Austin Take A Chance Organization (ATACO) was born from lived experience — the kind of experience that teaches you just how easy it is to slip through the cracks. We’ve been there: unhoused, overwhelmed, overlooked. ATACO exists because we know how powerful it is when someone shows up for you, even with something small. And we believe second chances shouldn’t be rare — they should be a part of how we care for one another.
Right now, we pack tote bags with essentials and deliver them by foot and by bike throughout Austin. No paid staff, no fancy office. Just a small team doing what we can, when we can — fueled by love, lived experience, and the dream of building something bigger.
But ATACO was never meant to stop at short-term aid. We’re building a system of second chances — with long-term projects designed to help people not just survive, but rebuild. Some of those projects are already in motion:
Bridges & Anchors
This will be our future soft skills training program — a safe, low-pressure space to learn things like admin work, customer service, business basics, and how to navigate digital systems. It’s built for people who’ve been out of the workforce, struggled with mental health, or just need a fresh start. Our goal is to help folks take the next step when they're ready — with real tools, mentorship, and opportunities to grow.
Step Bros Cleaning & Services
This is a unique social enterprise we’re still shaping. Step Bros is a cleaning service that creates flexible, affirming job opportunities — especially for people who are neurodivergent, healing from trauma, or need to work in nontraditional environments. We’re currently working on the backend: safety policies, consent agreements, hiring structures, and legal protections. The long-term vision is to use Step Bros as a job bridge — a way to offer people dignity, income, and real-world work experience, while making sure their needs and boundaries are fully respected.
The Lullaby Lounge
A late-night donut shop and performance space designed as a safe haven for joy, community, and creativity. We dream of it being a place where artists — especially those who’ve been silenced or marginalized — can share their voice. Think drag shows, comedy nights, poetry readings, and cozy thrifted furniture. It will also provide jobs and visibility for folks we support through ATACO and Bridges & Anchors.
We’re not just trying to hand out help — we’re trying to change the way help happens. Everything we do centers on inclusion, empathy, and practical support. We want to build systems where people are invited back in — not judged, not rushed, but guided and celebrated for who they are and where they’re going.
We’re still small. We’re still figuring things out. But we’re real — and we’re relentless in our belief that something better is possible. Your support helps us keep going, keep dreaming, and keep building — one tote, one training, one taco at a time.
