Paxton Files Lawsuit Against Austin Homeless Center Over Alleged Safety Risks

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, an Austin nonprofit, accusing it of fostering drug use, violence, and other activities that jeopardize public safety, particularly near Joslin Elementary School.

The lawsuit seeks a temporary injunction to halt the center’s operations under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

Paxton’s office claims that Sunrise operates as a “common nuisance,” drawing criminal activity to the area. According to the lawsuit, the center’s operations have led to incidents of public urination, defecation, drug use, and violence. The filing alleges that Sunrise permits a syringe distributor to provide drug paraphernalia, contributing to what Paxton described as a “taxpayer-funded drug paraphernalia giveaway next to an elementary school.”

“Drug activity and criminal behavior facilitated by this organization have hijacked an entire neighborhood,” said 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.” 

Sunrise, which has operated out of Sunrise Community Church since 2015, provides services such as food, housing assistance, health care support, and access to a hotline for individuals experiencing homelessness. The organization served over 10,800 clients in 2023 and helped connect more than 800 individuals to housing.

Mark Hilbelink, the center’s executive director, defended Sunrise’s mission, emphasizing its legal protections as a church-based ministry under the First Amendment, as first reported by KUT News.

“Sunrise intends to keep offering services to people in our community who need them,” Hilbelink said in a statement. “We are committed to being a good neighbor. We will continue to work, every day, to support Joslin Elementary School, our neighborhood, and our entire community.”

The lawsuit has reignited debate over how to address homelessness and public safety in Texas communities, with Paxton’s office calling for stricter accountability for nonprofits receiving taxpayer funding.