2025 Legislative platform: Building Safe and Thriving Communities in Texas

VOCAL-TX was founded in 2023 because the high rates of homelessness, overdose, and unmet mental health needs continue to impact an ever-growing number of Texans and are causing a humanitarian crisis across the state. More than 25,000 people are homeless on any given night in Texas, including 6,000 families with children. As housing costs rise, cities and counties across the state lack adequate shelter beds, transitional housing and permanent units to address the growing crisis. At the same time, Texas’ drug overdose deaths increased by more than 75% in the past five years, with more than 5,500 Texans dying of a drug-related overdose each year — 15 people per day — which is likely a significant undercount due to lack of accurate mortality data across the state. Further, overdose is the leading cause of death for homeless Austinites. Access to proven overdose prevention tools including fentanyl testing strips and harm reduction programs remains limited across Texas.

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