Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in Austin, accusing it of operating as a common nuisance contrary to Texas law. The lawsuit alleges that the center's activities are negatively impacting the local community and posing risks to residents, businesses, and students at a nearby elementary school.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) conducted an investigation revealing that the center attracts drug-related and criminal activities, including public urination, defecation, and violence near the school premises. Testimonies from residents indicate incidents involving individuals associated with the center threatening passersby with machetes, engaging in indecent exposure while assaulting women, and committing break-ins at homes and businesses. The center is also accused of facilitating these issues by allowing a syringe distributor to provide drug paraphernalia.
Located just steps away from an elementary school, Sunrise is alleged to expose students and staff to inappropriate behaviors such as nudity, public fornication, drug use, and relieving themselves in public. Over recent years, people receiving services from Sunrise have reportedly caused multiple lockdowns at the school due to violent actions. It is noted that more than a million dollars in taxpayer funds from the City of Austin have been allocated to Sunrise.
Attorney General Paxton is seeking a temporary injunction from the court to prevent Sunrise from continuing its operations as both a common nuisance under Civil Practice & Remedies Code and a public nuisance under common law.
“Drug activity and criminal behavior facilitated by this organization have hijacked an entire neighborhood,” stated Attorney General Paxton. “By operating a taxpayer-funded drug paraphernalia giveaway next to an elementary school, this organization is threatening students’ health and safety and unjustly worsening daily life for every single resident of the neighborhood. We will shut this unlawful nuisance behavior down.”