Nov 01, 2023 Public Health Committee

[00:00:02]

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

[CALL TO ORDER]

DO WE

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

THERE'S AT LEAST ONE PERSON ONLINE.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE PERSON ONLINE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH, IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND, UH, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ALICIA FISH WEER.

I AM A FOOD ACCESS DIRECTOR AT FARM SHARE AUSTIN, A LOCAL NONPROFIT.

UM, I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD ACCESS TODAY.

UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN AREAS WITH LIMITED HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS OBESITY, HYPERTENSION, AND OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS.

LIVING IN AREAS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS IS NOT EQUITABLY EXPERIENCED ACROSS POPULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE PROXIMAL OR AFFORDABLE HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL OPTIONS NEAR THEIR HOMES OR IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHILE INCREASING HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS BY BUILDING SUPERMARKETS AND GROCERY STORES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS COULD BE A SOLUTION.

THAT PROCESS IS OFTEN DRIVEN BY CORPORATE INTERESTS CAN BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR CORPORATIONS TO MAKE THE SWITCH AND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHOP AT SPECIFIC STORES AND CAN ALSO INCREASE ACCESS TO UNHEALTHY FOODS.

THEREFORE, IT'S, THERE IS A NEED TO DEVELOP EQUITY-FOCUSED NON-TRADITIONAL FOOD RETAIL INTERVENTIONS AS A WAY TO IMPROVE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS IN UNDERSERVED SETTINGS.

AT FARM SHARE, OUR MISSION IS TO GROW A HEALTHY, JUST AND EQUITABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

BY INCREASING COMMUNITY FOOD ACCESS AND CULTIVATING NEW FARMERS, WE ENVISION A FUTURE OF RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES THAT ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FOOD AND THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO FARM THEM.

WE TEACH ADULTS HOW TO FARM AND SHARE THE BOUNTY OF THE FARM THROUGH OUR FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM.

FRESH FOR LESS, FRESH FOR LESS MOBILE MARKETS.

AND HOME DELIVERY IS A FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM IN 22 ZIP CODES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, WE OFFER A WEEKLY RELIABLE SOURCE FOR REDUCED PRICE FRESH SEASONAL PRODUCE, 40% OF WHICH IS GROWN AT OUR FARM.

UH, LOCAL EGGS, HONEY AND GROCERY ITEMS. WE ACCEPT CASH, CREDIT CARD SNAP, AND THE DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS, WHICH DOUBLES SNAP.

CUSTOMERS BUYING POWER FOR FRESH PRODUCE, CUSTOMERS CAN SELECT A VARIETY AND THE QUANTITY THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

WE'VE SERVED OVER 26,000 PEOPLE THROUGH 7,600 CUSTOMER TRANSACTIONS WITH EACH CUSTOMER SHOPPING FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOME.

AND ABOUT 22% OF THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE SNAP AND DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS USERS.

THOUGH WE'VE MAINTAINED AND GROWN FRESH FOR LESS OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S A NEED TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINED YEAR OVER YEAR FUNDING THAT REFLECTS THE INCREASES IN COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION IN AUSTIN.

THIS IS NOTEWORTHY GIVEN THAT SOME NON-TRADITIONAL FOOD RETAIL INTERVENTIONS, INTERVENTIONS CAN HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY.

THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SHARE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GIVE REMARKS BACK IN RETURN DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A RE RECOMMENDATION TO ADD AS A, UH, FUTURE, UM, KIND OF PRESENTATION, THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD PLAN.

UM, I KNOW THAT'S IN OPERATION, ENROLLING THAT OUT AND I THINK THAT CAN HELP, UM, GIVE US SOME AWARENESS OF SOME THINGS.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO MORE.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT.

ALRIGHT, THANK

[1. Approve the minutes of the Public Health Commission Meeting on October 4, 2023.]

COMING UP NEXT IS, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 4TH, 2023.

DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR PLEASE? SO MOVED.

IT'S BEEN SO MOVED BY THE VICE CHAIR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

AND SECONDED.

ANY QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? QUESTIONS? TO THE MOTION? ANYONE OPPOSING? NO APPOINTMENTS? MOTION PASSES.

MOVING ON TO DISCUSSION.

[2. Presentation by Housing Authority of Travis County on the organizational structure, programs, and services provided.]

MR. PATRICK HOWARD, THANK YOU FOR, UH, COMING AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION.

I KNOW WE HAD A PREVIOUS, UH, COUNCIL, UH, A COMMISSIONER, UH, THAT BROUGHT THIS TOPIC UP AT OUR LAST MEETING.

[00:05:01]

WELL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, INVITING ME, UH, TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION.

UM, SO WHAT I'LL PROVIDE IS AN OVERVIEW.

I KNOW THEY MAY HAVE A QUESTION, YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS, SO I'LL, UH, CERTAINLY SORT OF SPEED THROUGH THIS.

BUT, UM, FIRST SLIDE.

I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE IT DISAPPEARED.

OH, OKAY.

SO HOUSING AUTHORITIES ESTABLISHED BY STATE STATUTES, UH, CHAPTER 3 92.

UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE HOUSING AUTHORITIES ARE PUBLIC CORPORATION.

SO WE ARE CONSIDERED QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL IN NATURE.

WE OBVIOUSLY RECEIVE MOST OF OUR FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

WE DO PARTNER WITH THE LIKES OF CITIES, COUNTIES, AND THE LIKE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO DO PROGRAMMING AND EFFORTS.

BUT OUR, THE SUBSIDY ASSOCIATED WITH OUR HOUSING THAT WE MANAGE AND OPERATE TYPICALLY COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

UM, SO WE, THIS ORGANIZATION'S BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

UH, 1975 IS WHEN WE, UH, CAME INTO EXISTENCE.

SO STARTING NEXT SUMMER, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING, START THE BEGINNING OF YEAR 50 OF OUR EXISTENCE AS AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING HOUSING TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES, UM, AS DEFINED BY HUD, UM, IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

UH, WE, UM, OKAY, SO LET'S SEE.

WE COULD PROBABLY GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I THINK OF, HAVE WE GOTTEN THROUGH SOME OF THAT NEXT SLIDE? YEAH.

SO OUR, AGAIN, OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES AS DEFINED BY HUD UM, UH, OF TRAVIS COUNTY.

WE ALSO HAVE, HAVE AN EXTENSION OF OUR MISSION TO LOOK AT HOW WE ADDRESS HOUSING FOR ALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND THAT'S BEEN A MORE RECENT, UH, EFFORT THAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN.

NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY.

SO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AGAIN, UH, PROVIDES HOUSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

WE OWN FIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

UM, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THEY WERE ALL IN TRAVIS COUNTY INITIALLY, AND NOW THEY'RE ALL IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR SENIOR BUILDING NOW IN MANOR DUE TO ANNEXATION, WE ARE BUILDING AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING OUT IN THE CITY OF MENA, ANOTHER SENIOR BUILDING, UH, THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE, UH, WILL, UM, OPEN, UH, NEXT SUMMER.

UM, THAT OUR FACILITIES CORPORATION IS THE ORGANIZATION, ONE OF OUR SUBSIDIARIES THAT HAS DONE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, PRIMARILY WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MEANS FOR OUR PURPOSES, WE'RE CALLING IT AREA INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ABOVE 60% AREA, AREA MEDIA INCOME, 60% ABOVE AREA MEDIA INCOME AND ABOVE.

UM, AND WE FIND, WE DETER, WE DEEM THAT AS OUR MISSING MIDDLE, NOT SO MUCH AS THE TYPOLOGY, BUT AS AN INCOME TIER THAT DOESN'T REALLY TRADITIONALLY GET SERVED BY THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THE AVERAGE NUMBER, THE UNIT, UH, HAVE TO BE AT 60 AMI AND BELOW.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BE BETWEEN, UM, WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER A MARKET RATE RENTER AND THOSE THAT ARE GETTING, UH, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING THROUGH THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.

SO WE ARE HAPPY TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROCESS OF PROVIDING BOTH WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WE SET ASIDE A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS, 50% OF THOSE FUNDS, AND WE ACTUALLY SUBSIDIZE TAX CREDIT PROJECTS, UM, BY TRYING BUYING DOWN MORE 30% UNITS, WHICH ARE ALSO SORELY NEEDED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO THAT IS WHAT OUR FACILITIES CORPORATION, UH, FACILITATES DOING.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO AGAIN, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MANAGES RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

THAT'S DONE THROUGH A HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM PRIMARILY.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT, UH, ARE VOUCHER, LIKE IN NATURE.

WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE MAINSTREAM PROGRAM.

WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM.

WE HAVE, UM, THE FAMILY UNIFICATION PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE ALL VOUCHER PROGRAMS. WE ADDITIONALLY GET A, AN ALLOCATION OF, UH, CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS, AND THAT'S DIRECTED TOWARD PROVIDING PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR, UH, FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

UH, WE HOUSE ABOUT 80 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR, AND WE ALSO TRY TO TRANSITION THEM ULTIMATELY INTO, UH, HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER IF THEY'RE, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO.

BUT WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WE ADDITIONALLY, UH, WE DO, UH, HAVE A, A SMALL AMOUNT OF WHAT WAS CALLED HUD VASH VOUCHERS, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED FOR

[00:10:01]

THOSE ARE ALL RECEIVED.

WE WERE ALL, WE RECEIVED THOSE REFERRALS THROUGH A COORDINATED ASSESSMENT SYSTEM THROUGH, UH, UM, AGENCIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS.

ECHO, UH, IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S THE INTERMEDIARY AND THEY ASSIST AND FACILITATE THAT PROCESS.

SO WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT PROGRAM FOR QUITE A QUITE A WHILE.

WE ALSO HAVE WHAT WAS FORMALLY CALLED PUBLIC HOUSING.

IT'S CALLED ESSENTIALLY MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF UNITS IN THAT THAT WE PROVIDE HOUSING TO, AGAIN, IN AUSTIN AND THE CITY OF MANNAR.

AND I ALSO SPOKE ALREADY ABOUT OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED WITH THROUGH PUBLIC PAR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, UM, IN ADDITION TO INCENTIVIZING EXTREMELY LOW INCOME HOUSING, UM, THROUGH OUR SET ASIDE.

NEXT SLIDE.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY.

SO IN TERMS OF BUDGETS, WE, THIS IS, WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE ABOUT A $17 MILLION BUDGET THAT WE ARE, UM, HA ARE MANAGING CURRENTLY.

THE POTENTIAL OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES TO INCREASE WITH OUR ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH OUR FACILITIES CORPORATION.

UH, BUT THAT'S OUR CURRENT BUDGET TO DATE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OKAY.

SO HERE WE WANNA TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOMELESS POPULATION, THIS JUST TO ROUGH ESTIMATE, I THINK THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO INCREASE RATHER THAN DECREASE, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE, IT'S ESTIMATED, I THINK, THROUGH HOUSING WORKS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 4,000, NEARLY 5,000 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE A HOME PERMANENT LOCATION.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, THIS IS JUST SOME STATISTICS.

I THINK THE, I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT HOMELESSNESS AND CHRONIC DISEASE, THERE IS A NEXUS OF THE, BETWEEN THE TWO AND OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FUNDING TO DO, UM, HOUSING, PARTICULARLY PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WE SEE THAT ABILITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING THAT WE FIND WHEN WE DEAL WITH HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

SO THE, WE EMPLOY A HOUSING FIRST MODEL, THIS ENTIRE REGION DOES, WHICH MEANS, UH, INDIVIDUALS AREN'T REQUIRED TO ACCEPT THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSING, UH, SUBSIDY.

BUT, UH, IT'S ENCOURAGED.

UM, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT MANY OF THEM FACE, UH, ISSUES RELATED TO, UH, CHRONIC DISEASES AND, UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE LIKE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, SO WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, MASLOW AND OTHERS HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT H HIERARCHY OF NEEDS, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT STABLE HOUSING AFFECTS YOUR, YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH, AND YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT ISSUES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE WHILE AGO WITH FOOD INSECURITY HAS AN IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL STABILITY.

UM, WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ABILITY TO FIGHT OFF DISEASES AFFECTS YOUR STABILITY, UM, AND ALL THOSE THINGS CONTRIBUTE TO INSTABILITY AND HOUSING AT THE CENTER OF IT REALLY HELPS TO BALANCE THAT.

AND WE BELIEVE WE TRULY AND HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE.

SO WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS OUR ROLE AS AN ORGANIZATION.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO ALWAYS HAVE SAFE SANITARY HOUSING.

WE HAVE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO AS IT RELATES TO HOUSING.

UM, PARTICULARLY, UH, OF NOTE IS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL HAS A HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER INDIVIDUAL, WE HAVE AN INSPECTOR THAT GOES OUT TO THAT UNIT, IS EITHER A HOUSE OR AN APARTMENT.

UM, IT'S EXPECTED, INSPECTED FOR, TO MEET THE STANDARDS.

UM, THOSE STANDARDS ARE, IF THEY'RE NOT MET, THEY'RE ISSUED INDIVIDUALS NOT ISSUED A VOUCHER FOR THAT UNIT.

AND THEY WERE, UH, ENCOURAGED TO FIND OTHER LOCATIONS FOR HOUSING.

IF THERE ARE EVER ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS THE ABILITY TO CONTACT US TO DO A SPECIAL INSPECTION IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE LANDLORD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ABATE THAT ISSUE.

UH, AND OTHERWISE THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS ARE MOVING ON, THEY WILL BE MOVED TO OTHER LOCATIONS.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE REQUIREMENT AND THIS IS JUST THE STATE, THIS IS THE BASELINE, AND THIS IS HOW WE GO ABOUT ENSURING THAT UNITS THAT ARE OCCUPIED ARE, ARE, UH, SAFE AND SECURE, UM, AND SANITARY.

UM, OFTENTIMES,

[00:15:02]

AND THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE FIND RELATED TO SOME OF THE UNITS THAT ARE WHERE WE HAVE LANDLORDS PARTICIPATING, THAT THERE'S ISSUES RELATED TO MOLE AND SOME OTHER DETERIORATION.

UM, AND WE, SO WE ARE IN A, IN A STRONG MODE OF REALLY TRYING TO RECRUIT LANDLORDS, GOOD LANDLORDS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY TO ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE HOUSING CHOICE AND TO ENSURE BETTER, UH, SAFER, MORE SANITARY HOUSING VERSUS, UH, THE DEFAULT OF, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING, UH, SUBSTANDARD HOUSING.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO WE'RE LOCATED ACROSS FROM NOW ACC HIGHLAND.

UM, THE AREA HAS, HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF GENTRIFICATION.

UM, SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WHOLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY, BUT WE ARE LOCATED ACROSS FROM ACC HIGHLAND, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, I DID FIND OF INTEREST, THE, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING, WE ALWAYS HEAR A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT MUCH SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING.

AND, UH, AS, AS I SAY THIS, I'M LEANING OVER TO SLIDE 11 THAT YOU HAVE, WHICH IS, AS WE'RE HAVING A GROWTH, THE COST OF INCREASING IS OCCURRING.

UH, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT I WOULD KIND OF CONSIDER A LOW BUDGET WITH THE UNHOUSED EFFORT.

ALSO THE COST OF INCREASE.

UM, IS THERE A DESIRE OR INTENT TO INCREASE MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING, UH, ABILITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SLIDE 11 IN THE, THE, THE HEALTH IMPACTS.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH US BEING A PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION, THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION TO KNOW AS WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING AGAIN ON NUMBER 11, WHERE CAN WE BE ADVOCATES, UH, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE ASPECTS OF HOUSING.

BUT HOW ARE COLLABORATIONS OCCURRING WITH THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT THIS COMMISSION IS WORKING WITH FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT THAT YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED HERE ON SLIDE 11? SO I'LL TELL YOU THE PRIMARILY OUR, UH, UH, INVOL OUR INVOLVEMENT OR COLLABORATION WITH ENTITIES THAT YOU ALL ENGAGE WITH, PRIMARILY CENTERED AROUND OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, UM, FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE THOSE THAT ARE, UM, SUFFERING FROM FOOD INSECURITIES AND OTHER THINGS AS RELATES TO, UH, THEIR HEALTH.

UM, AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE FIND, UH, ALSO OBVIOUSLY ISSUES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UM, UH, JUST AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IS WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE FIND OFTENTIMES WITH A MAJORITY OF, I WOULD SAY QUITE A NUMBER OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.

WE ARE, WE DO WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES, UM, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, UH, ACTIVITIES AND ACTIVITIES, UH, FOR OUR GENERAL POPULATION.

UM, WE WORK WITH BIG AUSTIN, THEY'RE OUR CURRENT PROVIDER, UH, THAT DELIVERS SERVICES FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO OUR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER RESIDENTS.

UM, IN ADDITION TO THOSE THAT ARE LIVING IN ONE OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS, UM, THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN MORE, UM, INITIALLY ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPANDING THE FOCUS TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OVERALL HEALTH OF THE FAMILY AND HOW WE, HOW EARLY INTERVENTION HELPS WITH STABLE, CREATING STA MORE STABLE COMMUNITIES AND HONESTLY LEADS TO BETTER OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND, AND OTHER THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW INCOME POPULATIONS THAT WE TEND TO FIND.

SO, UM, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN PRIMARILY OUR EXPERIENCE IS OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH AGENCIES THAT CAN PROVIDE, UH, A LOT OF THE BASIC NECESSITIES RELATED TO JUST BASIC LIVING.

UM, AND, AND THOSE ARE GENERALLY WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE FORMERLY HOMELESS.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS? YES.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.

YES.

UM, I, I WONDERED AND MAY THERE MAY BE SOMETHING YOU COULD POINT ME TO ON, ON THE WEBSITE OR REPORT, BUT I WONDERED HOW YOU THINK ABOUT SORT OF THE OVERALL COMMUNITY NEED.

CERTAINLY THE HOMELESS IS DEFINED BY THAT NUMBER 46 56.

SURE.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE AND STUNNINGLY CHALLENGING.

THERE'S ANOTHER POPULATION, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S THE WORKING, UM, GREATER THAN 60%, UM, AMI, WHATEVER I THINK IT'S CALLED.

I'M SORRY IF I DON'T KNOW THE TERM RIGHT.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WONDERED, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM AND DO WE HAVE,

[00:20:01]

I'M JUST TRYING TO GAUGE A LITTLE BIT HOW BIG THE, THE BUBBLES ARE.

SURE, YEAH.

UM, THOSE THINGS, THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

SO HOUSING WORKS, AUSTIN IS WHO WE PRIMARILY RELY ON AND WHAT MOST ENTITIES DO FOR DATA RELATED TO, TO HOUSING NEEDS.

THEY DO A STUDY EACH YEAR, UM, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THEN TRAVIS COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND WE'VE BEEN RELYING ON THEM TO HELP US SORT OF DIRECT AND STEER THE, STEER US AS RELATES TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, OBVIOUSLY WITH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S THE GREATEST NEED, UM, THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO CHANGE.

THEY DO IT BASED ON, UM, 80 TO 120 OF AREA MEDIA INCOME, 60 TO 80 OF AREA MEETING INCOME.

AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK THE NUMBER IS ABOUT 20,000 THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT RANGE OF 60 TO 120% AMI, WHICH FOR THE PURPOSES OF OUR AGENCY'S PROGRAM, WE SEE THAT AS WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE MISSING MIDDLE OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WHEREAS SOME ORGANIZA, SOME ENTITIES OR EVEN COMMUNITIES MAY LOOK AT 80 TO 120 OF AREA MEDIA INCOME AS BEING WORKFORCE.

BUT THAT DEPENDS ON THE COST OF LIVING, OF COURSE.

AND, UH, SO AN INDIVIDUAL, AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, SO AREA MEDIA INCOME, 60% OF AREA MEDIA INCOME FOR ONE PERSON RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S $49,080.

SO ANYONE MAKING ABOVE THAT IN ONE SINGLE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT UNLESS THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CALL INCOME AVERAGING, WHICH MEANS THE AVERAGE UNIT HAS TO BE AT 80, WHICH MEANS SOME WILL BE LOWER AND SOME WILL BE HIGHER.

BUT TYPICALLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO LET'S SAY IN GENERAL YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, FOR A HOUSING, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE INCOME BURDEN, RENT BURDEN.

SO, BUT THE TYPICAL SUBSIDIZED DEVELOP APARTMENT DOESN'T SUIT YOUR NEEDS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE IDEA OF DOING WORKFORCE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE IS THOSE INDIVIDUALS, ONE PROMOTION WILL GET PUT YOU OUT OF, OUT OF THE RUNNING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THE INCENTIVE TO DO BETTER MAY NOT BE THERE IN MANY IN SOME CASES BECAUSE THAT, BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES LIKE THAT.

DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP? YEAH, JUST A FOLLOW UP.

I'M SORRY.

BUT, SO I'VE GOT, I THINK 20,000 WAS A NUMBER THAT COULD BE OUT THERE, CORRECT? MM-HMM.

.

AND, UM, I WAS JUST TRYING TO THINK OF, I'M TRYING TO SCOPE THE PROBLEM JUST JUST SO I UNDERSTAND IT.

SO, BUT 20,000, SEE IF I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? IF IT'S, IF IT WAS SAY FOUR PEOPLE FOR PER FAMILY, WOULD THAT MEAN WE NEED 5,000 ADDITIONAL SORT OF UNITS SUBSIDIZED, SOMETHING LIKE THIS? IS THAT HOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT? AND WHERE I'M GOING WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE HOW MANY DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THOSE FIVE BUILDINGS THAT YOU DESCRIBED? NOT THAT THAT'S, THAT'S THE FIXED, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT RENT ASSISTANCE.

I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE GET RENT ASSISTANCE AND, AND WHATEVER THOSE ADD UP TO, HOW MUCH DOES THAT DIFFER FROM KIND OF WHAT THE NEED IS? SO, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO ONLY THING ON THAT ONE, UH, VICE CHAIR IS WE, WE CAN'T GET OVERLY FOCUSED INTO THE HOUSING ASPECT BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSED ON, ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

NO, I GOTCHA.

BUT JUST, JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

SURE.

YEAH.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSEHOLDS.

SO IT, IT VARIES.

I MEAN, THE DATA COULD BE, UH, WE COULD BREAK DOWN THE DATA EVEN FURTHER AND I'D BE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING THAT TO YOU ALL JUST AS A MATTER OF COURSE.

BUT, UH, TYPICALLY WHEN THEY REFERRED TO WHEN THEY REFER TO THE NUMBER, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSEHOLDS ACTUALLY.

YEAH.

SO, UM, YES, YOU MAY BE TALKING ABOUT ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO MAYBE SIX IN TERMS OF HOUSEHOLD, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN YOU HEAR STATISTICS ABOUT, UH, COST OF LIVING, THEY'RE USUALLY BASING IT ON BASING IT ON A FAMILY OF FOUR.

SO THE AVERAGE IS TYPICALLY A FAMILY OF FOUR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HEAR NUMBERS, OFTENTIMES.

UM, YOU HAVE A QUESTION, GO AHEAD.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, UM, ANY INTERSECTIONALITY WITH WHAT YOU DO IN THE HOUSING SPACE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND HAVING CHWS OR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ACCESSIBLE TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN YOUR, IN YOUR BUILDINGS, BUT THEN ALSO JUST INTERESTED IN YOUR PROGRAM AS A WHOLE? YEAH, I WOULD SAY THERE'S DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THAT OPPOR INCREASE THAT THAT NEXUS OR AT LEAST THAT, THAT RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK THAT WE DO RE RELY ON OUR, UH, PARTNERS TO SORT OF HELP US CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH THOSE RESOURCES.

AND THAT'S WHAT BIG AUSTIN'S BEEN HELPING US TO DO.

WE, OUR CASEWORKERS DO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, OR I SHOULD SAY SERVICES IN GENERAL TO HELP THEM GENERALLY, BUT THAT THERE COULD ALWAYS BE MORE WORK TO DONE TOWARD THAT END TO HELP CONNECT EVEN BETTER.

WE DO HAVE A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL IN THE ORGAN WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION WHO FOCUSES ON THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES, AND, AND

[00:25:01]

SO SHE HAS, THERE'S MORE, MORE OF A FOCUS IN THAT, IN THAT VEIN, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO BE EXPANDED.

THANK YOU.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? UM, UM, I, OH, GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

OH, OKAY.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON SLIDE 13.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE HELP THE SANITARY AND THE SAFENESS OF THE PLACE THAT ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WHERE A LOT OF LIKE OLDER BUILDINGS ARE BEING USED UP FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT'S LIKE A COMMON ISSUE RIGHT NOW, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YEAH, SO LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE, YOU'RE A LANDLORD AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO RENT, BUT RENT'S BEING THERE, RENT'S BEING, UH, WHAT THEY ARE IN THE AREA.

IF YOU ARE ELECTING TO RENT TO A, A LOW INCOME FAMILY, THERE IS A, YOUR INCOME'S GONNA BE CAPPED THE POTENTIAL BECAUSE THERE ARE STANDARDS RELATED TO WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN CHARGE FOR UNITS BASED ON THE HUD REGULATIONS.

SO IF YOU'RE ELECTING TO RENT TO A LOW INCOME PERSON, YOU'RE EITHER, YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR, FOR LOW INCOME POPULATIONS, OR GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOUR UNITS MAY BE, UH, OLDER, UM, WHEREBY YOU HAVEN'T MADE THE INVESTMENT ENOUGH TO DEMAND HIGHER MONEY, HIGHER AMOUNTS OF RENT.

THAT BEING SAID, IN SOME CASES, YOU WILL FIND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, OR I SHOULD SAY MORE OFTEN THAN IN A TYPICAL SITUATION WITH A MARKET RATE UNIT, YOU MAY FIND SITUATIONS THAT MAY BE LESS THAN DESIRABLE.

I'LL PUT IT TO YOU THAT WAY.

PERFECT.

OKAY.

AND ARE THERE LIKE, CURRENT STRATEGIES TO LIKE, PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING OR WAYS TO LIKE ? SURE.

SO, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE ARE NOT TWO GREAT OPTIONS FOR GETTING HOUSING FOR, RIGHT.

SO OUR, SO OUR HOPE IS THAT THE MORE LANDLORDS WE HAVE, THE, THE BETTER CHANCES THEY ARE THAT WE WON'T HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE FO FOLKS ARE, UH, FORCED TO LOOK AT CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE BASED ON OUR, OUR STANDARDS, BUT MAY STILL BE SUBPAR AS IT RELATES TO HOW YOU WOULD VIEW THE IDEAL HOUSING SITUATION.

SO FOR US, EXPANDING THE CHOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS HELPS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.

WE DO HAVE STANDARDS, THOSE STANDARDS ARE ADHERE TOO.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE AT A SUITABLE LEVEL AS FAR AS THAT PARK'S CONCERNED.

BUT FOR US, I THINK THE OP, THE I IDEA AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND HOUSING CHOICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS WORK ON BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK OUT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.

SO NEW UNITS OF HOUSING ARE ALWAYS DESIRABLE IN, IN CASES, UM, WHERE THERE'S THAT OPPORTUNITY EXISTS.

SO WE DO TRY TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO DO THOSE THINGS, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT ACCEPTING, UH, CONDITIONS IN UNITS THAT ARE VERY OLD WILL LIKELY CAUSE THERE TO BE LIKELY PROBLEMS IN SOME CASES, WHICH HAVE TO GET MITIGATED.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT TO AVOID THOSE SITUATIONS ARE WHAT WE WOULD HOPE TO ACHIEVE.

ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I DO, I HAVE A COUPLE, I HAVE, UH, ABOUT THREE QUESTIONS.

ONE, UH, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS ORGANIZATION AND HAKA? UM, THAT'S AN EASY QUESTION.

SO OUR, OUR, WE ARE, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY.

SO OUR JURISDICTION GOES OUT OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT ALL THE BALANCE OF TRAVIS COUNTY, ALTHOUGH AS IT RELATES TO THE PROGRAM OF THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, WE, THERE IS OVERLAP.

SO THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO WORK IN BOTH OF THE JU BOTH JURISDICTIONS.

SO WE ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS HACO.

OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS TRAVIS COUNTY AND NOT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PER SE.

ALTHOUGH I, AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING PRESENTATION, OUR PROPERTIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR ONE SENIOR BUILDING IN THE CITY OF MAINOR ARE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF ANNEXATION.

THEY ORIGINALLY WERE IN THE, IN THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, SO, BUT OTHER THAN LIKE THE VOUCHER, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GONNA TALK, I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY BE FOCUSED, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER, WHICH IS THE HOUSING VOUCHER.

IT PRETTY MUCH THE PROCESS OF PROCEDURE AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WILL FALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, CORRECT? YES.

I WOULD SAY YES.

OKAY.

SO THEN, UM, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, I SEE ONE OF THE FOCUSES THAT YOU ALSO WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS FINDING LANDLORDS AND WELL, I FEEL THAT THERE'S A, A STIGMA ABOUT SECTION EIGHT AND HOUSING.

SO MY SOLUTION OR MY

[00:30:01]

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE CAN BE HOLES IN THE WALLS.

YOU CAN'T BE SMOKING IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS THAT BEEN, HAVE BEEN HOLDING ONTO THEIR VOUCHER FOR AT LEAST 20, 25, 30 YEARS.

I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CLIENTS LIKE THIS.

AND SO THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY ON BOTH SIDES, RIGHT? THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HOUSING WILL TAKE CARE OF THE UNIT AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THE UNIT CONDITIONED.

THEY HAVE AN INSPECTION EVERY YEAR THAT THE INSPECTOR COMES IN, MAKE SURE THAT THE INSPECTION IS DUE GOOD FOR RECERTIFICATION, AND THEN IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT THE LANDLORD HAS TO PUT IN OR THE TENANT IT NEEDS TO FIX.

SO OF COURSE THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE DIVIDED, RIGHT? SO THEY COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

SO I THINK I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SELL THE PROGRAM, THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM TO DIFFERENT LANDLORDS BY EXPLAINING TO THEM HOW IT ALL WORKS.

THE PERK OF IT, OF COURSE, IS YOU WILL HAVE SOMEBODY THERE THAT EVERY MONTH WILL HAVE THE RENT PAID.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY FALL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO ONLY PAY 300 OUT OF 1500, RIGHT? UM, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SELL THIS FOR SOME OF MY CLIENTS.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY EVEN SELL IT TO MYSELF.

OKAY.

SO WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU, I'M NOT ONLY SPEAKING AS AAPH COUNSELOR, UH, COMMISSIONER, I'M ALSO TALKING TO YOU AS A CLIENT AND I'M GONNA JUST SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE STIGMAS THAT THERE IS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF STIGMA ABOUT PEOPLE ON SECTION EIGHT AND MAYBE A CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO RECRUIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS BEING PROVIDED TAX-EXEMPT BUILDINGS FOR QUOTE UNQUOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT VOUCHERS FOR SECTION EIGHT.

BUT THEN HERE YOU COME, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESS, THERE'S SO MANY BARRIERS.

FIRST OF ALL, CREDIT, SOME OF OUR, OUR HOMELESS POPULATION HAVE NOT HAD CREDIT.

SECOND RENTAL HISTORY.

SOME OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION HAVEN'T HAD A RENTAL HISTORY FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

THIRD INCOME, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET INCOME BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY'RE UNHOUSED AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF MY CLIENTS WITH ON THESE BARRIERS, AND RECENTLY WE HAVE, I BRING THIS, UM, AND I, AND, AND, UM, HOLD ON.

I WANNA, SO THE BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN NOTICING HAVE BEEN USED AND BECAUSE OF THIS, ONE OF THE AGENDAS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO OUR, TO OUR ATTENTION ON OUR LAST MEETING WAS MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WAS A, I WAS ASKING FOR HOUSING TO BE PRESENT TO BE ABLE TO TELL US, RIGHT? IF YOU GUYS ARE PROVIDING 50 VOUCHERS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, OUT OF THOSE 50 VOUCHERS WHO ARE REALLY BEING IMPACTED, WHO ARE REALLY BEING SERVED, YOU HAVE CASE MANAGERS ALL OVER THE PLACE LIKE SUNRISE, YOU GOT ECHO THAT ARE, ARE ABLE TO HAVE, TO HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THE MONTHLY RENT OR THE DEPOSIT AND THE APPLICATION FEE.

BUT I FEEL THAT, UM, SOME OF THAT MONEY IS BEING MISUSED BECAUSE EVEN AS A PRIVATE TENANT THAT I, I WOULD GO APPLY FOR OTHER APARTMENTS, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 20, 25, 50 APPLICATION FEES.

BUT FOR THEM TO TURN DOWN ALL OF THESE CLIENTS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, THAT ARE UNHOUSED, THAT ARE ON DRUGS, THAT ARE LITERALLY WAITING EVERY DAY AT SUNRISE TO BE ABLE TO BE SEEN AND, UM, AND SCREENED FOR HOUSING.

DO YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF, IF, IF AS A WHOLE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SAT DOWN AND THINK ABOUT THIS.

DO YOU, WE BRING A CLIENT TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

THEY SIGN, THEY PROVIDE THE DEPOSIT, THEY RUN THEIR CREDIT, THEY DENY THEM, THEY PUT 'EM BACK ON THE STREETS.

THAT DOES SO MUCH FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND THEIR, THEM GOING BACK TO DRUG USE, BECAUSE NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEATHER CHANGING, THERE'S SO MANY STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING TO DO METH, DO EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO DO TO STAY AT WORK.

SO COMMISSIONER LUAN, UM,

[00:35:01]

WELL, THE THREE QUESTIONS WERE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAKA AND THEM.

THE SECOND ONE ABOUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING FOR CAMPAIGN TO BE ABLE TO FIND MORE LANDLORDS MORE, OF COURSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN THESE CA CASES WITH LOW QUALITY THAT THEY ARE NOT FIXED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NOWHERE TO GO BECAUSE OF THE GAP.

AND THE THIRD ONE WAS, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR BARRIERS? SO THOSE ARE MY THREE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR, UM, HOUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.

SURE.

SO YOUR SECOND QUESTION, UM, HAD TO DO WITH LANDLORD RECRUITMENT.

AND SO WE ARE SQUARELY FOCUSED ON LANDLORD RECRUITMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS, UM, GOING OUT AND, UM, MEETING WITH THE LOCAL CHAMBERS TO TALK ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF LANDLORDS.

SO I'LL SAY ANY INPUT THAT WE CAN GET WILL BE WELCOME AND HELPFUL BECAUSE, UH, IT IS, IT IS BY FAR A CHALLENGE AS IT RELATES TO GETTING, YOU KNOW, MORE LANDLORDS IN PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT TRADITIONALLY WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR, YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO RENT TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

SO, UH, I CERTAINLY WELCOME MORE INPUT AS IT RELATES TO THAT.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN, UH, WE, WE ARE WORKING ON A, A MORE ROBUST PLAN AS WE SPEAK.

UM, IN, IN THE COMING YEAR, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING SOME PUBLIC SPEAKING AS IT RELATES TO THAT.

UM, WE HAVE PUT THE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WE'VE ENGAGED WITH THE APARTMENT, UH, THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.

SO WE ARE WORKING, WE ARE WORKING TOWARD THAT END.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S, AS YOU SUGGESTED, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

SO WE JUST, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO SPREAD THE WORD AND TO MAKE THAT RECRUITMENT EFFORT, UH, A LITTLE, UH, MORE ROBUST.

SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING CURRENTLY.

AND AS IT RELATES TO THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE'VE TRIED TO LOWER OUR BARRIERS AND WE HAVE, UM, AS, BUT AS YOU SUGGESTED, THERE ARE BARRIERS TO BARRIERS TO HOUSING THAT FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING, PARTICULARLY THE HOMELESS POPULATION, AND PARTICULARLY 'CAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED.

I MEAN, UH, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, THE LOOK BACK PERIOD, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AT SOME POINT WE WERE PARTICIPATING IN A REENTRY ROUNDTABLE THAT WAS LOOKING AT HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY TRIED TO LOBBY THE APARTMENTS, UH, ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS TO LOWER THOSE BARRIERS.

UM, FOR SUCH PURPOSES.

AGAIN, OUR STRATEGY HAS PRIMARILY BEEN LET'S FIND MORE LANDLORDS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN NOT HAVING THOSE KINDS OF BARRIERS.

SO THAT'S BEEN OUR, OUR APPROACH PRIMARILY TO DOING SUCH.

THERE'S NOT A LOT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT PER SE, IN ONE SENSE, UM, AS A MANDATE.

BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT AS WE, UH, THE COMMUNITY HAVE MORE OF THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR SUCH THAT WE'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES GO AWAY.

UM, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, UH, IN EFFORT OF COLLABORATION HERE, SOME ASPECTS OF WHERE THE AGENCIES CAN HELP IN PUSHING OUT INFORMATION REGARDING SECTION EIGHT, WHAT IT IS, AND ALSO, UH, SIGNUPS FOR LANDLORD POTENTIALITIES, UM, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU ARE AN AGENCY OVER TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, I THINK THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE SOMETHING THAT THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES HERE COULD BE ABLE TO BE OF SUPPORTIVE.

W UH, ALSO, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE SEVEN TO SLIDE EIGHT, UH, MORE OR LESS SLIDE SEVEN FIRST, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY INVOLVED WITH THE PUBLIC SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COLLABORATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH AUSTIN ECHO WHAT THE CITY OF VASA IS DOING, THEN HOW DO YOU GET EMBEDDED INTO THAT PROCESS? UM, RIGHT.

UM, AND THEN ALSO, UH, FOR SLIDE EIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHERE POTENTIALLY COULD, UM, THIS ASPECT MORE VIEWED AS SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH THAT IMPACTS PRIMARY IN, IN, IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, RIGHT? UM, WHERE COULD THIS EFFORT OF FUNDING OF A SOCIAL DETERMINANT ASPECT POTENTIALLY BE, UH, A FUNDING AREA WITHIN THE HEALTH EQUITY, HEALTH EQUITY PLAN OR SOME SUB, UH, POTENTIAL GRANTS THROUGH APH OR MAYBE EVEN THE COUNTY.

UM, 'CAUSE AT LEAST FROM WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT DIDN'T SOUND AS IF THOSE ARE MAYBE SOME AVENUES THAT YOU HAVE, UH, EMBEDDED OR HAVE DISCUSSIONS

[00:40:01]

AND IF NOT, I THINK THAT COULD BE A GREAT WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, MORE OF A SOCIAL DETERMINANT SUPPORT AREA, UM, AND THEN CREATING AND BRINGING IN THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, THE NAVIGATORS, BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE HAVING THESE INTENTIONAL CONTRACTS, UH, YOU'RE HAVING THESE INTENTIONAL, UH, FACILITIES, UM, THAT, THAT YOU'RE HAVING MORE SO THAN JUST HAVING TO IDENTIFY LANDLORDS AND HAVING THESE INDIVIDUAL, UH, CONNECTIVITIES OF THE LANDLORDS WORKING WITH PEOPLE.

AND THEN YOU'RE KIND OF LEFT OUT THE LOOP.

SURE.

WELL, I WILL SAY THAT WE, WE DO OBVIOUSLY PARTICIPATE WITH ECHO.

I THINK THAT AS BEEN MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER COLLABORATION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT BEING BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND JUST BY VIRTUE OF COMING HERE TODAY, I THINK JUST THE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE EXPAND ON THAT IS, IS, IS, IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

I SEE.

SO, THANK YOU.

NO, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU GOT ONE MORE REMARK? I JUST HAD ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

SO YOU MENTIONED THAT SOME FOLKS IN YOUR PROGRAM ARE ONE RAISE AWAY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE, BE HOUSED ANY LONGER, AND THAT IS SET BY HUD, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND SO IF ALL, IF THE LIKE PRIMARY FOLLOW UP QUESTION, PRIMARY FUNDING IS COMING FROM HUD AND AS CHAIR WALLACE JUST MENTIONED, AS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND INTO DIFFERENT FUNDING SPACES, WOULD YOUR FUNDING BE AT RISK IF THERE ARE POLICIES AND MAYBE ORDINANCES PUT IN PLACE FROM A LOCAL AND COUNTY LEVEL THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A $52,000 SALARY OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE ARE NO LONGER NOW CONCERNED OF HOUSING CONCERNS? LIKE IS THAT A FEDERAL MANDATE THAT CANNOT BE ALTERED WHATSOEVER, OR IS THAT SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TOWARDS FUNDING? IT IS A FEDERAL MANDATE.

SO E EVERY YEAR THE, UM, HUD PUBLISHES, UM, INCOME DATA, THE, THE, THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM GOT CREATED IN 1986, AND IT'S, IT'S SET AT 60% OF AREA MEDIA INCOME.

BUT TO, TO YOUR POINT, OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVE REALLY IS WHAT WE'VE SOUGHT TO ADDRESS THAT NEED BECAUSE IT NOW GIVES US THE ABILITY TO FOCUS AT FOR INCOMES AT 60 TO 120 AMI, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT WHICH IS BEING COVERED BY THE, THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WHICH IS BY FAR THE GREATEST, UH, RESOURCE OR SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

BUT, BUT THAT IS OUR GOAL AS AN ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS THAT NEED.

AND, AND WE'VE USED, WE'VE BEEN USING THIS VEHICLE TO DO SUCH.

NOW THERE'S SOME CRITICISM WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAM, AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS IN A LEVEL OF PUBLIC BENEFIT, BUT WE FEEL REALLY, WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT IT, IT IS MEETING A NEED AND, AND I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

ANY LAST REMARKS? IF NONE, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING WAYS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST YOU AREAS OF NEED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP

[3. Discuss updated 2024 meeting schedule dates.]

UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT THE DATES, IT'S PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT WITH, UH, THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, UH, EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT MAY OVERLAP ON SOME TYPE OF HOLIDAY.

UM, AND THERE WERE SOME INCONSISTENCIES ON THE DATE MATCHING UP WITH THAT.

UM, BUT I BELIEVE ALL THOSE HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND CORRECTED.

CORRECT.

ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.

IT'S BEEN SO MOVED BY THE VICE CHAIR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED AND SECONDED.

ANY QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? QUESTIONS? TO THE MOTION? YES.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT JANUARY 3RD WORKS FOR ALL OF US.

THE FIRST IS OBVIOUSLY A HOLIDAY, THAT'S A MONDAY, AND THEN TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY WE WOULD MEET.

UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT DOES FOR ME.

ALRIGHT.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH, UH, JANUARY 3RD RIGHT AFTER TO EAT AND HAVE FUN AND SLEEP AND PROBABLY CAN'T GET UP? .

ALRIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.

ANY OPPOSING RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION PASSES ON TO DISCUSS THE

[4. Discuss the Commission's process for adding items to the agenda.]

UM, WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY REGARDING ADDING ITEMS TO THE AGENDA.

THE

[00:45:01]

UM, AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AS A CONSENSUS, ADD ANY, UH, TOPICS AS A CONSENSUS, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS A SECOND, IT WOULD GET ADDED AND THEN WE JUST, UH, REVISE THE RACK AND STACK, UH, PRIORITY BASED UPON THAT.

AND THEN I CAN'T RECALL WHAT, WHAT WOULD WE SAY THE TIMEFRAME WAS, UH, POST-MEETING, IF THERE IS A TOPIC OR A SUBJECT THAT COMES UP, UM, TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S, UM, TWO WEEKS.

ALL RIGHT.

AND SO IT'S TWO WEEKS.

DO WE HAVE A WRITEUP ON THIS? BECAUSE WE NEED THIS TO BE, UH, UM, ACTUALLY APPROVED.

UM, SO THEN IT GOES INTO THE HANDBOOK FOR ANY NEW COMMISSIONERS COMING ON BOARD.

I CAN LOOK THAT UP.

UM, I DO THINK THAT WE DID HAVE WRITTEN IT UP ALREADY.

OKAY.

BUT I WILL LOOK THAT UP AND BRING IT.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY TWEAKS, CHANGES OR, UH, OR RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS TO THAT PROCESS AND HOPE THAT NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE THAT IN WRITING TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW AND APPROVE AND MAKE THAT OFFICIAL SO THAT IT GOES IN AS PART OF THE PROCESS? YES.

CAN WE REPEAT IT? SO I COULD JUST ASK YOU WHAT THE PROCESS IS, BUT I THINK WE'VE SAID YOU BRING IT TO THE COMMITTEE DURING MAYBE A TIME DURING OUR EACH MEETING TO SAY, ORDER NEW ITEMS. YES.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS MM-HMM.

, UM, YOU WOULD, UM, ALSO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THAT ELECTRONICALLY AND THEN THAT WOULD BE, ARE WE DISCUSSING 'EM AND ADDING THEM AFTER DISCUSSION? WHICH MAKES ME QUESTION, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE AD AFTER FOR THE TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE MEETING? WE WOULDN'T, I MEAN, IS THERE DISCUSSION OR DOES, DOES EVERYTHING GO TO THE LIST? SO IT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE DISCUSSION, WE SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PRIORITY, WHAT IS IT GONNA BE, THE NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO TOPICS WE'RE GONNA START FOCUSING ON.

UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO START WORKING ON TOPICS IF NOT GOING INTO, UM, DECEMBER.

DEFINITELY BY JANUARY.

UM, SO WE, WE CAN TALK IN FLESH OUT WHICH ONES IS WE'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH AS THE TOP PRIORITIES.

UM, AND THEN FROM THERE WE CAN JUST DO A PRIORITY LIST AMONGST OURSELVES, SEND IT IN TO THE STAFF, AND THEY CAN CONSOLIDATE IT AND RACK AND STACK IT BASED OFF EVERYBODY'S INDIVIDUAL CHOICES.

UM, BUT, AND THAT IS, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW, FOR INSTANCE, TO THIS LIST AND THIS PART OF IT? RIGHT.

AND IF SOMEBODY SUBMITS A NEW IDEA IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THAT'LL JUST FALL TO THE NEXT MEETING WHEN WE WOULD ADD THAT AS CORRECT YET TO BE DETERMINED OR YET TO BE PRIORITIZED.

CORRECT.

CORRECT.

SO, YEAH, SO THAT WAY THERE'S NO INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS BEING MADE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, OUTSIDE OF COMMISSION MEETINGS.