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THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY ON THIS RAINY BUT YET IMPORTANT AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM.
NOT LONG AGO, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UNANIMOUS ACTUALLY WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF PASSING, UM, ITEM 83, WHICH IS OUR DECLARATION, OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING OUR LOCAL HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
SINCE 2021, WE'VE MADE IMPRESSIVE STRIDES DOUBLING OUR BED SHELTER CAPACITY, ADDING OVER 600 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS, AND OPENING OVER 400 RAPID REHOUSING UNITS INER IN OUR SERVICE RESPONSE SYSTEM.
YET THIS IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENTERING OUR SYSTEM OUTPACES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXITING, WHICH IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION WILL HELP US ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING REAL HOUSING OPTIONS AND SERVICES WHILE USING THE SHORT TERM STRATEGIES NEEDED TO PREVENT LONG TERM HOMELESSNESS.
AND THIS COULDN'T COME AT A MORE CRITICAL TIME.
WE KNOW WITH OUR FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS COMING SOON TO A CLOSE AND EVEN WITH THE CONFUSION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL REGARDING OUR, OUR GRANT FUNDING AND, UH, AND FUNDING PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT IT REALLY UNDERSCORE WHY THE TIME IS CRITICAL NOW FOR US TO ACT.
AND I WANNA THANK ECHO FOR THEIR DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH THAT HELPS US FULLY UNDERSTAND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS AT TRAVIS COUNTY CENTRAL HEALTH, INTEGRAL CARE, AND VOCAL TEXAS AND OUR STATE DELEGATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS.
IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US NONPROFITS, INTERFAITH PARTNERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKING TOGETHER.
BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TACKLE THIS CRISIS HEAD ON WITH URGENCY AND WITH COLLABORATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH COMPASSION.
DESPITE THE HARM AND THREATS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HERE ARE IN SUPPORT OF ALL AUSTINITES.
PLEASE TRUST THAT WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PASS THE MIC TO MATT MALIKA WITH ECHO'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
MAYOR PRO TEM MATT MALIKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND IN COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION.
IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK BOTH DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND WITH PEOPLE IMPACTED BY BAD POLICY AND FOLK AND ON A SYSTEM LEVEL MEANT TO SUPPORT THEM.
THIS IS THE MOST COMMITTED GROUP OF POLICY MAKERS AND COLLECTIVE LEADERS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
TODAY'S VOTE OR FUTURE VOTE WILL REITERATE THAT EVERYONE UP HERE KNOWS THAT WE CAN'T BE A VIBRANT, DIVERSE, AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY UNTIL EVERYONE HAS A SAFE, STABLE PLACE TO LIVE.
THE INVESTMENT BLUEPRINT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO VOTE ON LATER TODAY BRINGS US CLOSER TO THAT REALITY.
THESE NEEDED INVESTMENTS ARE NOT JUST UP TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO MAKE.
WE HAVE OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, WE HAVE CENTRAL HEALTH, INTEGRAL CARE, AND WE NEED OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS ON BOARD AS WELL.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE CRISIS THAT WILL TAKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO SOLVE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THEY'RE THE CRITICAL COMPONENT TO MAKING THIS WORK.
THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, TRAVIS COUNTY AND CENTRAL HEALTH ALL HAVE PARTS TO PLAY IN THIS, IN THIS WORK.
UM, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO END THEIR HOMELESSNESS AND STAY HOUSED.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON NOW IS ACTION, NOT UNITS OR DOLLARS, DOLLAR AMOUNTS OR REPORTS OR PRESENTATIONS ARE IN ACTION.
AS A NATION HAS FUELED THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN SUFFER THROUGH EACH DAY, ONLY TO WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY ON THE SAME STREETS TO DO IT ALL AGAIN.
CITY COUNCIL'S FUTURE ACTION TODAY IS AS IMP IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD ENDING THAT CYCLE OF TRAUMA.
WE OWE IT TO THE PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE TO CONTINUE TO ACT, TO FOLLOW THIS STEP WITH MORE THAT WILL LEAD US TO A FUTURE WITHOUT HOMELESSNESS.
NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A STRONG LEADER AND A CHAMPION IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR AREA.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIMM FUENTES AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CENTRAL HEALTH INTEGRAL CARE.
LYNN MEREDITH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, AND THANKS TO ALL THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ORGANIZERS THAT ARE HERE ALSO.
UM, WE'RE VERY PROUD ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER ANN HOWARD, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE SHE'S OUTTA TOWN, BUT OTHERWISE WOULD WANT TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, WE PUT $120 MILLION OF THE MONEY THAT WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOWARDS CREATING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE WORKED WITH MULTIPLE GROUPS, UH, LIKE COMMUNITY FIRST, LIFEWORKS, CARITAS,
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INTERVAL CARE, AND OTHERS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE GROUND BUILDING THESE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE AND, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.TRAVIS COUNTY WAS ABLE TO FAST TRACK FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TIMEFRAME, AT LEAST, UH, MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL UNITS OF HOUSING HERE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS OCCUPIED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEED THAT HELP.
AND WE KNOW THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, UM, IN 2018 FROM 2018 TO 2023 AS THE REPORT THAT MATT, ARE YOU GONNA TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF YOUR REPORT OR YOU WANT ME TO TOUCH ON SOME HIGHLIGHTS? YOU CAN TOUCH ON THOSE.
UH, 364 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DIED IN A HOSPITAL.
THE COST FOR THEIR CARE IN THE YEAR BEFORE THEIR DEATH WAS $11.1 MILLION.
AND THAT INCLUDED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, ER VISITS, AND INPATIENT CARE.
AND ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT, THAT $11.1 MILLION COULD HAVE FUNDED 81% OF THE, THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES AND RENT FOR THAT SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE.
BUT WE CAN CHANGE HOW WE APPROACH THIS PROBLEM, AND WE NEED TO BEGIN DOING THAT.
AS NOTED IN THE REPORT, MEDICAID EXPANSION CAN HELP COVER INSURANCE COSTS THAT WILL PROVIDE THESE MEDICAL SERVICES.
SO THAT'S UP TO OUR LEGISLATURE TO DO THAT.
UM, WE CAN THEN, THEN REDIRECT THAT LOCAL FUNDING TO HELP END THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS.
IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE SUPPORT US AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THE LEGISLATORS HERE IN SPIRIT TODAY, UM, SUPPORT US, BUT NEED THE, WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
FORTUNATELY, LEGISLATION HAS BEEN FILED TO EXPAND MEDICAID.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT HAS BEEN FILED DURING MANY OF THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS FAILED TO PASS EITHER CHAMBER, MUCH LESS BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
IT'S TIME FOR EVERYONE TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS JUST 110 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THEY RUN OUT OF TIME TO HELP US ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
I HOPE THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, BECAUSE TOO MANY LIVES CAN BE LOST IF WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU.
UM, OUR STATE SENATOR JUST WALKED IN, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES TO GET SETTLED IN BEFORE WE CALLING YOU.
HATE TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE SPOT JUST LIKE THAT.
UH, SO NEXT WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, WHO SERVED AS OUR VICE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.
THANK YOU TO OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, ECHO AND THE MANY OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, WHO KEEP OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM RUNNING.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN IS NOT SOMETHING ONE PERSON, ONE GROUP, ONE DEPARTMENT, OR ONE, UH, UH, COUNTY OR CITY BUREAUCRACY CAN ADDRESS.
THIS IS A CITY EFFORT, AND THIS IS A COUNTY COMMUNITY AND A PEOPLE LIFT.
TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION ACKNOWLEDGES THAT.
AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE MAKING STRIDES THROUGH OUR CURRENT INVESTMENT IN PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, WE NEED TO DO MORE AND WE CAN DO MORE IN OUR EFFORTS TO COMPASSIONATELY ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE OUR STATE SENATOR SARAH ECKHART, JOIN US.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO JOIN, UH, OUR CITY AND COUNTY PARTNERS.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE A DEEP COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I OFTEN HEAR, UH, ABOUT CONSERVATIVE VALUES.
I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE MOST CONSERVATIVE VALUE OF ALL OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
UM, OUR, UH, HOMELESS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND LIKE ALL OF US, WE ALL DESERVE THE DIGNITY OF HOME AND HEALTHCARE AND THE NAVIGATION OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I CANNOT EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND MY PRIDE THAT, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A FABULOUS AND DYNAMIC PLAN FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COUNTY, WITH OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT, UH, AND WITH SO MANY OF OUR NONPROFITS.
UM, THIS IS REALLY AN ALL OF US TOGETHER THING.
UM, THIS IS A METRIC OF SUCCESS THAT WE ARE REACHING OUT TO THE FOLKS WHO NEED US MOST, UM, AND FINDING OUT WHAT WE NEED.
UM, BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE, WE, UM, NO VILLAINIZING, NO FINGER POINTING, JUST GOOD SOLID COLLABORATION.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU.
I WILL PUT IN ONE PLUG IN ADDITION TO, UM, STATE DOLLARS TO ASSIST
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WITH THIS.I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT ALL STATE PROPERTIES WITHIN, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR, UH, REPURPOSING OR CO-LOCATING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND MOST ESPECIALLY OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING STOCK.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS A COLLABORATION AT THE LOCAL STATE LEVEL.
UH, AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COUPLE MORE VOICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
UH, NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UH, FIRST I JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN, ECHO FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS REPORT.
UH, THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HER LEADERSHIP, BOTH AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
NOW BRINGING THIS BEFORE THE WHOLE COUNCIL.
AND I THINK EVERYONE STANDING HERE TODAY, AND MANY IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE SEEN MANY PLANS BEFORE, RIGHT? WE'VE HAD PLANS OF HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE GONNA END HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO THE QUESTION MIGHT BE, WHAT'S DIFFERENT TODAY? AND THE ANSWER IS THE PEOPLE YOU SEE STANDING UP HERE.
THIS IS A BROAD COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OF THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, OF THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, ALL WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I'VE ALSO HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON HOMELESSNESS, AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR IT? WELL, WE HAVE GOTTEN HUNDREDS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS THANKS TO THE, THE EFFORTS THAT THE COUNTY JUDGE TALKED ABOUT, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS THAT THE CITY DEDICATED IN OUR ARPA FUNDS ALMOST, OR OVER A THOUSAND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS, HUNDREDS OF RAPID REHOUSING UNITS AND MORE SERVICES THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY GET THE SERVICE AND, AND THE ULTIMATE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED.
AND SO WE ARE TAKING THAT SPIRIT OF WORKING TOGETHER SAYING, WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE CAN GET RESULTS WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP DOING IT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO HAVE ALL THE PARTNERS STANDING IN FRONT OF US TO DO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALSO JOINING US TODAY, SOMEONE WHO HAS A STRONG TRACK RECORD IN SUPPORTING OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER.
MADISON, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK YOU MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM FOR HOSTING US.
UH, MAYOR, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, INVITED US TO PARTICIPATE ALL BETTER YEAH.
AND I COULDN'T BE, UH, MORE HONORED TO DO SO.
I THINK I MAY HAVE THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE SINGULAR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S, UM, GOT LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO I'M CERTAINLY NOT PROUD TO SAY THAT THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE, BUT I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I SERVE ON A BODY WITH MY LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A PART OF THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT THAT WE BRING TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, THAT SAID, WE ARE HERE TODAY, AND I JUST THOUGHT OF A, A LITTLE FUNNY
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISN'T FUNNY, BUT YOU GUYS CAN'T SEE WHAT I SEE.
I'M LOOKING AT THE A TX AT TXN SCREEN DOWN BELOW, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S THE, UM, TRANSCRIPT OF THE MUSIC THAT'S BEING PLAYED IN CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW.
SO RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL FROM US IN CHAMBERS, WE ARE CELEBRATING LIVE MUSIC IN THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
AND THEN RIGHT ACROSS THE HALLWAY, WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR FAIR CAPITAL CITY AND THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS UNSHELTERED.
UM, AND SO I COULDN'T MORE RESOUNDINGLY ECHO.
YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE, MATT
I THINK IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS TO ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS USING OUR ASSETS, YOU KNOW, AND COMPREHENSIVELY TAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR ASSETS AND, UM, ALLOCATING THOSE RESOURCES ONCE WE CUT THE COST OF LAND.
IT'S NOT THE HOUSES THAT ARE EXPENSIVE, Y'ALL.
IT'S THE DIRT UNDERNEATH THEM.
ONCE WE CUT THE COST OF THE LAND, THEN WE MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT'S ACTUALLY PRACTICAL AND ACTUALLY PRAGMATIC ALONG WITH PARTNERSHIPS.
NOBODY COULD SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS SAID IT SO FAR.
NOBODY COULD SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES.
IT IS, YOU KNOW, AS OLD AS CIVILIZATION AND WILL PROBABLY PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF OUR LIFETIMES.
UM, THAT SAID, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MITIGATE HOMELESSNESS AS MUCH AS WE CAN NOW WITH THE GOAL OF MOVING TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE NOBODY RESIDES.
UH, A HOME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE, WHERE YOU LAY YOUR HEAD, WHERE YOU PREPARE YOUR FOOD, WHERE YOU, YOU KNOW, CONDUCT YOUR NECESSARIES WITH GROOMING AND SELF
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CARE WHERE YOU HAVE PEACE, RESPITE, AND QUIET.UH, WE ARE HERE TODAY ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT ISSUES AND PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
EVERYONE DESERVES THAT DIGNITY AND STABILITY OF A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME.
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS OBVIOUSLY IS MULTIFACETED WHERE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOUSING COLLIDE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE MAYOR PRO TIM, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, AND I CHAIR THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE TO RECOGNIZE THE INTRINSIC, UH, CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR COMMITTEES AND HAVE VOWED AND COMMITTED TO WORK FORWARD AND UTILIZING THOSE COMMITTEES MOVING FORWARD TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE IMPACTFUL WORK BE BROUGHT FORWARD BEFORE THE BODY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BRILLIANT THINGS ABOUT THE COMMITTEE, I'M PLEASED TO CELEBRATE THE CONTINUATION OF OUR COMMITMENTS BY ADOPTING ECHO'S STATE OF THE HOMELESSNESS, STATE OF HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM REPORT AND MODELING.
WE'RE POSITIONING OUR INVESTMENTS IN THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AS ONE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S TOP FUNDING PRIORITIES, WHICH IS CRITICAL.
YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET IS OUR MORAL COMPASS.
WHERE WE PUT OUR MONEY IS WHERE OUR HEART IS.
THIS MOMENT REPRESENTS A MILESTONE AND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON OUR SHARED GOALS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AT ITS ROOTS AND TO REDUCE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN.
UM, I ACKNOWLEDGE ECHO TRAVIS COUNTY AND OUR MANY LOCAL PARTNERS WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY ALONGSIDE US.
UH, I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND KITCHEN IS STANDING HERE WITH US TODAY AS A TRUE TESTAMENT OF THE FACT THAT EVEN WHEN YOUR TERM ENDS, THE COMMITMENT DOESN'T.
UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU AS A PERSON.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU AND JUST BIG KUDOS, PROPS.
BIG UPS, LIKE THEY SAY IN MY HOOD.
UH, DAVID GRAY, OUR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICER.
THIS VAN HAS DISPLAYED LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION AND EQUAL MEASURE IN WAYS THAT I HAVE SEEN VERY FEW PEOPLE BE ABLE TO EXECUTE.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AS WE ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, UM, SO DOES YOUR TEAM MAKING THE ADJUSTMENT TO WIN, TO ACTIVATE COLD WEATHER SHELTERS OPENED MULTIPLE MORE SHELTERS THAT PEOPLE UTILIZED IN THE MOST NEEDY TIME.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS HAD THE FORESIGHT AND TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S HARD.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU MAKE THE CALL EVEN SOMETIMES RECOGNIZING IT, YOU KNOW, BY THE NEXT DAY IT'S AUSTIN, TEXAS WEATHER.
YOU COULD FLIP A COIN BY THE NEXT DAY, YOU DON'T NEED IT.
BUT THAT SAID, IT'S ACTIVATED IN CASE PEOPLE DO.
SO IT'S BETTER TO NEED AND NOT HAVE THAN TO HAVE AND NOT NEED.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING BOLD ENOUGH, UH, AND COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO TAKE THE STEP.
UM, THAT SAID, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF US CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER AND CREATING ORGANIC PATHS AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR ALL OUR NEIGHBORS IN AUSTIN TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION, MAYOR PRO, TIM.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR, MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
ALWAYS HATE GOING AFTER YOU 'CAUSE YOU'RE SO GREAT AND ELOQUENT.
UM, NEXT UP WE'RE SPEAKING OF PARTNERS.
UH, WE ARE NOW GONNA HEAR FROM A COUPLE OF OUR, UH, BIG PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE IN PART OF THIS WORK.
SO WE'LL, FIRST UP, WE'LL HAVE JEFF RICHARDSON WITH INTEGRAL CARE CEO.
UH, TO BE BRIEF, FIRST I WANT TO ECHO EVERYONE'S SENTIMENTS ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, I'M THE CEO HERE AT INTEGRAL CARE, AND I'M PROBABLY THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THIS, THIS TEAM.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN THRILLED AND PRIVILEGED TO SEE THE LEVEL OF ENERGY AND FOCUS, UH, THAT, THAT THIS CITY AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS HAD IN SOLVING THIS.
THIS IS A CRITICAL JUNCTURE THAT WE'RE AT.
AND WHILE THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE'RE INVESTING THIS, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ANYWAYS WHEN WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF HOMELESSNESS.
UH, INTEGRAL CARE HAS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING PROJECTS AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO HELP ENSURE PEOPLE'S SUCCESS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT PEOPLE KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE MODEL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BOTH CLINICALLY WORKS, IT IMPROVES PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIVES AND IT SAVES MONEY.
AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF THIS, NOT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT'S WORKING NOW.
SO TIME, THE TIME IS NOW TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US, BECAUSE WHEN HOUSING IS IMPORTANT, TREATMENT, SERVICES, UH, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ALL VALUE ARE WHAT ARE GONNA MAKE THIS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL EFFORT CONTINUE.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR YOUR ENERGY AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
AND I AM THRILLED, UH, TO SEE THE, THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THIS FORWARD.
NEXT STEP, WE'RE GONNA HAVE DR.
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YOU.THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND COLLEAGUES.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
PAT LEE, UH, PRESIDENT, CEO OF CENTRAL HEALTH.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO OUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING ADDRESS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT AND COMPLEX CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY FACES, ET CETERA.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT HOUSING, THAT HOMELESSNESS, EXCUSE ME, IS NOT JUST A HOUSING ISSUE, IT IS ALSO A HEALTHCARE CRISIS.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FACE SEVERE HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT ARE OFTEN WORSENED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES.
WE SEE THIS REALITY IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WHO WITH MEDICAL VULNERABILITY, WHO ARE UNSHELTERED, WHO ARE OFTEN DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR, UH, ARE ALSO AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF EARLY DEATH.
THAT'S WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES AT ECHO HAVE REINFORCED THE RECENT REPORT.
AND THIS UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT A NEW ISSUE.
ALMOST 60 YEARS AGO, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING CALLED INJUSTICE IN HEALTHCARE THE MOST SHOCKING AND INHUMANE BECAUSE IT'S SO OFTEN LEADS TO DEATH.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE WORKING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE OUR BRIDGE PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES CRITICAL MEDICAL SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT THEM TO CARE.
AND OUR RESPITE PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE TO HEAL AFTER HOSPITALIZATION.
AND WE DON'T JUST PROVIDE THE IMMEDIATE CARE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, WE STAY CONNECTED WITH THEM FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AFTER THEY LEAVE OUR RESPITE ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THEY REMAIN ENGAGED IN THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED.
AND THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL AT NAVIGATING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT DAVID GRAY AND OTHERS AROUND THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, UH, TO STABLE HOUSING, TO THAT SAFE PLACE OF HOUSING AND CARE.
THIS IS PART OF OUR MISSION AT CENTRAL HEALTH TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY BY CARING FOR THOSE WHO NEED US MOST.
AND THIS POPULATION AMONGST OTHERS TRULY NEEDS US MOST.
JUST LAST YEAR DURING A WINTER STORM, I JOINED OUR TEAM IN CARING FOR A YOUNG UNHOUSED MAN WHO HAD LOST BOTH HIS LEGS TO FROSTBITE.
JUST LAST WEEK AT OUR WINTER STORM, OUR PARTNERS AT EMS AND AUSTIN POLICE BROUGHT SEVERAL UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO OUR BRIDGE CLINIC FOR TREATMENT AND SHELTER.
AND IN SO DOING PREVENTED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE TRAGEDIES.
AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THAT OUR WORK MAKES TOGETHER.
AND SO WHILE THERE IS STILL MUCH MORE TO DO, ESPECIALLY IN ENDING HEALTH INEQUITIES, WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER, ET CETERA, HEALTH IS PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS OF THE CITY AT ECHO AND THE COUNTY AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DO THE NECESSARY DIFFICULT AND CONTINUOUS WORK TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS.
WE ALSO WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WITH US, UH, WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND THAT'S ALFREDO REYES WITH VOCAL TEXAS.
I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR VOCAL TEXAS AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR HAVING ME HERE, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK FOR MY FAMILY.
MY HOMELESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME WHEN I WAS HOMELESS.
I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR VOCAL TEXAS.
WE ARE A GRASSROOT ORGANIZING, UH, ORGANIZING STATION TO BUILD POWER WITH LOW INCOME PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS, MASS INCARCERATION, HIV AIDS, AND A DRUG WAR.
I JOINED VOCAL TEXAS AS A MEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND WAS HOMELESS AT THE TIME.
I'M A US VETERAN AND I WAS HOMELESS FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS.
I STEP UNDER A BRIDGE NEAR THE AIRPORT IN THE COLD WINTERS MONTH LIKE THIS, I REMEMBER HOW AGONIZING IT WAS TO SLEEP UNDERNEATH THE ASLEEP OUTSIDE.
MY HIPS USED TO LOCK UP BECAUSE OF MY CANCER AND HOW IT WAS COLD, I COULD NOT MOVE.
LAST YEAR, SOMEONE FROM THE CAMPSITE TOLD ME ABOUT THE CITY'S COLD WEATHER SHELTER AND I DECIDED TO GO.
I HAD NEVER HEARD FROM THEM FOR HEARD OF THEM AND SEEN FLYERS OR ANYTHING POSTED ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME AFTER THAT, I GOT CONNECTED WITH SERVICES.
I GOT RAPID REHOUSING, THANK GOD AND VOUCHER, AND I GOT HOUSING.
THEN I GOT A JOB OF LOCAL TEXAS.
AND NOW I'M MOVING INTO MY NEW HOUSE ON FEBRUARY THE FIRST, WHICH IS A COUPLE DAYS.
UH, WHERE, WHERE I HAVE A SPACE WHERE I HAVE A SPACE WHERE I HAVE A GARDEN, A KITCHEN I CAN COOK IN WHICH I LOVE COOKING AND A PLACE TO DO MY WOODWORK.
I'M WAITING FOR MY HACKER PERMANENT HOUSING VOUCHER.
AND I LIKE, I SHARE ALL THIS BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLES OUT THERE ON THE STREET THERE.
IT IS HARD TO FIND HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT.
SO MANY PEOPLE WILL NEVER GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED AND NEVER FIND HOUSING.
FOR YEARS, I HAVE KNEW, I NEVER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT COAL, WEATHER, SHELTER, AND RESOURCES THE CITY OFFERED.
I FACED JOB AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE
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OF MY BACKGROUND.I NEVER GOT THE CARE I NEEDED TO GET HEALTHY AGAIN.
AND I GOT TO SEE JUST HOW OVERWHELMING AND CONFUSING THE SYSTEM IS TO NAVIGATE.
IT FELT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERCOME ALL OF IT.
I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M TOTALLY OUT OF IT YET.
WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR PROTEIN FUENTES FOR LEADING THE RESOLUTION.
THIS IS A SIGNAL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR THE HOMELESS RE RESPONSE SYSTEM IN THE YEARS TO COME.
WE'RE TIRED OF BEING TOLD THERE IS NO MONEY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, SHELTERS, EVICTION PREVENTION.
ECHO REPORTS IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO HELP US, OUR CITY FUND, WHAT IS NEEDED.
AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY TOOL ALONG WITH IT.
THE CITY MUST LISTEN TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WHO ARE LIVING WITH HOMELESSNESS EVERY DAY.
OUR CITY MUST LISTEN TO UNHOUSED AUSTINITE THAT COME THROUGH COUNCIL TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ASK FOR WHAT WE NEED.
'CAUSE THE REALITY IS, WE ARE THE ONE THAT STARTED LIVING WITH THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND WE CAN MOST AND MORE POWERFULLY HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THE STREET.
I CAN SAY THAT FROM MY OWN SELF.
I'M NOT READING IT BECAUSE AZI IS IT.
I NEEDED SOMEBODY TO HEAR ME, TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE OUT THERE.
IT IS, IT'S A, IT IS A BIG STRUGGLE AND IT HURTS THAT I CAN SEE MY, MY FAMILY, THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK CARE OF ME WHEN I WAS HOMELESS AND THE STREET ARE THE ONES THAT I'M TRYING TO HELP NOW TO THIS DAY BECAUSE REAL IS, THEY NEED A LOT OF HELP.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SU SUPPORTING THIS WORK.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING TO WORKING TOGETHER, TRAIN HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN 'CAUSE WE NEED IT.
AND TO ROUND OUT OUR CONVERSATION, PART OF THIS COLLABORATION AND A KEY PARTNER IN OUR WORK MOVING FORWARD, I'M GONNA ASK LYNN MEREDITH TO ALSO SAY A FEW WORDS REPRESENTING OUR PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, WE'VE HEARD A GREAT DEAL FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.
UM, THE DATA THAT ECHO HAS, UH, PUT FORTH, UH, ENSURES THAT EVERYONE FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE PLANNING, ABOUT PLANNING AND FUNDING PRIORITIES.
I DO WANNA SAY THAT GOVERNMENT ALONE CANNOT SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT AND THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES, UH, THAT FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HERE IN AUSTIN ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE, JOB TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL INVESTMENTS THAT WE MUST MAKE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND BUILDING OUT OUR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WHAT THAT THESE FOLKS ALSO NEED ARE THE SERVICES AND THE SERVICES ARE GOING TO COST MONEY.
THESE ARE INVESTMENTS IN THE DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE, ARE, UH, LIVING WITH, WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND WHO ARE MEMBERS OF OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
UM, AS THE CO-CHAIR, UH, WITH SHARONDA ROBINSON OF FINDING HOME A TX, WE HAVE A MISSION TO RALLY THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE DATA THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED BY ECHO AND THE PLAN THAT WILL COME FORTH ONCE THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THIS, ADOPTS THE PLAN.
AND WE SEE THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ALSO ADOPT THIS PLAN.
IT GIVES US A ROADMAP OF HOW THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY SHOULD INVEST TO SUPPORT FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR STAYING THE COURSE, FOR PUTTING ASIDE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE WAY FORWARD AND THE SUCCESS OF THIS INITIATIVE IS COLLABORATION.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
AS YOU CAN TELL, IT'S AN EXCITING DAY FOR US HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR, YEAR.
AND I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER WAY, UH, FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IN TACKLING OUR CITY'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES THAN BY ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION AND DECLARING HOMELESSNESS, ONE OF OUR TOP BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR THIS COMING CYCLE.
UH, ME AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO HEAD BACK TO COUNCIL 'CAUSE WE'RE RECONVENING RIGHT AT 1:00 PM OTHERWISE, I WOULD TAKE QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT I, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO CAN STAY TO DO ANY
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ONE-ON-ONES WITH THE MEDIA THAT IS HERE SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT.SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.