Neighborhood Safety
Providing safe housing is part of the Housing Authority of the City
of Austin mission and is a top priority of the housing authority.
Employees, police officers and residents work together as a unified
team to ensure HACA properties are secure and residents are safe.
Detailed below are job roles as they relate to HACA safety.
· Manager. The manager is responsible for addressing all
safety complaints and justifying and documenting corrective measures
taken. The manager is available on-site weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. and at Resident Council meetings.
·
Family Self-Sufficiency Specialist. The FSS specialist is responsible
for reporting information regarding alleged crimes and the actions
HACA has taken to residents at the Resident Council or Resident Watch
meeting. The FSS specialist conducts outreach for these meetings
(flyers, posters, door-to-door). It is the FSS specialist’s
responsibility to help form Resident Councils and/or Neighborhood
Watch programs.
·
Resident. The resident’s involvement is voluntary and therefore
varies site-by-site. Residents are encouraged to take an active part
in all Resident Council and/or Resident Watch meetings and conduct
monthly safety walks around the property.
·
Off-duty officers. HACA’s off-duty officers are sensitive to
resident needs and follow up with residents on their issues and concerns.
The officers work closely with property managers, issuing “notices
of violation” and criminal trespass warrants and taking photos
to help identify suspicious persons. Information is passed on to
HACA upper management and APD street patrol to help combat crime
on property. HACA currently employs 35 police officers to patrol
19 sites 77 hours per week.
·
Safety Team. The HACA Safety Team is led by the safety/risk manager
and an APD Officer who serves as a liaison between HACA and APD.
The team attends Commissioners Meetings, Citywide Advisory Board,
Resident Council and safety meetings as required. The APD/HACA liaison
also shares all data with the APD Citywide District Representatives.
