78702

This is a relaxed, bilingual community. Call before you go to be sure they have space available.

High-Interest Loans. If you are caught in a predatory lending cycle, maybe a car loan or payday lending, St. Vincent DePaul has a program to help people get out from under this kind of burden: https://www.ssvdp.org/

Gabriel Project at St. Vincent de Paul: “Assistance to women in crisis pregnancies, …responding in a loving, unconditional and non-judgmental manner with immediate, practical help and special concern for her and her child. https://svdpparish.org/gabriel-project 

Disaster Relief. If you have been affected by a natural disaster or a fire

American Red Cross: 2218 Pershing Drive, Austin 78723. 512/928-4271.

St Vincent De Paul has a program called House in a Box to help people in homes to furnish those homes at low cost if they’ve experienced a disaster.

Travis County Burial Assistance. 

https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/apply-for-assistance/burial-service

They will ask you to fill out an application disclosing any income to verify that you/your family cannot pay for burial. Allowable limit on applicant resources is $2,000. 512-854-4120. 1400 N IH 35, Austin, TX 78704.

Funeral Consumers’ Alliance (FCA/AMBIS) This group creates a burial/cremation price list each year to create clarity for families experiencing a death. https://www.fcactx.org/ 

Loss of a baby or a child under 18. There are specialized resources, which include financial support for burial or a funeral, and grief counseling. Many of these programs are national, and are listed on auntbertha.com

If your background is Catholic, Cristo Rey congregation sometimes has financial support available for burial and funeral expenses. Se hablan espanol.

Veterans Affairs. The VA can help with anything from mental health to hospital visits to covering burial for a veteran.

In Austin, uninsured folks who need health care can call CommUnityCare, 512-978-9015. Their website is https://communitycaretx.org/ 

Medical Access Program (MAP) – MAP operates under the Central Health Program, Travis County’s own version of Medicaid. Application is available here: centralhealth.net/map, at 512-978-8130, or by email: mapdocs@centralhealth.net.

Call 211. United Way has a ton of resources and connections to share. It can help to connect care and resources you’re already receiving. Some info about the 211 call center

Visit cityofaustinauntbertha.com. You can put in your zip code, and it lists resources that give help in these categories: Bill support (money), food, goods, health, transit, housing, care, education, work and legal. Many of these are national programs, but you can apply.

Mom’s Place. City of Austin sponsors this lactation support center and it can be reached by calling 311. https://www.austintexas.gov/department/contact-us-or-make-appointment To schedule an appointment, please call (512) 972-6700. For our Breastfeeding Hotline, call 1-800-514-MOMS (6667).

Austin Public Health. https://www.austintexas.gov/department/health/locations Locations throughout the city. Get birth of death certificates, free or low-cost vaccines, diabetes education and prevention classes, and various other health-related services.

The Christi Center (Grief/loss groups) http://christicenter.org/  512-467-2600

Capital Area Counseling http://www.cacaustin.org/  512-302-1000

Integral Care https://integralcare.org/en/adult-service/  512-472-4357 

Waterloo Counseling Center https://www.waterloocounseling.org/  LGBTQIA+ Counseling

Lifeworks https://www.lifeworksaustin.org/counseling  512-735-2100  

Lone Star Circle of Care https://lonestarcares.org/service/behavioral-mental-health/  877- 800-5722

The Samaritan Center for Counseling https://samaritan-center.org/services/  512-451-7337; Crisis Hotline 988

Bluebonnet Trails Community Services http://bbtrails.org/  844-309-6385; Crisis Line 800-841-1255

St. Edward’s Community Counseling Clinic https://www.stedwards.edu/campus-services/health-and-counseling-center 512-448-8538

The Mental Wellness Network

https://thementalwellnessnetwork.org/ A directory to make it easier for low income communities to access mental health services in the Austin area. By providing information on the type of services offered by various low cost/free mental health service providers, their eligibility criteria as well as their contact information, we are moving under-served communities one step closer to obtaining the services that they need.

New Life Institute

Professional Counseling for all, Income-based fees. 512-469-9447 

https://www.trinitycenteraustin.org/mentalhealth (after accessing the website, scroll down for New Life Institute) 

Flatwater

Free counseling if you or your loved one is living or did live with cancer https://www.flatwaterfoundation.org/ 

Hospice Austin 

May require you to go on a waiting list for 1:1 counseling, but has open support groups on the North and South sides of Austin. https://www.hospiceaustin.org/our-services/grief-support/bereavement-support-groups/

Shelters: https://www.shelterlist.com/city/tx-austin (updated list of shelters in Austin)

Housing Services: https://caritasofaustin.org/need-help/get-started/

Domestic Violence & Children’s Shelters/Services: 

• SAFE AUSTIN:Our 24/7 confidential SAFEline is available for victims of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEX TRAFFICKING, and CHILD ABUSE. Advocacy and crisis intervention/face-to-face emotional support is available Mon – Fri from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.safeaustin.org, Call: 512.267.SAFE (7233); Text: 737.888.7233  |

Austin Shelter for Women and Children Children’s and Youth Mental Health https://salvationarmyaustin.org/texas-austin/womenshelter 

Austin Diaper Bank: If you need diapers, go to https://austindiapers.org/get-help/. You will find numerous sources of information and help for families in need. Austin Diaper Bank, 2210 Denton Drive, Suite 103, Austin TX 78758, 512-710-7232. 

AskListenTalk.org

Austin Public Health and Integral Care are launching the public awareness campaign, “Ask, Listen, Talk, Repeat.” This program helps parents and caregivers start critical conversations with our youth. The campaign provides a number of tools on how to spot a mental health issue, how to start the conversation, and how to access resources in Austin and Travis County. Organizers hope this initiative will help lower the negative stigma that is still associated with mental health and help families foster a safe environment to discuss such sensitive topics.

Cheap & Great: 

• Treasure City Thrift, a non-profit business experimenting in alternative economics. Encourages reuse and waste reduction through transforming waste into resources beneficial to our community. Holds a monthly 25¢ sale. https://treasurecitythrift.org/aboutus/

• Top Drawer Thrift, located on Burnet Road, has been selling donated items to the Austin community since 1993. Proceeds benefit Project Transitions, providing supportive living, housing & hospice for those with HIV/AIDS https://www.austintexas.org/listings/top-drawer-thrift/9413/
• Texas Thrift sells unique items at bargain prices. Shopping there allows you to conserve natural resources and reduce your carbon footprint. https://www.buythrift.com/

Fashionable: 

• Blue Velvet Vintage is a family-owned indie business that has been Austin’s source for affordable and amazing vintage clothing for men and women since 1994. Located at 217 W. North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX  78751. Open 12-6 PM Every Day. https://www.bluevelvetaustin.com/about/
• Buffalo Exchange, 2904 Guadalupe in Austin. Sells both new and used items.https://www.buffaloexchange.com/location/guadalupe-austin/

Ubiquitous: Goodwill. https://www.goodwillcentraltexas.org/locations

Professional clothing for women: https://www.dressforsuccessaustin.org/ Through their six active career development programs, they provide women with the resources, tools and support they need to not only secure gainful, fulfilling employment, but to continue growing personally and professionally long after their last appointment.

Tuesday Night Yoga Bike Ride https://www.facebook.com/groups/246934478735899/

Thursday Night Social Bike Ride https://do512.com/events/weekly/thu/social-cycling-atxs-urban-night-ride

Eeyore’s Birthday Party https://eeyores.org/

Splash pads — neighborhood specific, https://www.austintexas.gov/pools-splashpads

Green Belt — 360 and Mopac, hikes and swimming in season

Walk or picnic at Lady Bird Lake

Mount Bonnell Great at sunset. Also has plenty of parking.

Swim free @ Barking Springs, or before opening and closing at Barton Springs

Hippie Hollow https://www.tripsavvy.com/hippie-hollow-gay-beach-1417169

Mayfield Park There are peacocks.

Zilker Park Austin Nature & Science Center 2389 Stratford Dr.

Pease Park

Indivisible Austin – Direct legal and supportive services for immigrants in Texas. 

https://indivisibleaustin.com/resources/organizations-supporting-immigrants/