[00:00:03]
UM, AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S PRESENT ON THE DICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
[CALL TO ORDER]
UH, THE TIME NOW IS SIX FIFTY THREE AND WE WILL CALL THE MEETING, UM, OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THE NOVEMBER MEETING, UM, TO ORDER THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SERVE THE POOR AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS CALL A MEETING TO ORDER[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.WE, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, UH, THAT HAS SIGNED UP.
UH, IS THAT MS. JOSEPH? MS. JOSEPH, WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE DAS? GOOD AFTERNOON.
MADAM CHAIR REMEMBERS I ACTUALLY SENT MR. BLAKE A ONE PAGER.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANTED ME TO JUST SPEAK TO THAT NOW, OR IF YOU WANTED ME TO JUST WAIT TILL YOU CALLED UP ITEM TWO.
UM, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE FOR ITEM TWO.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO? AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? UM, MR. BLAKE? CORRECT.
SHE JUST SENT ME A ONE PAGER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO, I THINK.
IS THAT THE, I CAN EMAIL IT TO EVERYBODY, BUT THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO PULL IT, PULL IT UP BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEND IT.
BUT, UH, THIS TIME, MS. JOSEPH, IT'S GONNA BE, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ON OUR AGENDA.
UH, WHEN WE DO GET TO ITEM TWO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IS THAT CORRECT, THEN WE WILL.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AND THEN YOU'LL BE READY FOR OUR ITEM TWO ITEM.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPEAK MADAM CHAIR TO AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
AND SPECIFICALLY MY CONCERN IS ABOUT THE MONTOPOLIS AREA.
SO AS YOU MAY RECALL, JULY 27TH, 2023 IS WHEN THE MAYOR ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED RECEIVING $65 MILLION FROM TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE HAS DONE IS THERE WAS A DEAL THAT WAS MADE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
SO HE WANTS TO PUT 700 MORE INDIVIDUALS NEXT TO CAMP ESPERANZA, WHICH ALREADY HAS 200, UH, HOMELESS PEOPLE THERE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THE MARSHALLING YARD, WHICH HAS 300 INDIVIDUALS THERE.
AND ABOUT 0.2 MILES FROM THERE IS ACTUALLY WHERE THERE'S THIS HUGE ENCAMPMENT.
SO WHEN YOU DO THE MATH, THERE'S OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE CONCENTRATED IN THE AREA OFF OF US 180 3.
AND SO I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY IT'S APRIL 13TH, 2023 WHEN THERE WAS ACTUALLY A TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEETING.
AND IT WAS NOT TRANSPARENTLY DISCUSSED AS TO WHAT WAS BEING AMENDED.
SO IT'S HO HOME, H-O-M-E-A-R-P, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY FEDERAL FUNDS THAT THEY'RE USING TO CONCENTRATE POVERTY.
AND WHAT MAKES IT TRICKY IS BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE THAT ACTUALLY HAS A SLIDE FOR THE, UH, HIGHWAY EXPANSION I 35.
AND SO IT IS BEING COUCHED AS MITIGATION THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU RECOGNIZE THAT I 35 AND US 180 3 IN THE ONTOP, THIS AREA REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE I 35 EXPANSION.
BUT IF YOU GO TO THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2023, THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL SEE IT ON THE SLIDE.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COMMISSION IS FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY PUT A STATEMENT OUT TO COUNCIL TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE PERHAPS FROM STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN BRIEF YOU ON THIS TEXT OUT EXPANSION.
AND HOW IS IT THAT THE LAND THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THE CITY IS FOR THAT MITIGATION? AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT ACTUALLY IS THE, THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE WHO ARE ACTUALLY GETTING THE FUNDING TO DO THIS EXPANSION.
AND LASTLY, WHAT IS TRICKY ABOUT THAT IS IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS FOR TEXAS APARTMENT HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IS A LIST OF THE DIFFERENT NONPROFITS THAT WERE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR INPUT.
AND NEITHER ONE OF THESE TWO NONPROFITS, AS BEST I COULD TELL, WERE ACTUALLY LISTED THERE.
[00:05:01]
ACTUALLY SPECIFIED FROM APRIL 13TH IS THE EXACT AMOUNT THAT WAS AMENDED IN JULY OF 20 JULY 27TH, 2023.BUT I JUST HAVE A, A CONCERN BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, IT IS CONCENTRATING POVERTY.
THIS IS NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FUR FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING.
AND SO IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IT WOULD VIOLATE TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
AND I SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT AFRICAN AMERICANS BEING OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, THAN WHEN YOU CONCENTRATE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, THEN YOU BASICALLY ARE RE CODIFYING THE 1928 CITY PLAN.
BUT THAT IS WHAT MY CONCERN IS AS IT RELATES TO POOR PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, MS. JOSEPH.
ALWAYS, UM, FULL OF KNOWLEDGE.
COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT? CAN I GO AHEAD AND HAVE MY COM THE COMMISSIONERS GO AHEAD AND ASK QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER IIS HAS A QUESTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING TODAY.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON YOUR REQUEST FOR A STATEMENT FROM THE COMMISSION? I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PERHAPS IN THE NEXT MEETING.
AND THE REASON I SAY IT IS BECAUSE AS IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE MARSHALING YARD AND YOU'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THE COUNCIL IS DOING, THE MAYOR IS WORKING PRETTY EXPEDITIOUSLY.
AND THIS STARTED, AS I MENTIONED, IN APRIL, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE JULY.
AND THE MARSHALING YARD IS ACTUALLY IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW.
AND SO I THINK THAT BEFORE THE EXPANSION OCCURS, THEN THERE NEEDS TO AT LEAST BE A PAUSE, OR YOU NEED AT LEAST AN UPDATE SO THAT YOU CAN STATE WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE AND THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING AS WELL.
AND SO THAT WILL ACTUALLY PUSH YOUR TIMELINE.
SO THE SOONER YOU CAN GET A STATEMENT TO COUNCIL, THE BETTER.
AND CAN I ASK IF, AND SOMEONE SOMETIME WILL TELL ME IF I'M ASKING THAT ARE OUT OF ORDER? NO, NO, YOU'RE NOT.
UM, SO IF WE WERE TO, SO WOULD THAT BE HANDLED IN AN AGENDA ITEM WE WOULD PUT ON THE NEXT MEETING? MM-HMM.
AND, UM, WE DO HAVE A WORK GROUP, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WORK GROUP IS DEALING WITH, UM, WITH, WITH THAT, UM, PARTICULAR ITEM.
SO, UM, IT WOULD BE, BUT WE COULD MOVE TOWARDS A WORK GROUP GOING FORWARD.
AND SO WE DON'T DO AD HOC, LIKE SHORT TERM WORK GROUPS FOR, FOR THINGS LIKE THIS TO DISCUSS AND COME WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO THE NEXT.
I, AGAIN, LEARNING NO, NO, YOU'RE FINE.
THIS, THIS, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S EXACTLY, UM, COMMISSIONER ELLIOTS LOOKS LIKE HE IS ABOUT TO CHIME IN ON SOMETHING, SO I'LL LET HIM CHIME IN.
'CAUSE HE MORE THAN LIKELY HAS SOMETHING THAT WILL SATISFY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
SO, UM, YES, I'M WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEER FOR THAT WORK WITH MS. JOSEPH AND ANYBODY, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER? I MEAN, UM, I REPRESENT THE METROPOLIS AREA, AND SO I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO DO THAT.
UM, IF WE, IF WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, WE CAN DRAFT THAT.
BUT I THINK A DIFFERENT ITEM WOULD ALSO BE AN UPDATE FROM, DID YOU SAY THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT? SO THE CITY HAS A COM, A MOBILITY COMMITTEE, UH, PAGE ELLIS, THE MAYOR PRO TEAM, YES.
ACTUALLY LEADS THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE.
AND SO IF YOU GO BACK TO THEIR MEETING MINUTES, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A TECH DOT BRIEFING, GIVING THEM AN UPDATE ON THE I 35 EXPANSION.
AND THAT IS WHERE I ACTUALLY SAW CAMP ESPERANZA EXPANSION.
AND THEN IF YOU FAST FORWARD, IF YOU GO TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, UM, THE JULY 27TH, 2023 BOARD DISCUSSION MENTIONS THAT THE, THE GOVERNOR WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CITY, BUT THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENT DISCUSSION.
SO I PUT AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST AND CLARIFIED THAT ON FRIDAY.
SO IT, I'LL GLADLY SHARE THE INFORMATION ONCE I GET IT.
BUT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE, UH, THERE'S A THANK YOU TO STAFF.
AND THE CLARIFICATION THAT I WAS ASKED FOR WAS WHAT STAFF? AND I COULDN'T TELL THEM BECAUSE THE MEDIA DIDN'T SAY WHO THE MAYOR HAD BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THIS TIME.
SO IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S AN INDUSTRIAL AREA AND THERE IS, UH, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NO INFORMATION.
AND I WOULD JUST LASTLY CLOSE AND TELL YOU THAT THE PROJECT CONNECT JUNE 6TH, UH, OR, OR THE NOVEMBER 6TH, UH, 2023, UM, LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED, ACTUALLY MENTIONS THE MOBIL MOBILITY.
THE, THE HUB FOR THE TRAINS WILL
[00:10:01]
BE IN, IN THE MONTOPOLIS AREA.SO INDUSTRIAL, ONCE AGAIN, CENTER BARRIER UNTIL BROUGHT THAT POINT UP THAT IT IS PROBLEMATIC.
SO IT ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN JUST PUTTING PEOPLE THERE.
IT'S LIKE STICKING 'EM OUTTA SIGHT, OUTTA MIND, MUCH LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE, UNFORTUNATELY.
DOES THAT ADDRESS WHAT YOU NEED? I THINK SO.
FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
AND SO THE, HOW, HOW DO WE DECIDE IF WE PUT THINGS ON THE, WHAT DID, I WILL FOLLOW.
COMMISSIONER S'S LEAD ON THIS.
COMMISSIONER S HAS SAID THAT HE'S GOING, HE'S WILLING TO, UM, TAKE THE LEAD ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
SO, UM, WE'LL GET TO, UM, WE GET TO OUR WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE UPDATES.
UH, AFTER THAT POINT, WE CAN, UM, DISCUSS PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMITTEE THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES, UM, WHAT IT IS THAT MS. JOSEPH IS BRINGING TO THE TABLE.
SHE ALWAYS HAS, UM, SOME REALLY, REALLY, UM, GOOD INFORMATION FOR US.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU BEING OUT IN THE FIELD AND REPORTING BACK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE HEAR YOU.
I HAD A QUESTION FOR MS. JOSEPH.
UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IN, IN YOUR RESEARCH AND FINDINGS, UM, IS THERE ANY CAMPS OR, UM, RESOURCES OR COMMUNITIES BEING DEVELOPED, UM, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH? I MEAN, AND YOU'LL FIND IS, DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT'S ALL BEEN PUSHED EAST AND, UH, CRAMMED DOWN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BROWN.
UH, AND RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE PRO HOUSING GRANT APPLICATION ACTUALLY MENTIONS THAT LESS THAN 10 AFFORDABLE HOMES WERE BUILT IN WEST AUSTIN.
SO THAT, UM, IS A PRETTY, UH, CLEAR INDICATION THAT IT'S, UH, BEING CONCENTRATED ONCE AGAIN IN SOUTHEAST AND NORTHEAST AUSTIN, UH, WHERE THERE'S NO TRANSIT OR THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, 60 MINUTE BUS ROUTES IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN OR IN THE MONTOPOLIS AREA WHERE THE HOMELESS ARE.
IT'S JUST THREE VANS THAT, UH, ARE AT THE MARSHALING YARD.
BUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, THAT'S NOT A RELIABLE WAY TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S CONCENTRATING POVERTY.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE A LOOK, ESPECIALLY AT THE AREA MEDIA INCOME, BECAUSE THAT WILL TELL YOU AS WELL, IF IT'S EAST OF I 35, IT'S 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME ARE BELOW PREDOMINANTLY.
AND IF IT'S ON THE RAIL LINE, I KNOW ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS MENTIONED THE RAIL LINE EARLIER.
UH, BUT THE HIGHLAND VILLAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $65,000, BUT THE CITY'S OWN STUDY FROM 2020 SPECIFIES THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS EARN APPROXIMATELY 42,000 AND HISPANICS EARN ABOUT 50,000.
SO, GIVE OR TAKE, THAT NUMBER HAS FLIP FLOPPED.
AT ONE TIME IT WAS AFRICAN AMERICANS 50 AND HISPANICS 40 SOMETHING, BUT IT HAS NEVER REALLY REACHED BEYOND THAT $50,000 THRESHOLD.
SO, UM, THAT IS JUST ANOTHER, UM, INDICATOR THAT SAYS, IF YOU DON'T EARN ENOUGH MONEY, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CONCENTRATION, THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.
AND I WILL LASTLY JUST TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A, IN THE LUBY'S AREA IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN, THERE'S ACTUALLY A PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UM, FROM OCTOBER 14TH ON OR ABOUT 2021, THAT ACTUALLY STATES 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION IS REALLY JUST A PROXY FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION.
SO TO YOUR QUESTION, UH, COMMISSIONER, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE JUST RE CODIFYING A 1928 PLAN.
AND I CALL IT EQUITY ITIS BECAUSE THE CITY HAS NO PROBLEM SAYING EQUITY ALL THE TIME.
SO I JUST SAY IT'S LIKE INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH FROM SAYING EQUITY TOO MUCH.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS COME ON, COMMISSIONER DELGADO
UM, SO CAN YOU HEAR ME? ARE THESE NEW MICS? MM-HMM MM-HMM.
UM, SO YOU ANALYZED IT PERFECTLY.
I I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE COULD HAVE, HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER THAN YOU DID.
UM, AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHOLE I 35 EXPANSION AND THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
AND SO, UM, I DID WANT TO ASK YOU, UH, SINCE YOU ARE FOLLOWING AND, AND YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE UP TO PAR THAN WE ARE, 'CAUSE SOME OF US ARE TRYING, IT'S JUST VERY HARD.
WE HAVE PROJECT CONNECT I 35 EXPANSION, AND THEN, UH, ON TOP OF THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, WE'RE JUST LOSING EVERY DAY.
UH, THERE'S EITHER A HOUSE OR A BUILDING LOST DAILY.
[00:15:01]
ABOUT THE MAYOR, WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE NEW LEADERSHIP MAYOR THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYOR ADLER? 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COUNCIL AND LEADER NOW.SO WHEN, WHEN YOU SAID THAT, WERE YOU ADDRESSING OUR CURRENT MAYOR? RIGHT.
SO DECEMBER 8TH, 2022, THAT'S MAYOR ADLER.
SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT WAS HIS LAST MEETING, IF YOU WILL.
AND THAT, UM, SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT IS WHEN COUNCIL ACTUALLY EXERCISED THE EMINENT DOMAIN FOR EAST BREAKER, WHICH IS BEHIND SAMSUNG.
SO, UH, WE JUST VOTED, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THE COUNTY'S BOND, THERE'S ARTERIAL A, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY CONNECT TO THE EAST BREAKER LANE AREA.
SO THAT'S THE OLD MAYOR THAT ACTUALLY EXERCISED THE IMMINENT DOMAIN.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, UH, THE NEW MAYOR, ME OR OUR MAYOR, WHO'S BACK AGAIN, MAYOR KURT WATSON.
SO THAT WAS AN AREA, UM, THAT EXERCISED THEM IN A DOMAIN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY USE TRANSIT AS A REASON, A JUSTIFICATION TO EXPAND TRANSIT.
BUT THEY ELIMINATED TWO 40 RUTLAND, WHICH IS RIGHT ADJACENT TO WHERE THIS PARTICULAR WHATABURGER IS.
UM, BUT TO YOUR POINT, AS IT RELATES TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THAT'S ACTUALLY OUR CURRENT MAYOR, UH, WHO ACTUALLY MADE THE DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR, UM, TO ACTUALLY GET THE $65 MILLION, WHICH WAS NEVER PUBLICLY DISCUSSED.
AND IF YOU LOOK, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ARTICLES.
KXAN HAS AN ARTICLE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ACTUALLY, UM, WHERE MAYOR KIRK WATSON ACTUALLY THANKS THE STAFF OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
AND HE ACTUALLY, IN HIS OWN WORDS, UH, DISCLOSED THAT HE WANTED TO PUT 700 MORE UNITS IN THAT AREA NEXT TO CAMP ESPERANZA.
UH, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, IT'S AN INDUSTRIAL ZONED AREA.
SO THERE'S NO FOOD, THERE'S JUST THE JDS OR SOMETHING ON A RIVERSIDE, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE THERE.
BUT THIS IS ALL UNDER OUR CURRENT MAYOR, THE CURRENT REGIME.
UM, AND, AND PART OF THAT IS ACTUALLY MENTIONED IN THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED BY BILL CHAR ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2023 FOR PROJECT CONNECT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE MISSTATEMENTS TO VOTERS OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT
AND THE, THE FORMER MAYOR, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CONTEXT, THERE'S ACTUALLY A AUSTIN CHRONICLE ARTICLE THAT CALLS PETE BUTTIGIEG, THE MAYORAL BFF.
SO PART OF THAT, UM, INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP, THE FRIENDSHIP AND ALL OF THAT ACTUALLY, IS WHY YOU, YOU MAY WONDER SOMETIMES WHY DOES THE MONEY KEEP FLOWING TO AUSTIN IF IT'S SO BAD? AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE OF FRIENDSHIPS.
UH, THE COLLEGIALITY, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN THE FORMER MAYOR ADLER AND PETE BUTTIGIEG, AND ALSO FORMER, UH, CEO OF CAPITAL METRO, RANDY CLARK WAS FRIENDS WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR, URI FERNANDEZ.
UH, AND SO THEY LOBBIED, UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE PROJECT CONNECT, EVEN PAST, UM, SO THAT'S SORT OF THE BACKSTORY, IF YOU WILL, TO WHY SOME OF THE FUNDING CONTINUES TO FLOW.
AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO, TO FIGHT IT BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP.
UM, BUT THE ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS CONCRETE IS THAT CAPITAL METRO DID PAY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS TO BLANK ROME, WHICH IS A LOBBYING FOR FIRM, UH, WHICH ACTUALLY VIOLATES THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT.
SO IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING CONCRETE TO POINT TO, YOU COULD ACTUALLY POINT TO, UH, THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THE LOBBYIST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. JOSEPH.
IF YOU WANT TO CREATE A WORK GROUP, WE JUST, WE JUST NEED TWO COMMISSIONERS TO VOLUNTEER AND YOU CAN NAME IT.
Y'ALL CAN NAME IT WHATEVER YOU WANT WANT, BUT, OKAY.
UM, AND YOU CAN DO, WE WANNA WAIT, WANNA WAIT TILL YOU GET TO OUR WORKING GROUP, UM, CONVERSATION.
DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT SIGNED UP ON THE, UM, TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.
MOVING FORWARD, THEN WE'RE GONNA GO
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
DIRECTLY INTO APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES FROM OUR OCTOBER 10TH MEETING.THE ME MINUTES ARE ATTACHED IN OUR PACKET COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU WOULD PERUSE THEM, SEE IF ANYTHING JUMPS OUT AT YOU.
[00:20:14]
NOW.I'M, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING, MEETING MINUTES.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT? I SECOND.
COMMISSIONER DELGADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SECONDING.
UM, WITH THAT BEING CASE, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD OUR, LET'S VOTE ON OUR, UM, APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND OR THOSE ON SCREENS.
UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YEAH.
IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA GOOD? WE, WE NEED HER CAMERA ON.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND, AND COMMISSIONER BROWN.
[2. Presentation on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) (Angel Zambrano, Manager, Neighborhood Services Unit, Austin Public Health)]
ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER TWO, MS. JOSEPH, I THINK WILL BE HERE.WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY, UM, SERVICES BLOCK GRANT ON, HELL, WE'LL BE PRESENTING, OF COURSE, UH, IF YOU WOULD, UH, COME ON UP.
WHERE IS ON HILL? THERE HE IS.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
AND WELCOME TO, UH, COMMISSIONER ACHILLES.
I HAVE NOT MET YOU IN PERSON BEFORE.
AM I GOOD? WE JUST LOST QUORUM FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER BROWN AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, WE LOST QUORUM JUST FOR A SECOND.
FOR ABOUT, UM, ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE MINUTES.
UM, WE HOPE TO HAVE BACK MOMENTARILY.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE CAN TAKE A MOMENT AND PERUSE YOUR PACKET.
[00:25:08]
AT THE VERY TOP.QUESTION ABOUT FUTURE BUSINESS OR, I DON'T THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING YET.
I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THOUGH.
WHAT'S MY TIME CHAIR? UM, WE'RE GONNA GO ON A QUICK RECESS BECAUSE THERE'S STILL BROADCASTING RIGHT NOW ON, UM, ATX IN, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO, WELL, ACTUALLY I WAS, UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THE TIME BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT TO CALL US IN THREE MINUTES.
BECAUSE REALLY GUYS, REALLY, WE, WE, WE, WE, WE, WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE LIKE THIS.
I'M, I'M GETTING WAY TOO OLD FOR THIS.
UM, COME UP HERE AND BE THIS CLOSE THAT IF SOMEONE HAS TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES, WE ALL HAVE HUMAN BODIES.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE DOES NOT HAVE A NON-HUMAN BODY,
[00:30:01]
I DON'T THINK.BUT THAT'S A, A MOTION TO DO THAT.
OR IS THAT JUST KIND OF THE, THE PROTOCOL OF THE MEETING.
BUT I DO THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALL NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE TIME AND, AND GET BACK TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DO, I DO WANNA, I WAS HOPING WE CAN GET TO THE HOME INITIATIVE YES.
UH, RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE THINGS.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN JUST EMAIL.
I MEAN, IF WE CAN READ AND SEND RECOMMENDATIONS IN AN EMAIL AND STILL SEND THAT LETTER, UM, THAT RECOMMENDATION, UH, IMMEDIATELY.
BUT I DO THINK THAT IT, YOU KNOW, IN A MINUTE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET SOME ANSWERS.
I, I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE OKAY.
SO MR. BLAKE, DO WE NEED TO DO AN OFFICIAL RECESS? AND HOW LONG ARE WE DOING THIS RECESS FOR? UM, I WOULD SAY FIVE MINUTES.
SHE'S BEEN GONE FOR WHAT, 10 OR SO? IT'S JUST SO WE CAN STOP THE RECORDING.
UH, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST RECORDING IT, UH, SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW AND NO, NO BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, SO, ALRIGHT.
DO I NEED TO MAKE, DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION OR DO YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU WANT ME TO CALL A RECESS OR JUST FOR FIVE MINUTES? YES, PLEASE DO.
YES, PLEASE DO RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
[00:35:37]
UM, ITEM NUMBER TWO I THINK IS WHERE YOU ARE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER NOW? WE DO.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY SIMPLE REPORT, UH, THIS MONTH.
I'LL JUST START WITH OUR MISSION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT IMPROVES THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY BY PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, AND CONNECTING RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO COMMUNITY COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
WE ARE ONE OF MANY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES IN TEXAS.
UH, WE PROVIDE BASIC NEEDS SERVICES, PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE, IT'S WHERE OUR BUDGET IS, UH, SO FAR EXPENDITURES TO DATE.
THIS, UH, CONTRACT GOES THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2024.
IF YOU GO TO PAGE TWO AT THE TOP LAST MONTH, I REPORTED, UH, WE HAD NINE TRANSITIONS.
WE TRANSITIONED OUT OF POVERTY.
UH, WE ARE UP TO 18, SO WE'VE GOT NINE MORE.
UH, SINCE I MET WITH YOU ALL, IF YOU GO FURTHER DOWN ON THIS PAGE, OUR COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN AND SOME OF OUR TARGETS THAT ARE FEDERALLY MANDATED, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT TO NUMBER FOUR E.
OUR TARGET WAS 400 HOUSEHOLDS AVOIDING EVICTION FOR THE YEAR.
UH, WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT GOAL.
WE DID RUN OUT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
UH, SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP OTHERS.
BUT WE ARE WORKING ON, UH, PROCURING MORE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS THROUGH ERA TWO FUNDING.
I ALSO WANNA FOCUS ON FIVE J AND J OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION.
AGAIN, EVERY MONTH I COME HERE, I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT DUE TO INFLATION AND ALL KINDS OF ISSUES, UNEMPLOYMENT, JUST THE COST OF LIVING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE SERVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, ALMOST 56,230 FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASSISTED OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS.
SEVEN, EIGHT IS OUR CASE MANAGEMENT.
134 PEOPLE ARE BEING SERVED TRYING TO REENTER THE WORLD OF WORK, OFFERING COUNSELING SUPPORTS, UM, HELPING THEM WITH CONNECTING THEM TO PLACES LIKE SCALE POINT OR ACC CERTIFICATES FOR EDUCATION.
OUR NURSES ARE BACK AND THEY'RE DOING IMMUNIZATIONS.
I WILL PROVIDE MORE NEXT MONTH.
THEY HAD A NEW NUMBER OF OCTOBER FLU HUBS AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE CLOTHING CLOSETS AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
IT SHOWS HERE THAT IT IS A NEED FOR SOME FOLKS.
OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE SERVED AT THOSE, UM, CENTERS, AND A LOT MORE VOLUNTEERS.
AGAIN, KIND OF POST COVID AND LIKE, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT ALMOST 1300 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME, WHICH IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR US.
AND I THINK ON, IT WAS ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THE FOOD BANK IS ALSO HURTING FOR VOLUNTEERS.
SO THEY REALLY DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS AND WE DO TOO TO HELP, UM, PROVIDE SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
AT THE VERY BOTTOM IS THE PROGRAM OUT OF UPDATE.
THIS IS ALWAYS HERE, JUST WHAT WE DO.
FOR SOME OF YOU WHO ARE NEWER, WE OFFER BASIC NEEDS SERVICES, INCLUDING FOOD HELP, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND COLLABORATION WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS, WHO IS OUR FISCAL AGENT.
UH, UTILITY ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE PLUS ONE PROGRAM.
THERE'S MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE ON THAT.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES, BUS PASSES, HEALTH SCREENINGS, SEASONAL EVENTS, ET CETERA.
IF YOU CLICK OVER TO PAGE NUMBER THREE, AGAIN, THIS MONTH IS JUST, UH, THE USUAL.
WE DO OUR FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES EVENTS.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY WELL ATTENDED.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MARKET NEXT MONTH.
IT'S MORE OF OUR KIND OF FOOD RECOVERY, UH, PROGRAM.
WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS REALLY EXPLODE IN THAT AS WELL.
SO PEOPLE GET MORE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, PRODUCE AND FRUITS AND LESS CANNED GOODS.
THAT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM.
THE HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE REALLY ROBUST.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM.
IN COLLABORATION WITH, UH, AMAZON AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, WE ARE ABLE
[00:40:01]
TO DELIVER FOOD TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.UH, WE JUST KIND OF WENT THROUGH AND STARTED, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE PROGRAM IF THEY STILL NEEDED IT OR NOT.
SO THEY'VE BEEN REMOVED AND WE'VE ADDED NEW FOLKS.
SO LAST MONTH, I THINK WE ADDED 90 FAMILIES TO THAT PROGRAM.
UH, COA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, UH, HELPS PEOPLE STAY HOUSED.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST 257 PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
AGAIN, NOT A LOT OF FUNDING, BUT ENOUGH TO HELP THOSE MANY PEOPLE STAY HOUSED.
OUR AUSTIN ENERGY PLUS ONE PROGRAM IS GOING WELL.
WE'RE APPLYING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 FUNDING ALREADY.
UH, WE'RE HOPING THAT FISCAL YEAR 24 TO HELP A LOT OF FOLKS, UH, KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON.
AND, UH, NUMBER SEVEN IS SHOUT OUT TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING.
THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS, EDUCATION, REFERRALS TO OTHER PROVIDERS, OR FINDING MEDICAL HOMES FOR PEOPLE.
UH, WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO STANDING UP OUR DIABETES CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SO WE CAN KIND OF TACKLE THAT, UH, RIGHT ON THE GROUND WITH OUR CLIENTS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, REALLY EMPOWERING THEM TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH, UH, WITH SOME HELP FROM US.
AND NUMBER EIGHT, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
WE HAVE, UH, SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING OUR FOLKS EITHER MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT OR FIND EMPLOYMENT.
WE'RE STARTING TO WORK, UH, AGAIN WITH A SCALE POINT, ACC AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST AS A PROGRAM OUT OF THEIR BUILDING.
THAT ALSO HELPS A LOT OF FOLKS, UH, GET CERTIFICATES OR TRAININGS.
THEY'RE REALLY MOTIVATED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT OR TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO TAP INTO THOSE PROGRAMS AND HELP THOSE FOLKS TRANSITION OUT OF POVERTY IN 2024.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THANKSGIVING EVENTS AS WELL.
UM, UH, CAR SEAT EVENTS, THOSE ARE FREE FOR FAMILIES TO QUALIFY.
WE ARE PILOTING A INFANT CAR SEAT PROGRAM AS WELL WITH ST.
UH, FOR MOTHERS WHO ARE HOSPITAL HIGH, HAVING BABIES BUT CAN'T AFFORD THE CAR SEAT, THEY CAN'T BE DISCHARGED.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I WAS RESEARCHING THIS POSSIBILITY FOR US.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP SOME MOMS WHO NEEDED THE CAR SEAT TO BE ABLE TO BE DISCHARGED AND NEEDED DE EDUCATION TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT INCORRECTLY, UM, TO BECOME A SAFE CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN IN 40 HOURS OF TRAINING.
I HAD NO IDEA WHEN I HAD MY CHILDREN, I JUST PUT IT BACK THERE AND THAT WAS ALL.
BUT IT JUST SHOWS YOU THAT IT, IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAR SEAT SAFETY.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT FOR YOUNG MOMS AND DADS AND FAMILIES.
SO, HEY, UH, AND THIS COMMISSIONER BROWN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE HEAR YOU.
UM, WHEN Y'ALL DISPERSE RESOURCES LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOOD AND CLOTHES AND, UM, DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, IS IT MOSTLY DONE WITH CITY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CITY STAFF? OR IS IT PARTNERED WITH THROUGH NONPROFITS? UM, ARE Y'ALL, UM, IS, IS Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENT FUNDING NONPROFITS DIRECTLY? OR AGAIN, IS IT DONE WITH CITY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT IS CITY STAFF.
SO WE HAVE THOSE SIX NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AROUND AUSTIN.
LOOKING BACK WHEN THEY WERE BUILT IN THE SEVENTIES, THEY PROBABLY FELT REALLY KIND OF SPREAD OUT.
BUT AS THE CITY GREW, THEIR PRETTY MUCH IN A VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER.
UM, AND IT'S CITY STAFF WHO DO THE WORK, AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP US.
UM, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, YEAH.
I MEAN, BECAUSE I, I JUST KNOW, LIKE AT GIBBONS RECENTLY, WE JUST HAD A, UH, WE JUST HAD A THANKSGIVING DINNER AND TURKEY GIVE OUT.
AND, AND A LOT OF THE, THE RESOURCES THAT ARE DONE AT GIBBONS IS, IS KIND OF DONE BY NONPROFITS AND, AND THEY RARELY GET FUNDING, UM, THROUGH THE CITY.
UH, SO IF THERE IS TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THAT WORK OR THAT ARE, UM, I JUST THINK WE, WE MIGHT NEED TO ALIGN THE CITY WITH, YOU KNOW, FACILITY FACILITIES LIKE GIVENS OR MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THOSE NONPROFITS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A WAY FOR FOR Y'ALL TO HELP THEM OR, AND, AND THEY HELP Y'ALL ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION, I THINK THAT THAT JUST MIGHT BE, UH, SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR AND SEE, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INCLUDING GIVENS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THE WORKFLOW.
COMMISSIONER DETA, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? UH, COMMISSIONER BROWN, I JUST WANTED TO DO A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.
UH, GIVENS, UH, IS, UH, PARKS AND REC.
AND SO THE THANKSGIVING DINNERS THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW,
[00:45:01]
ALL THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECS, UM, THEIR FUNDINGS DO COME FROM, UH, PRIVATE AND DONORS, BUT EVERY RECREATION CENTER ACROSS THE CITY HAS A BUDGET FUNDING FOR EVERY HOLIDAY.SO WE JUST DID OURS AT METS, UH, OR RUDY RODOLFO MENEZ REC NOW 'CAUSE THEY CHANGED THE NAME.
UM, AND DOVE SPRINGS IS DOING THEIR TURKEY DISTRIBUTION AND PAN AM IS DOING THEIRS THIS SATURDAY.
BUT JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW, THAT IS, COMES OUT OF THE PARK'S BUDGET, NOT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT.
OH YEAH, NO, I, I'M, I'M FAMILIAR, BUT I, I DON'T THINK, I MEAN, THE, THE GIVENS DIDN'T, DIDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING.
I MEAN, THESE WERE NONPROFITS THAT CAME IN AND, AND USED THE FACILITY TO, TO DISPERSE, YOU KNOW, FOOD AND, AND RESOURCES.
BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING AGAIN, IF THE CITY HAS ACTUAL FUNDS AND, AND DIFFERENT THINGS AVAILABLE OR PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AND GETTING THEM AT GIBBONS WOULD, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO SEE.
BUT NO, I DON'T GIVENS IN THE, THE BUDGET.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE CAR SEAT PROGRAM AND HOW THAT WORKS? UM, DO, DO YOU WORK WITHIN THE HOSPITAL OR DO, DO PEOPLE CALL AND ASK FOR THAT SERVICE? OR I CAN SEND YOU ALL THE FLYER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER CAR SEAT.
WE HAVE EIGHT A YEAR, SO ONE OF EVERY MONTH EXCEPT FOR PERFORMANCE.
AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
SO THERE'S GONNA BE ONE ON FRIDAY AT, UM, MAYBE SOUTH, BUT IT'S ALREADY BOOKED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CALL.
BUT I'LL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION AND IF YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS OR YOU WANNA SPREAD THE WORD, UH, WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.
BUT DEFINITELY THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.
AND HOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM WITH, UH, THE NEW MOTHERS? THAT'S THROUGH FAMILY CONNECT.
I DID WANNA, UH, ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO FOR THANKSGIVING THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, WHICH ARE NOT THE RECS, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, UH, OSA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, UM, I THINK THERE'S A EAST, EAST SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, ARE ANY OF THOSE GONNA BE GIVEN OUT TURKEYS, UH, DISTRIBUTION BOXES FOR FAMILIES TO TAKE THAT HOME? UH, ARE Y'ALL GONNA BE DOING ANY TURKEY DRIVES? YES.
HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN PUT OUT THERE? THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT OUT THERE.
THROUGH THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO THROUGH LISTERV.
SO IF YOU COULD, I'LL SEND, YOU COULD SEND IT TO US SO WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THAT.
'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, I ONLY FOLLOW WHAT THE PARKS DO.
AS FAR AS DISTRIBUTION, UM, AND PRIVATE AND NONPROFITS.
THERE'S GONNA BE ONE ON SATURDAY AT ROSE.
ANOTHER QUESTION WAS, UM, FOR THE COATS FOR KIDS, I SEE THAT THE DRIVE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
ARE YOU ALL GONNA PARTNER WITH THEM OR HOW ARE Y'ALL GONNA, ARE Y'ALL GONNA HAVE YOUR OWN COATS FOR KIDS AT THESE CENTERS? 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A BIG NEED FOR COATS.
THAT WE DO PARTNER WITH COATS FOR KIDS.
SO WHAT WE DO IS THEY DO THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND THEN WE GO AND PICK UP SOME OF THAT SELECTION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND THEN ADVERTISE.
SO ONCE WE GET THAT GOING, I CAN SEND THAT TO YOU TOO.
BROWN SANTA AND BLUE SANTA, DO THEY COME TO THE REC, I MEAN THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OR DO Y'ALL HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT? WE USED TO, BUT THEN THEY WENT ON THEIR OWN YEAH.
TO THEIR OWN PORTAL AND IT ALREADY CLOSED.
SO THEY WERE OPEN TILL ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND THEN BLUE SANTA AT LEAST, UH, IS DONE TAKING APPLICATIONS.
SO BLUE SANTA'S CURRENTLY TAKING APPLICATIONS? IT'S NOT, OH, THEY STOPPED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO NO BROWN SANTA'S TAKING APPS? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BROWN SANTA, BUT BLUE SANTA'S NOT.
UM, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE TURKEYS.
IS THAT AN EVENT OR IS THAT A SIGN UP AND PEOPLE PICK UP? THE ONE SATURDAY IS AN EVENT.
SO THAT WAS PUT OUT ON THE LIST OF TODAY.
SO THAT IS ANYBODY CAN COME MM-HMM.
IN, IN WHAT CENTER WILL THAT BE? OR IS THAT GONNA BE AT ALL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS? THAT WILL BE AT THE ROSA OSA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER ON 2,800 WEAVERVILLE ROAD ON SATURDAY.
BUT I'LL SEND YOU ALL THE INFORMATION AFTER THIS MEETING OR TOMORROW MORNING.
[00:50:01]
SATURDAY IS THREE THINGS HAPPENING, UH, IN AUSTIN.WE HAVE A TURKEY DISTRIBUTION AT THE DOVE SPRINGS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
OUR PARKS CENTER, I DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE COMBINED IN ONE.
AND THEN IT'S SAYS SUPPLIES LAST.
YOU GET A FREE HOT MEAL, UH, ONE, ONE MEAL PER, UM, PERSON NO.
UM, AT PAN AM ON EAST THIRD STREET, AND THEN NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT SARATA.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE OTHER TWO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT.
WE HAVE UP NEXT IS OUR MEALS ON WHEELS.
MR. BRIAN SYKES, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
AND WE DO HAVE YOUR INFORMATION IN OUR PACKET COMMISSIONERS.
THERE IS SOME INFORMATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR PACKET.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR COUNSEL.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M BRIAN SYKES, UH, THE VP FOR HOME REPAIR AT MILLS AND WHEELS, CENTRAL TEXAS.
DID I HAVE MS. JOSEPH ON ITEM ON ITEM TWO? YEAH.
I JUST REALIZED, I'M SORRY, Y'ALL, I'M SORRY.
MS. JOSEPH, DID YOU NEED TO COME COMMENT ON THE, THE BLOCK GRANT? UH, STAY STAY THERE MR. BRIAN.
I WAS TRYING TO RUN THROUGH THE AGENDA.
YOU HAVE YOUR CLASSIC THREE MINUTES FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE.
I'M OPIA JOSEPH, I WILL JUST READ FROM THE SCREEN, UH, BECAUSE IT'S THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY INFORMATION.
AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE IS ON UH, NOVEMBER 2ND, ITEM 20 COUNCIL ACTUALLY RECEIVED $4.37 MILLION, SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED TO THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY SPECIFIES FOR ERA ONE TREASURY STRONGLY ENCOURAGES GRANTEES TO PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR TENANTS TO APPLY DIRECTLY FOR FUNDING RATHER THAN ONLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM LANDLORDS AND OWNERS OF DWELLINGS.
AND THEN FOR ERA TWO, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TWO GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO ALLOW TENANTS TO APPLY DIRECTLY FOR ASSISTANCE EVEN IF THE LANDLORD OR OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO PARTICIPATE CONSISTENT WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR THE FUNDS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS.
AND SO THAT IS ACTUALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE INDIVIDUALS GET RENTAL ASSISTANCE NOW IS YOU CALL ON MONDAY, AS I'VE EXPLAINED BEFORE, MM-HMM.
AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET THROUGH.
AND EVEN IF YOU DO GET THROUGH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS NOT ACTUALLY AMENDED THEIR RULES TO ENSURE THAT THE TENANT CAN GET THE MONEY.
AND THEY ARE USING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING FROM US TREASURY.
IT'S SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AND USE THE LANGUAGE, UM, FROM TREASURY.
THIS IS QUESTION 12 AND QUESTION 30.
AND THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND SPECIFICALLY ASK THEM TO AMEND THE RULES.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE IN A CONTENTIOUS BATTLE WITH A LANDLORD WHO DOES NOT WANT TO RECEIVE THE RENT, IT ACTUALLY WILL FORECLOSE INDIVIDUALS' RIGHTS TO ACTUALLY, UM, GO THROUGH THE EVICTION PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO THE APPEALS.
BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T GET THE MONEY AND THE LANDLORD REFUSES TO TAKE IT, THEN THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL END UP HOMELESS.
BUT THE TREASURY RECOGNIZES THAT AS A BARRIER.
UH, THE OTHER BARRIER THAT I WOULD MENTION, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION IS MENTIONED IN BASIC NEEDS, ON PAGE ONE OF FOUR IN THE PRESENTATION YOU JUST RECEIVED, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT LAKELINE STATION, IT IS APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF HOURS TO GET JUST TO NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER.
AND THAT'S IF THE BUS IS RUNNING ON TIME WITH NO DELAYS, THAT DOES NOT COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU'RE WAITING AT THE BUS STOP.
SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT'S A TWO HOUR TRICK.
AND THEN THE PERSON HAS TO TRANSFER TWICE TO THE 8 0 1 OR THE ONE, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO TRANSFER TO THE 300, WHICH SOMETIMES RUNS 15 MINUTES AND SOMETIMES IT'S 30 MINUTES.
AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES THAT CAPITAL METRO GIVES.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE BARRIER AND THE NEED FOR THERE TO BE SOME TYPE OF SATELLITE.
UM, EITHER A CENTER OR SOMETHING NORTH OF US.
180 3, AS A**L MENTIONED, UM, DURING THIS PRESENTATION,
[00:55:01]
MAYBE YEARS AGO, IT WAS GRASS AND THAT WAS NORTH OF THE CITY.BUT NOW IT IS A BARRIER, UM, TO EVEN GET THE TURKEY, UM, JUST TO GET BASIC NEEDS, UM, IF YOU LIVE NORTH OF US 180 3, BECAUSE THE CLOSEST SITE IS ACTUALLY ST.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER? OFF THE TOP.
UM, MS. JOSEPH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, YOU, THAT'S WAS THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT TO US AS WELL.
CORRECT? SO THE ONE PAGE JUST HAS THAT LANGUAGE FROM TREASURY AND I REFERENCED THE THREE STAFF MEMBERS THAT I ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH, UH, JUANITA JACKSON.
THEN THERE WAS, UH, THE LA FUENTE IS HER NAME.
LAURA, WHO'S THE ASSISTANT, UH, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND THEN THERE'S ONE OTHER LADY, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW HER PERSONALLY, BUT, UH, SARAH ROBERTSON MM-HMM.
WHO MENTIONED THAT THE FUNDING WOULD BE AVAILABLE THIS PAST YESTERDAY.
AND SO I JUST THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, EXPEDIENCE, IF YOU WILL, TO GETTING PEOPLE, UM, TO REMAIN HOUSED BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS IN FACT THERE.
BU SAMARI HAS THE FUNDING AS WELL.
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE LEGAL AID.
THE URBAN LEAGUE IS THE FISCAL AGENT.
AND SO IT, THE INDIVIDUALS CAN'T JUST GO AND, AND APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS, BUT THE MONEY IS THERE.
AND, UM, I WOULD JUST, I, MY LAST COMMENT, MADAM CHAIR, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHERE I'M COMING FROM, IS THAT THERE WAS A $2.9 MILLION SOLE SOURCE NO BID CONTRACT GIVEN A JOYCE JAMES FOR EQUITY.
UM, AND I JUST USE THAT AS A, AN EXAMPLE TO SAY, WHEN COUNCIL WANTS TO GIVE MONEY, THEY GIVE IT.
AND FOR THE MUSICIANS DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEY GAVE $2,000 GRANTS.
AND SO THIS, THESE ARE A BUNCH OF HOOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO PAY THE RENT LESS THAN $2,000.
AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THAT WAY FOR MUSICIANS, THEN UM, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THE POOR FOR $1,500 IS PROBABLY THE AVERAGE THAT MANY OF THESE FAMILIES NEED LESS THAN 2000.
SO JUST TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE.
I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T CALL ON YOU UP ON HILL, WAS THERE, BUT I'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR A LONG THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH.
[3. Presentation and discussion from Meals on Wheels & More, Inc. (Bryan Sykes) ]
TO PULL YOU, UM, JERK YOUR CHAIN LIKE THAT.I'M THE VP FOR HOME REPAIR AT MILLS ON WHEELS, CENTRAL TEXAS, UM, IN FRONT OF YOU.
I GUESS YOU MIGHT WANT TO, IT'S ACTUALLY ON SCREEN.
UM, WELL, I WAS GONNA SEE IF YOU CAN GO TO THE SECOND PAGE, BUT ON THE SECOND PAGE, YOU CAN SEE WE'VE ADMINISTERED NINE PROGRAMS, UH, FIVE OF WHICH THE CITY, THE CITY GO REPAIR CITY, ABR CITY PRIVATE LATERAL PROGRAM, THE CITY PLUMBING AND THE, AND THE NEW CITY MINOR HOME REPAIR, WHICH WE JUST RECEIVED THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE THE TEXAS VETERAN COMMISSION, THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION, UH, AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
TO THE RIGHT OF THAT IS THE, IS THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED WITH THESE PROGRAMS SINCE, UH, FISCAL YEARS 22.
UH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TVC.
IT'S, IT'S A FUNNY FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT ONE WILL BE GOING ON ON THROUGH THIS COMING JUNE.
UM, AND THEN TO THE RIGHT OF THAT, Y'ALL, WE HAVE OUR WAITING LIST, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER.
AND THEN THERE'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE PAGES BEHIND THAT IS JUST SOME OF THE PICTURES OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, UM,
UH, WE HAVE DONE WORK IN CORPUS.
I DID JUST FINISHED A JOB IN RAYMONDVILLE.
UH, WE TRY TO AVOID THAT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST KIND OF MAKES IT DIFFICULT.
BUT, UH, BUT WE HAVE, WELL, MR. SYKES, WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
I DO BELIEVE COMMISSIONER DEL GALLO, YOU HAD A CUS QUESTION OR TWO REGARDING THE MILLS ON WHEELS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, AND GIVING US THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE Y'ALL COME TO OUR COMMISSION? DO YOU RECALL?
[01:00:01]
OH GOSH.UM, I KNOW CHARLES WOULD DO 'EM PREVIOUSLY, BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT'S PROBABLY BEEN SINCE BEFORE COVID.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE.
UM, SO JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, CHARLES, UH, KLOTMAN MM-HMM.
AT MILLS ON WHEELS, AND HE'S VERY, VERY MISSED.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHO TOOK HIS POSITION.
I, I DO WANT, UH, JUST TO KIND OF ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MILLS ON WHEELS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY, AND, AND I'LL JUST SPEAK OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I KNOW YOU ARE DOING GREAT WORK ACROSS THE STATE AND THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL THAT WORK.
UM, BUT I KNOW THAT THIS COMMISSION IS, IS ONLY, UM, RESPONSIBLE AND HERE TO, UM, TO OVERSIGHT AUSTIN.
UM, SO I KNOW IN THE PAST, MEALS ON WHEELS WAS VERY, VERY PROACTIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF CHARLES.
I KNOW, UH, ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT AND IN MY AREA.
UM, THE DEMOGRAPHIC AREA OF 7 8, 7 0 2, UH, WE'RE MILLS AND WILLS IS HOUSED.
SO, UM, I DID GET A LOT OF CONCERNS, A LOT OF CALLS, UM, AND I WANNA SAY IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BRING SOME OF MY, UM, CONCERNS TO THE BOARD AND BRING THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS AND FUNDING FROM OUR CITY, UM, THAT OVERSEES ANY TYPE OF HOUSING GRANTS OR ANYTHING TO COME TO US AND GIVE US AN UPDATE AND LET, LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I'M NOT HERE TO JUST PICK ON MILLS AND WHEELS.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS TO EVERY AGENCY, UM, THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM IN A WHILE.
UM, THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, UH, FROM CONSTITUENTS OF MILLS ON WHEELS WAS A LONG WAITING LIST.
UM, AND I, I HADN'T, YOU KNOW, REALLY FOLLOWED UP WITH YOU ALL ON WHAT TYPE OF RELIEF YOU ARE, ARE GIVING, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE WAITING LIST AND HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST.
UH, SO THAT'S A, A QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECEIVED HOME REPAIR FUNDS IN THE PAST THROUGH MILLS ON WHEELS, UM, WHERE IS THE, THE, UM, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY, WHERE IS IT WHERE I CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING PER HOME? UH, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS? UH, IT IS, IT, IT, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL CITY PROGRAMS OR CITY GRANTS.
UM, IF, IF THEY WERE THERE THIS PAST YEAR, THEN WE CAN'T GO STARTING, IT'D BE WHAT, JANUARY OF 2027, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT CAN'T GO BACK FOR THREE YEARS.
AND IT'S THE MAX, YOU KNOW, THE MAX IS PER GRANT, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS, 20, 20,000 FOR GO REPAIR, I THINK 20,000 FOR CITY ABR.
BUT THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING WHERE YOU FALL AT IN THAT FISCAL YEAR, THE CLOCK DOESN'T START TILL OCTOBER, ONE OF THAT FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR, THREE YEARS.
AND SO IT, IT COULD BE A LITTLE, SO IT'S EVERY THREE YEAR THEY'RE ABLE TO GET GRANT MONEY.
BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SERVED SO MANY CLIENTS IN THE OH TWO ZIP CODE THAT, I MEAN, WE PUT CLOSE TO 60, 70 GRAND IN A LOT OF THESE HOUSES AND BACK.
WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK EVERY YEAR.
UM, AND SO WE DO, WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PUSHBACK BECAUSE THEY, A LOT OF 'EM BECOME REGULARS AND, UH, WHICH I HATE TO USE THAT WORD, BUT THERE'S STILL SO MANY CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE NOT SERVED, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES WE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE.
UM, FIRST, YOU KNOW, SO YOU ALL DO WHAT, WHAT, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE CLARIFYING THIS SO WE CAN ALL KNOW.
SO IT'S A EVERY THREE YEAR THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO REAPPLY CORRECT.
FOR SERVICES AFTER THEY RECEIVE SERVICES AND THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.
UM, NUMBER TWO, UH, YOU ALL ARE PRIORITIZING THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SERVED.
UH, COMPARED TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SERVED.
UM, ANOTHER QUESTION IS, WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO HOME REPAIRS, WHAT IS YOUR MAXIMUM THAT YOU'RE HELPING THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOMES? WE'D LIKE TO TAKE THE HOLISTIC APPROACH, JUST LIKE CHARLES.
I, I'VE HAD THE LUXURY OF WORKING BEHIND CHARLES FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WELL, HE RETIRED OCTOBER ONE OF LET, AND HE TAUGHT YOU.
WELL, IT'S NOT QUITE 10 YEARS, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I I'VE BEEN IN HIS FOOTSTEPS OF, YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME AND, AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT CHARLES WAS ABOUT, I BELIEVE IN.
AND I WILL, I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO CONTINUE THAT WITH CHARLES.
I GET EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT CHARLES.
BUT, UM, BUT YEAH, THAT'S OUR GOAL.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO KEEP IT HERE AND HELP OUR PEOPLE IN TOWN.
SO THE MAXIMUM OF FUNDING THAT THEY'RE
[01:05:01]
ABLE TO RECEIVE PER HOME IS 50,000? NOT, NO.IF THEY, IF THEY QUALIFY FOR ALL OF THESE, I CAN PUT, I MEAN, I CAN GO UP TO 20,000 WITH HDFI CAN GO WITH 20,000.
SO I CAN PUT A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND IF THEY QUALIFY FOR EVERYTHING.
JUST, JUST WANTING, JUST GETTING QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
UM, ANOTHER, ANOTHER QUESTION IS, UM, BECAUSE THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM IS SO MUCH NEEDED, HOW ARE YOU ALL, UH, OFFICIATING, UH, AGE, UM, HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN LONGTIME NATIVES? UM, INCOME BRACKET? MM-HMM.
SO HOW DO, I DON'T SEE THAT LIKE IN, IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL KEEP TRACK OF LIKE, OH, WE'RE SERVING, YOU KNOW, UH, AGES, UH, ELDERS FROM THE AGE OF 55, 70.
I WOULD SAY, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 80% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE, OR 60 PLUS.
WE, WE, WE DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF YOUNGER LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY THAT UNFORTUNATELY, BUT MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW.
UM, BUT YEAH, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 80% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE ELDERLY.
AND THEN ALSO NATIVES OF AUSTIN FOR SURE.
ARE Y'ALL WORKING ON HOMES THAT ARE NOT NEW HOMES? THAT ARE HOMES THAT ARE, THAT NEED HABITAT, THAT NEED RESTORATION? RIGHT.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO GO IN AND REMODEL JUST TO, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE COLOR OF SOMETHING.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE OLDER HOMES.
WE, I I WOULD SAY 80, YOU KNOW, PRE 1980 OR 1980S OR BELOW.
IT'S, IT'S VERY SELDOM WE SEE ANY FROM 19, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE TWO THOUSANDS OR ANYTHING NEWER LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN IN 1990 OR 2000, THAT'S A 20 PLUS YEAR OLD HOME AND THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY.
WHAT'S THE INCOME BRACKET? 80% BRACKET.
SO THEY GOTTA MAKE 80,000 FOR ONE OR TWO, I THINK.
SO, UM, YOU HAVE A BRACKET OF FOR SURE OF FAMILIES OF HOUSEHOLDS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
OF HOW MANY CAN, AND THEN YOU ALL QUALIFY THEM.
AND, AND, AND IT JUST REALLY INTERESTS ME BECAUSE IN MY AREA WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSE FLIPPING RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, PEOPLE THAT NEED HOME REPAIRS.
UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE MONTAS AREA.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SEE EXACTLY HOW YOU ARE, ARE PRIORITIZING THOSE HOME.