[Downtown Austin Community Council Press Conference]
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GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.I'M NATASHA HARPER MADISON, PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE.
I AM REALLY PLEASED FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN US TODAY.
I'M HONORED TO BE ALONG SUCH DEDICATED STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONS AS WE CELEBRATE A MONUMENTAL STEP FORWARD FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE DAC AND ITS INNOVATIVE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM IN 2023, DISTRICT ONE AND OUR TEAM, WE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE DAC ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH BEGAN OUR JOURNEY TO EXPAND THE DAX JURISDICTION TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS AND SERVICES, TO INVEST MORE RESOURCES IN THE DAX HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
AND EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER TO CREATE THE DAX MOBILE COURT.
THE ADVANTAGES OF A MOBILE COURT PROGRAM WERE CLEAR FROM THE START.
IT WOULD ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE OUR EXISTING RESOURCES AND COMPLEMENT THE JURISDICTION EXPANSION TO PROVIDE MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE ACROSS AUSTIN.
AND IT WOULD ALLEVIATE BARRIERS FOR THOSE SEEKING SERVICES BY CONNECTING THEM WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
BACK TO OUR POINT THAT WE PRE, UH, FREQUENTLY MAKE REFERENCE TO ABOUT MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY, MY COLLEAGUES AND I UNANIMOUSLY PASS TWO KEY ITEMS THAT AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF NEARLY $1.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT MONEY FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THE, UH, WITH THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, ITEM NUMBER NINE THAT WE PASSED WILL PROVIDE OVER FIVE WILL PROVIDE $550,000 OVER THREE YEARS TO BOLSTER THE DAX MOBILE COURT CAPACITY, EMPHASIZING, UM, OUR CONNECTION TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
ITEM NUMBER 10 WILL BRING OVER $900,000, OVER 400, OR I WISH OVER 400 YEARS, NO
TOGETHER, THESE GRANTS WILL ENABLE THE DACS ABILITY TO STRENGTHEN ITS INNOVATIVE AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED APPROACH TO PROVIDING SERVICES BY REMOVING BARRIERS, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND CONNECTING THEM TO CRITICAL RESOURCES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES.
THIS FEDERAL SUPPORT BUILDS ON THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE AT THE CITY AND, UH, GENERAL LOCAL LEVEL.
THANKS TO LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL, INCLUDING A BUDGET AMENDMENT LED EARLIER BY TEAM D ONE THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW THE DAX MOBILE COURT PROGRAM AND EXPAND ITS HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES.
THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE LED TO THE GROUNDWORK TO MAKE US ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, HELPING US LEVERAGE LOCAL DOLLARS AND MAKE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT.
WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO NOW PASS IT OFF TO OUR DAC ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR, LEE DOWNEY GALLIN.
UM, AND THEN I'LL JOIN YOU AGAIN BEFORE WE HEAD BACK OVER TO CHAMBER FOR MUSIC.
UM, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED, I AM SO HONORED AND LUCKY TO PARTICIPATE STILL WITH DAK AS THE CHAIR OF ITS ADVISORY BOARD.
UH, OVER A DECADE AGO, I WAS THE PROSECUTOR AT COMMUNITY COURT FOR A BRIEF TIME EARLY IN MY LEGAL CAREER, AND IT WAS SUCH A FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THE WAY THAT THE COMPASSIONATE, RESOURCEFUL, HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENT THERE CHANGED THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO CAME THERE SOMETIMES INITIALLY JUST TO RESOLVE A CRIMINAL MATTER, BUT, UM, FOUND THAT THEY WERE SERVED IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL NOW AS THE CHAIR TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE SUPPORT THAT THE COURT GIVES AND TO HELP IT GAIN THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS TO CONTINUALLY EVOLVE AND BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE IT SERVES.
THE TRUST AND LOYALTY THAT DAK HAS BUILT WITHIN OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT D'S EFFORTS TO CREATE A RESPECTFUL, INCLUSIVE, EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND START THEIR JOURNEY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE NEXT STEP IN THAT PROCESS, GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, IF THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO D'S AMAZING SERVICES.
UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE NEED FOR SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY FAR EXCEEDS THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AND I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CITY COUNCIL, AND PARTICULARLY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'M NOT ACCUSTOMED TO MONITORS.
I'M LOOKING THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR HER.
AND, UM, IT'S SO NICE TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE AS YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE MOST RECENT BUDGET CYCLE, UM, SINCE THE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT DAK
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HAS THE RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE SERVING.UH, THE BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HEARD THIS YEAR THAT I CANNOT GET OUT OF MY HEAD.
AND THE DECISION ON THE PART OF CITY COUNCIL TO PUT RESOURCES BEHIND DAC IS A MORAL DECISION THAT THOSE OF US WHO WORK WITH OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS APPRECIATE SO MUCH.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE'RE CON LIKE, CONTINUALLY ABLE TO ENSURE THAT DAC HAS THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS FOR THE LIFE CHANGING WORK THAT IT DOES.
UM, SO WE'VE SEEN THESE INCREDIBLE STRIDES LATELY IN D'S, UM, ABILITY TO SERVE THE POPULATION, INCLUDING EXPANDING ITS JURISDICTION FOR MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS.
UM, CREATING AND FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE MOBILE COURT AND EXPANDING THEIR HOMELESS SERVICES CAPACITY WITH ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING FOR EACH OF THOSE CASE MANAGERS TO ACCESS.
THE IMPACT OF THESE INVESTMENTS ONLY INCREASES WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING ONLINE.
AND WE'RE GONNA GET TO TRANSFORM EVEN MORE LIVES.
AND THIS IS POWER THAT WE PUT DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO USE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO GET THINGS BACK THAT THEY NEED IN THEIR LIVES.
AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
UM, SO I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND MY EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT'S TO COME IN THESE YEARS AHEAD WITH THESE EXTRA FEDERAL RESOURCES.
SO I, UH, WOULD LIKE TO PASS THE MIC TO ROBERT KING.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
AND I WANT TO START BY REALLY ECHOING THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, UH, FROM LEAH FOR OUR GRATITUDE FOR, UM, COUNCIL CITY LEADERSHIP, AND PARTICULARLY THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK LEAH AND OUR BOARD FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND GUIDANCE AND COLLABORATION FOR THE WORK AT THE COURT.
AND I WANT TO, UH, ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE OUR PRESIDING JUDGE, UH, JUDGE MICHAEL COFFEE.
UH, HE REALLY HELPS SET THE TONE FOR HOW THE COURT IS OPERATING, HOW WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST, HOW WE, UH, MAKE SURE THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES AND PERSON AND, AND CLIENT CENTERED.
AND, UH, JUST THANK HIM FOR HIS, HIS, HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES FOR MOVING OUR COURT FORWARD IN THIS DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, THE STRIDES WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS FROM OUR JURISDICTION EXPANSION, UH, SUPPORT FOR OUR MOBILE COURT PROGRAMS AND THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO SERVE THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS JUST HAD AN IMMEASURABLE IMMEASURABLE IMPACT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
OUR MOBILE COURT PILOT BEGAN, UM, LAST YEAR, AND IT, YOU KNOW, REALLY FOUND THAT THAT MOBILE COURT CREATED THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO GO AND MEET INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY ARE TO GO WHERE THERE ARE TRUSTED SERVICE PROVIDERS, UM, AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE TO MEET INDIVIDUALS AND HELP THEM RESOLVE CASES, RESOLVE WARRANTS, AND JUST OVERALL REMOVING BARRIERS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT.
YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENTS TO FULLY IMPLEMENT MOBILE COURT PASS THROUGH THIS BUDGET CYCLE ALLOWED US TO TAP INTO FEDERAL RESOURCES TO DRAW DOWN FEDERAL RESOURCES TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE OUR MOBILE COURT SERVICES AND OPERATIONS TO PENETRATE DEEPER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS, UM, THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH OUR FUNDING FOR OUR MOBILE COURT PROGRAM.
AND SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AND EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING, UM, WITH OUR MOBILE COURT, WITH THE ADDITION OF THESE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WE'RE HERE CELEBRATING TODAY.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, A HUGE PART OF THE COMMUNITY COURT'S MODEL IS BUILDING AND CREATING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE BARRIERS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
OUR PARTNERS CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATIVELY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS GROUP UP HERE IS A TEST, A TESTAMENT TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THANKFUL TO HAVE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS INTEGRAL CARE AND THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
UM, AND TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR, UM, EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT FOR THE MOBILE COURT AND HOW WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER TOGETHER AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
SO THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE LOCAL FUNDS, UM, TO ENHANCE OUR MOBILE COURT PROGRAM AND IMPROVE CONNECTIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES IS THAT CRITICAL
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NEXT STEP FOR US TO THEN DRAW DOWN AND TAP INTO THESE FEDERAL RESOURCES, UM, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.THIS IS ALL GUIDED BY OUR SHARED GOAL TO PROVIDE CRITICAL PERSON-CENTERED SERVICES AND BE ABLE TO HELP TRANSFORM LIVES AND INCREASE THE SECURITY AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT TO ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, JULIE GERGIS, THE PRACTICE ADMINISTRATOR OF JUSTICE INITIATIVES AT INTEGRAL CARE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
INTEGRAL CARE IS THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AUTHORITY FOR THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY AREA.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE LIVES OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL AND OR INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP AND PRIORITIZATION OF ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COLLABORATION WITH DAC AND EMS IN DIRECTLY SERVING AND CONNECTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO CRITICAL RESOURCES.
THE SHARED COMMITMENT OF EVERYONE UP HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS OPPORTUNITY BUILDS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTEGRAL CARE AND DAC, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WE'VE BUILT TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS.
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP BETWEEN FOLKS SERVED THROUGH D AND INTEGRAL CARE.
WE'VE BEEN ON AN ONGOING JOURNEY TO IDENTIFY WHERE EACH OF US CAN ASSIST THE OTHER ORGANIZATION IN MEETING ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES, GOALS, AND OUR MISSIONS IN HOW WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THESE FEDERAL FUNDS WILL HELP CREATE CLEAR PATHWAYS AND ACTIONABLE PLANS TO DIRECTLY CONNECT DS MOBILE COURT PARTICIPANTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE CONTINUUM WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO ENSURE HEALTHY LIVING FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, CHIEF LUC.
I'M THE CHIEF OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UM, AND AS WELL AS THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT FOR AVOIDING INVITING US TO JOIN THEM HERE TODAY.
THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND EMS MAY NOT SEEM OBVIOUS ON THE SURFACE, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO REALLY CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AS TO HOW WE'RE CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IS UN UNMATCHED ACROSS THIS NATION.
AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW, OUR EMS DEPARTMENT LOOKS TO SEE HOW WE CAN THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, ARE STUCK IN A CYCLE.
THEY'RE STUCK IN A CYCLE OF OVER UTILIZATION OF THE 9 1 1 SYSTEM AND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AMONG OTHERS.
AND WHAT WE'VE REALIZED IS THAT IN ORDER TO BREAK THAT CYCLE, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND WE CAN'T DO THAT ALONE.
AS AN EMS DEPARTMENT, IT IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT.
AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, INTEGRAL CARE, AND SO MANY OTHERS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THOSE EFFORTS.
THERE'S A CRITICAL LINKAGE BETWEEN HEALTHCARE AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE, AND BOTH SYSTEMS NEED TO BE ROBUST AND RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DAC, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COORDINATE OUR SERVICES OUR TEAM PROVIDES, AS PARAMEDICS AND DAC PROVIDES THROUGH HOUSING FOCUSED CARE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT EASING THE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING SERVICES AS WELL AS COMBINING ACCESS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES CAN RESULT IN GREAT OUTCOMES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
THIS MOBILE COURT MODEL IS ALREADY BASED IN THIS APPROACH, AND THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM WILL ONLY INCREASE WITH THESE FUNDS AND ENHANCED SERVICES TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY TO CELEBRATE THESE RESOURCES THAT ARE COMING TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO PASS THE PODIUM TO CAPTAIN AMBER PRICE, WHO REPRESENTS OUR DEPARTMENT IN SO MANY OF THESE INITIATIVES, AND IS OUR KEY STAKEHOLDER AND PIONEER IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN OUR DEPARTMENT IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, CAPTAIN PRICE.
I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT MY INTERACTIONS WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
I STARTED MY PARTNERSHIP WITH DAC IN 2016.
WE WORKED TOGETHER TO START TO DEVELOP THE HOMELESS OUTREACH STREET TEAM.
AND IT WAS DURING THAT WORK THAT I REALIZED THAT
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OUR GOALS HAD ALIGNED.WE WERE PERSON CENTERED, WE WANTED TO GET THE SOLUTION TO THE CLIENT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO BARRIERS AND PRESENT THE BEST THING THAT WE COULD PRESENT TO IMPROVE THAT MEDICAL, MENTAL, AND SOCIAL EQUITY.
WHEN D, WHEN DAX STARTED THE MOBILE COURT INITIATIVE, I FELT LIKE THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT INTERVENTION FOR AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, M S'S PERKS, WHICH ARE OUR POP-UP RESOURCE CLINICS.
THOSE ARE A NO BARRIER PLATFORM THAT PROVIDES REAL TIME INTERVENTIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE, WE PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FUNDING, DOCTOR SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, ID DOCUMENTS, HOUSING APPLICATIONS, ANIMAL SERVICES, HAIRCUTS, THE ENHANCED AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD.
MANY, MANY MORE INTERVENTIONS ARE DONE REAL TIME RIGHT THERE AT THAT EVENT.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WHERE WE LAUNCHED THE MOBILE COURT INITIATIVE IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR AT OUR PINK PERK, WHICH IS FOR WOMEN ONLY.
WE SPECIFY FOR WOMEN INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE HARD TO GET TO.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE PERFECTED THE PROCESS.
WHEN THE CLIENTS COME TO THE PERC, WE'RE ABLE FOR OUR INTAKE SPECIALIST TO DETERMINE THE NEEDS THAT THAT PERSON NEEDS OUT OF ALL OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT WE OFFER.
SO THEY HAVE A TREATMENT PLAN AT THAT POINT.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS OFFERED THIS SERVICE FROM DAC, AND AT THAT TIME, THEY'RE PAIRED UP WITH A NAVIGATOR.
THAT NAVIGATOR TAKES THEM OVER TO DAC, THEY DEVELOP AN, THE, A TREATMENT PLAN, DETERMINE IF THE CLIENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE SERVICES.
AND THEN THAT NAVIGATOR IS ABLE TO WALK THEM OVER TO THE DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THE WORK THAT'S COUNTED AS COMMUNITY SERVICE INVESTING IN THEMSELVES.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE NAVIGATOR TAKES 'EM BACK OVER TO DAC.
THE THIRD STEP OF THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED.
EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED REAL TIME AS A WALKUP SERVICE.
SO WE, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE SO HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT THIS HAS TURNED OUT.
AND IS SUCCESS SUCCESS SUCCESSFUL AS IT HAS BEEN? THERE ARE CLIENTS THAT ACTUALLY COME TO THE EVENT TO LOOK FOR THIS INTERVENTION SPECIFICALLY.
WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT ARRIVE THAT HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS EXISTS, AND THEY WALK AWAY WITH SO MUCH MORE D'S ABILITY TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM WILL INCREASE THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON OUR CLIENTS OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH DAC, AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THEM, ESES BEING THESE EXTRA FUNDS.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS THE PODIUM OFF TO CITY OF AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER.
THAT, THAT WAS DRIER THAN, UH, SOME OVERCOOKED TURKEY.
LET, LET'S TRY THAT ONE AGAIN.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION, UH, INTO ADMINISTRATOR KINGDOM AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND ALL THE CITY STAFF, UH, AND GUESTS IN THE ROOM.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND IT, IT'S SO GREAT TO BE HERE AND, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU ALL TO CELEBRATE THESE FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE IMPACT THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT IS A KEY PILLAR IN OUR CITY'S HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
YOU SEE, OUR OFFICE AND THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT SHARE A LOT.
UH, WE O OFTENTIMES ARE SEEING THE SAME CLIENTS.
UH, WE'RE PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN THE SAME SPACE.
UH, I TRY TO WEAR BOW TIES LIKE ADMINISTRATOR KINGDOM, BUT I CAN'T PULL 'EM OFF.
BUT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS BRING THE SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY COURT OFFERS AND THE SERVICES THAT THE HOMELESS STRATEGY, UH, OFFICE OFFERS, AND USE THAT TO HELP PEOPLE EXIT HOMELESSNESS, UH, WHEN WE CAN EVEN HELP PEOPLE PREVENT THEIR HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO, OVER THE LAST YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE, I'VE SEEN NOTHING BUT POSITIVE OUTCOMES COME OUT OF THE HARD WORK THAT THE COMMITTED STAFF FROM THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT PROVIDE EVERY DAY.
AND THIS INCLUDES SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALREADY, THINGS LIKE HELPING CLIENTS RESOLVE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, UH, AND HELP THEM CLOSE OUTSTANDING CASES, BUT ALSO PROVIDING QUALITY CASE MANAGEMENT, THAT LONG-TERM RESOURCE NAVIGATION THAT PEOPLE NEED, THAT, THAT HAND THAT THEY NEED TO HOLD AS THEY GO FROM ONE PROVIDER AND ONE SERVICE TO THE NEXT, UH, TRYING TO OVERCOME VARIOUS OBSTACLES ON THEIR JOURNEY FROM THE STREET TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND SO, UH, WE, WE ARE INVESTING A LOT IN THIS AS
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THE CITY IN THE COMMUNITY COURT SERVICES.BUT THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THESE FEDERAL GRANTS, WILL ONLY SEEK TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE MANY WAYS THAT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT IS ALREADY ABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS ACCESS TO THE CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, ACCESS TO THE SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES, ACCESS TO HELPING PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO THEIR VITAL RECORDS AND THEIR VITAL DOCUMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS NEED AS THEY'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE OFF THE STREETS AND, AND TO HOUSING.
AND SO BY ENHANCING CONNECTIONS TO THOSE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO THESE FEDERAL FUNDS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, I, I HAVE EXTREME FAITH, UH, AND CONFIDENCE THAT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT'S MOBILE COURT PROGRAM WILL HAVE EITHER EVEN GREATER IMPACT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WE'RE ALL TRYING TO SERVE.
NOW, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT FROM CITY OFFICIALS AND OUR PARTNERS AND, AND PEOPLE LIKE ME TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF SERVICES LIKE THIS.
UH, BUT THERE'S NO GREATER TESTIMONY THAN THAT OF SOMEBODY WHO'S ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE SERVICES.
SOMEBODY WHO'S ACTUALLY BEEN TO A, A MOBILE COURT PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO THE SERVICES THAT DAK WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE AND THEN COME OUT TO THE OTHER SIDE.
AND SO I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE MR. ALFREDO REYES, JR.
HERE WITH US, UH, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE GOING THROUGH THE, THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM.
I'M HAPPY TO HAND OFF THE MICROPHONE TO YOU, SIR.
I'M, I'M A VOCAL TEXAS ORGANIZER.
UM, WE'RE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT BUILDS POWER WITH LOW INCOME PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS, MASS INCARCERATION, AIDS, AND THE DRUG WAR.
I JOINED VOCAL TEXAS AS A MEMBER FIRST, AND I WAS HOMELESS AT THE TIME AND LIVING ON THE STREETS WITH MY PARTNER AND MY DOGS, WHICH I LOVE.
UM, I'M ALSO A FORMER INCARCERATED AND STRUGGLE WITH DRUG USE.
SO WHEN I CAME TO BOCO TEXAS, I FELT LIKE HOME.
TODAY I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH VOCAL TEXAS AND VERY PROUD OF IT BEING HOMELESS.
UM, LET ME, UH, LEADS TO MORE POLICING AND ARRESTS OUT ON THE STREETS.
AND IT'S HARD TO FIND OUT, UH, FIND THE HELP YOU NEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE, UH, UNHOUSED.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE HOMELESS.
UM, A HOMELESS PERSON IN THE STREETS IN AUSTIN.
SO MANY OF US HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE POOR.
WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO INTERACT WITH POLICE AND GET ARRESTED FOR THINGS LIKE SLEEPING OUTSIDE AND OTHER LOWER LEVEL INC.
UH, CRIMES WE FACE JOB AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.
THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AHEAD AND LOOK FORWARD TO SOMETHING.
BEING WORRIED ABOUT CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS, OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, OR GETTING TICKETED AND KEEPING MANY PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING THE SERVICE WE NEED.
NOT ONLY THAT, PEOPLE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS AT ONCE AND IT IS OVERWHELMING AND CONFUSING TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM AND GET THE HELP YOU NEED.
DAC DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT MOBILE UNIT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT BY GOING, UH, OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
AND, UH, PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO FEEL SAFE AND GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
I GOT HELP THROUGH, UM, DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT, UM, MOBILE UNIT WHEN I WAS LIVING IN THE STREETS.
I MET THEM AT SUNRISE AND I WAS ABLE TO CHECK OUT, UH, CHECK IN AND SEE IF I HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
AND I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AND GETTING HELP WITH HOUSING, UM, THAT THE COMMUNITY COURT CONNECTED ME WITH THE HOST TEAM AND THEY HELPED ME APPLY FOR H UM, FOR HOUSING AND MAP CARD.
AND I ALSO MET SOMEBODY THERE FOR INTEGRAL CARE TO GET MY MEDICATION AGAIN.
AND REALLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, DON COMMUNITY CORPS IS CONNECTED TO, UM, WITH OTHER RESOURCES.
I'M GLAD TO SEE MORE MONEY AND RESOURCES GOING INTO THE PROGRAM.
I WANT TO SEE MORE MOBILE COURT UNITS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IS GOING TO HELP POOR PEOPLE AVOID JAIL AND POLICING AND HELP WITH THEIR RECORDS AND GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GET HOUSING AND GET OFF THE STREET.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY.
IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE, UM, FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE FUNDS BY WAY OF WHAT THE CITY PUT FORWARD.
UM, BUT WE, WE HAVE TO DO MORE.
UM, SO THAT SAID, THE DAX MOBILE COURT PROGRAM HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED ITS EFFECTIVENESS TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND TO PROVIDE JUSTICE AND GREATER ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES.
INVESTING IN COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS LIKE THE MOBILE COURT ISN'T JUST ABOUT EFFICIENCY.
IT'S ABOUT ENSURING EQUITABLE, LOCALIZED COMMUNITY-CENTRIC CARE THAT'S AT THE HEART OF THIS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND THE RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, BUT I PERSONALLY, UM, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO
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PROUDLY REPRESENTS EAST AUSTIN, WHERE I GREW UP, HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING HOMELESS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.AND I RECOGNIZE FULLY THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND POLICY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADJACENT TO THOSE NEEDS THAT WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TOWARDS.
I'M BOTH GRATEFUL AND EXCITED TO CONTINUE COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO GENERATE AND IMPLEMENT MORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE THE MOBILE COURT.
TOGETHER WE'VE HELPED SHAPE A SYSTEM THAT HELPS ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND OFFERS OUR NEIGHBORS A PATHWAY TO STABILITY AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO HOPE.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MR. REYES, AGAIN, FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TO THIS CRITICAL WORK.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THESE RESOURCES WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A FEW QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
AND I'M CERTAIN THAT THE FOLKS STANDING BEHIND ME ARE OPEN TO ANSWER ANY AS WELL.
JUST A COUPLE OR THE MAYOR'S GONNA COME FOR YOU,