Austin police pilot program links homeless mental-health patients to services

Austin’s No Wrong Door program places a small team of police officers at the core of a cross-agency network intended to break the recurring loop of incarceration, emergency care and street homelessness for people with severe mental-health and substance-use issues. Officers such as Edward Soltys and Cody Martin each manage roughly 25 “high-utilizer” cases, meeting clients in jails, shelters and clinics to arrange housing, treatment and follow-up, as illustrated by Marcus Martin’s recent release and scheduled visits to Integral Care.

The city has partnered with 17 agencies, including hospitals and homeless service providers, to share information and coordinate care. Early internal analysis indicates a sharp decline in patrol incidents and officer hours spent on participants since April. Critics, including VOCAL-TX co-director Cate Graziani, question whether police should serve as primary contacts, citing concerns about rights and agency. Mayor Kirk Watson acknowledges successes but stresses the need for additional funding and more beds to sustain the effort.