City Of Austin Announces New Homeless Strategy Officer

The City of Austin has selected Dianna Grey as the City’s new Homeless Strategy Officer. Ms. Grey will begin her new duties on January 4, 2021.
 
Under the direction of Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden, the Homeless Strategy Officer coordinates the City’s homeless response activities among multiple departments to ensure a seamless approach and response.
 
“I’m so happy to have Dianna join the Austin Public Health team. Her experience working in the field of homeless and housing services over the years in Austin and other major cities in Texas makes her a valuable asset to the Homeless citywide team,” said Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden. “Dianna authored the first City of Austin and Travis County Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) strategy that lead to a financial goal to secure 350 PSH units. Her experience will help us make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Austin.”
 
Addressing the issue of homelessness – and providing care and services for those experiencing it – is a top priority for the City as set out in its Strategic Direction 2023.

The COVID-19 public health crisis hit the homeless community particularly hard, but alongside our partners the City continued to make progress, successfully moving more than 1,400 people into housing and out of homelessness this year.
 
In early 2020, the City established the Homeless Services Division (HSD) within Austin Public Health to coordinate homelessness efforts across City departments and with community partners.

Having a central point within the City’s organization to coordinate planning and collaboration efforts has been instrumental in helping to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness, especially as COVID-19 spread throughout our community.
 
Since 2014, Grey has been an independent consultant in private practice, working with nonprofit organizations, homeless coalitions, and government entities to advance affordable and supportive housing.

From 2008 to 2014, she was Director of the Texas office of Corporation for Supportive Housing, where she led public policy efforts, provided technical assistance, and advised on capacity building and project financing across the state, with a special focus on Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and Houston.
 
She is a 2001 graduate of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

“I’m honored and excited to be joining the City of Austin’s efforts to end homelessness in our community,” said Ms. Grey. “There is much work ahead, but I’m confident that Austin is equipped to meet this challenge. I look forward to collaborating with talented City staff, dedicated service providers, and community stakeholders to achieve our shared goal to ensure all Austinites have access to a safe and dignified place to call home.”