Texas Attorney General Sues Austin Homeless Center Over Nuisance and Safety Concerns Near Elementary School

A lawsuit filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton targets the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in Austin, accusing it of operating as a public nuisance under Texas law. Paxton’s office claims the center is enabling drug-related and criminal activity that negatively impacts residents, local businesses, and a nearby elementary school.

The Attorney General’s office investigated the center and found that it serves as a “magnet” for dangerous behavior, including public drug use, violence, and indecency. According to the filing, Sunrise has allowed the distribution of drug paraphernalia, exacerbating these issues. Residents reported incidents such as menacing behavior, assaults, and break-ins involving individuals frequenting the center.

The center’s location, just steps from an elementary school, has raised serious concerns. The lawsuit highlights troubling reports that students and staff have witnessed explicit and unsafe acts, including public nudity and drug use. The center’s activities have led to repeated lockdowns at the school due to violent incidents involving individuals seeking services at Sunrise.

Paxton is seeking a temporary injunction to halt Sunrise’s operations and prevent further disruption to the community. He stated that the center’s actions have created an unsafe environment for students and residents, calling it an “unlawful nuisance.”