This week, the Texas Department of Transportation could approve a request from Gov. Greg Abbott to rent a state-owned temporary campsite for the homeless to an Austin nonprofit.

But the residents have another idea; they want the governor to lease the property directly to them.

In an open letter to Abbott, those who have taken shelter at the campsite they are calling Camp R.A.T.T., which stands for Responsible Adult Transition Town, said they would be willing to pay $1 a month per resident to rent the land. Abbott is offering a $1-a-month lease to ATX Helps, a nonprofit tied to the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Austin Alliance.

"We believe this is a good idea for several reasons: it gives the residents here a sense of responsibility, and provides the basis of stewardship," the letter said. "Also, we aren’t lazy and aren’t expecting a hand-out. It’s our intention to get back into the world."

Since Abbott opened up the five-acre former TxDOT site off U.S. 183 about a mile south of Montopolis Drive as a temporary campsite for the homeless, the amount of people staying at the site has grown from a handful to about 140. The site is a fence-lined patch of gravel and concrete with portable toilets, hand washing stations and regular delivery of meals from local nonprofit organizations.

Abbott created the campsite in the wake of Austin City Council’s controversial repeal of a public camping ban. Abbott has been very critical of the decision, often equating media reports of crimes in Austin to a state of lawlessness created by the City Council. He also has used state resources to clear encampments set up under state highways.

"As far as we can tell, you’re one of the only people who stepped up and did something substantial: offer some land and a little bit of basic resources to ensure safety and sanitation," the letter said. "It helped us survive the winter."

Robert Rhodes, one of the first people to arrive when Abbott opened the campsite in November, said he fears the site will come to resemble a shelter if operations are turned over to ATX Helps.

"It’s going to be another ARCH here," Rhodes said. "I don’t want anything to do with that."

TxDOT, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Emergency Management have a presence at the site. A DPS trooper is at the site at all times and emergency management oversees the intake and distribution of donations.

Abbott spokesman John Wittman wouldn’t say whether the idea of leasing the campsite to its residents would be entertained. However, he did say the state would work with the individuals there.

"It’s clear that these are individuals that want to transition back to society," Wittman said. "We are happy that is the case."