ARCH - Basic Needs

At the ARCH, homeless men and women are able access a number of basic needs services, including showers, hygiene items, clothing, laundry, lockers, phones, mail, and messaging. For specific details about the services offered at the ARCH, including the times various services are available, click here.

Front Steps' Basic Needs services include a Day Resource Center, an Identification Program, a Document Bank, and a Discretionary Funds Program.

ARCH Day Resource Center

The ARCH Day Resource Center is a hub of activity seven days a week, with hundreds of men and women accessing various services each day.

Information and referral about both Front Steps and other community resources is offered informally by Client Service Specialists at the Front Desk or by phone on weekdays. For individuals and families facing the crisis of homelessness, simply sorting through multiple needs and making a plan for how to begin to address these needs can be overwhelming. Front Steps serves as a central point of assessment and referral, helping provide guidance through this challenging time. Printed up-to-date resource listings on a range of topics are available, and Front Steps’ staff members assist clients in mapping transportation to other agencies.

In addition, a program coordinator is available during Intake and Referral to meet one-on-one with walk-in clients to provide more in-depth assessment of needs and resources, and develop an initial service plan. 

Identification Program 

Homeless individuals often lack the necessary forms of identification for applying for employment or housing, cashing a paycheck or accessing many of the services offered to them in the Austin community. Front Steps assists homeless individuals with obtaining birth certificates or official identification from the Department of Public Safety.

Vouchers for an I.D. or birth certificate are available to individuals once every six months. Staff also provides advice on how to obtain other forms of identification (e.g., voter’s registration card, school records) that may be helpful in getting a birth certificate or state ID.

ARCH Document Bank

The ARCH Document Bank provides a safe and secure place to store the documents most people would store in a lock box or safety deposit box. At this time, the Bank accepts the following documents: driver licenses, passports, citizenship certificates, naturalization certificates, Dept. of Homeland Security documents, military identification cards, birth certificates, court orders, school records, insurance policies, vehicle titles, military records, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, voter registration cards, pilot licenses, concealed handgun licenses, Texas inmate ID card, and consular documents.

Discretionary Funds

Frequently, there are simple barriers to employment and housing that prevent homeless individuals from moving forward. Front Steps' Discretionary Funds Program provides small, one-time financial assistance grants for the purchase of items that can help homeless individuals overcome these obstacles. Examples of barriers that may be addressed with Discretionary Fund assistance are purchase of tools, uniforms or shoes for work, or criminal history reports for housing.

Currently homeless individuals needing assistance can submit an application for assistance during Intake and Referral. Call 305-4100 for times.  Verification of need, resource, and other attempts for assistance are required. Due to funding limitations, not all applications will receive assistance.

If you are interested in contributing to the Discretionary Funds Program and helping a homeless person overcome the obstacles to employment and housing, please click here.