[Austin Project Connect Anti-Displacement Funding Press Conference on April 11, 2022]
[00:00:21]
AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF MORNING.
AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BOSTON, TO SHARE SOME NEWS WITH YOU THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE STABILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO INVEST 65 MILLION OF ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING INTO SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN ONE MILE OF PROJECT CONNECT IN AREAS FACING A RISK OF DISPLACEMENT VOTERS' APPROVAL OF 300 MILLION FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS.
WITH PROJECT CONNECT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY VALUES GROWTH AND EQUITY.
THE GOAL OF THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS IS TO CREATE A LONG-TERM IMPACT WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND ASSET BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENHANCE PEOPLE'S ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
THESE INVESTMENTS CAN PROTECT HOUSEHOLDS, LIVING IN AREAS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT, WITH SOLUTIONS TO HELP THEM AFFORD TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE FIRST ALLOCATION OF 65 MILLION IS AVAILABLE IN THREE CATEGORIES, 23 MILLION FOR LAND ACQUISITION, 21 MILLION FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AND 20 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS.
TODAY, WE ANNOUNCED THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS, AND I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE NEFERTITI JACKMAN, OUR COMMUNITY DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION OFFICER, TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM NEFERTITI.
WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SINCE THE VOTERS APPROVED PROJECT CONNECTED NOVEMBER, 2020.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS FUNDING WILL PROVIDE.
AUSTIN HAS OFTEN BEEN KNOWN AS A CITY OF INNOVATION, BUT BEFORE WE COULD DISPERSE THE FUNDS, OUR FIRST CHARGE WAS TO CREATE AN EQUITY TOOL THAT WAS EVENTUALLY RELEASED AS THE NOTHING WITHOUT US ABOUT US RACIAL EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT TOOL AND REPORT CITY STAFF, INCLUDING MEMBERS FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE, THAT OFFICE OF INNOVATION, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF COLLABORATED WITH CONSULTANTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CREATE THE EQUITY TOOL AND REPORT THAT HELPED TO INFORM THE PRIORITY PURPOSES, PLACES AND PEOPLE TO DIRECT THESE INVESTMENTS.
PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS IS A BOLD OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY LEADERS TO DEMONSTRATE OUR INNOVATION BY THINKING AND ACTING DIFFERENTLY AND SENSORY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN OUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, WE'RE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES BEYOND YOUR INNOVATION AND SINTERING COMMUNITY INNOVATION.
AS A FOCAL POINT OF THE CITY'S ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS, $20 MILLION IS AVAILABLE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO PROPOSE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT COMMUNITY INNOVATION TO ADDRESS KEY HOUSING CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY IS FACING SPECIFIC TO PROJECT CONNECT AND TRANSIT INDUCED DISPLACEMENT PRESSURE.
THESE INVESTMENTS WILL PRIORITIZE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT RESIDENTS TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS BY AVOIDING EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND CREATING ASSET BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT IMPROVE PEOPLE'S ECONOMIC MOBILITY ELIGIBLE PROPOSALS INCLUDE PROGRAMS FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT ADDRESS ONE OR MORE OF THE FUNDING PRIORITIES, INCLUDING TENANTS STABILIZATION, EXPANSION AND PRESERVATION OF HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER HOUSING FOCUS, TECH DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO INSPIRE AND FUND COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS THAT ARE INFORMED BY DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND RESEARCH MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITIES AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
THESE COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESSES ARE NOT SIMPLY INNOVATION.
IT'S COMMUNITY INNOVATION DESIGNED TO PROPEL THE CITY OF AUSTIN TOWARD TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE EQUITABLE FOR AUSTINITES OF SSR CHAIR OF THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE'LL SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.
[00:05:02]
THANK YOU, ROSIE AND FDB DISCHARGE OR THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO ADVISE THE CITY GABRIELLE METRO AND THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP ON GUIDING THE 200 MILLION ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS AND EQUITY MATTERS RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EQUITY, DUALS METRICS AND GOALS, AND KEEP FORMANCE INDICATORS AND THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT STUDY AND ACCOMPLISHING THIS WORK.LISTENING TO COMMUNITY VOICES IS A KEY PRIORITY FOR THE COMMITTEE AND IS A DRIVING DRIVING PRINCIPLE FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THE WORK DONE BY THE COMMUNITY CATALYST IN CREATING THE NOTHING WITHOUT US ABOUT US RACIAL EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT TOOL HAS LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE INITIAL 65 MILLION INACTIVE DISPLACEMENT OF FUNDING, INCLUDING THE LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAM TODAY.
THIS NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING IS A FIRST OF ITS TIME FOCUSING ON ENSURING THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING ANY POTENTIAL TRANSIT, INDUCE DISPLACEMENT UPFRONT AND BARGAINING WITH THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY SUCH PRESSURES TO HELP LEAD THE WAY I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK DONE BY THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN SHAPING AND ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROGRAM AND EXCITED TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO HELP US MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.
SO LET ME OFFER A FEW WAYS FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED FIRST, VISIT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/COMMUNITY INNOVATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT CONNECT AFTER THIS POLICEMEN FUNDING AND THE APPLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS.
AGAIN, THAT IS AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV FORWARD.
BOB LEAD, COMMUNITY INNOVATION.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD REGARDING THIS NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO ADD TO DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS.
SECOND, WATCH FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT WEEK ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY EVALUATION.
NOW, AS NEVER REALLY MENTIONED, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DRIVE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS FUNDING AND GUIDE OUR OVERALL EFFORTS.
FINALLY, I WANT TO KAYAK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE STAYING ENGAGED IN THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IN HELPING ME PROJECT CONNECT TO SUCCESS.
AND BEFORE WE WRAP UP, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT FOR YEARS ONE AND TWO, OUR NEW ANTI-DISPLACEMENT COMMUNITY ACQUISITION PROGRAM OPENED IN DECEMBER IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE WILL HOST COMMUNITY ROUND TABLES SO THAT ORGANIZATIONS CAN LEARN HOW THEY CAN USE THESE FUNDS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AND OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WILL OPEN NEXT MONTH.
SO ONE MORE TIME TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE 20 MILLION COMMUNITY INITIATED FUNDING OPPORTUNITY GO TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/COMMUNITY INNOVATION.
WE WILL CONDUCT A PRESET MIDDLE GROUP MEETING AS WELL AS PROVIDE APPLICATION ASSISTANCE.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE APPLYING AND APPLICATIONS WILL BE OPEN JUNE 13TH.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP OUR INFORMATION AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT DAY.