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[CALL TO ORDER]
MORNING.I'M VANESSA FUENTES, MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT TWO AND CHAIR OF OUR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
WE ARE HERE IN CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
IT IS 10:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2025.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR SEPTEMBER PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
TODAY'S AGENDA IS FAIRLY SHORT, WHICH I HOPE IS INFORMATIVE TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, UM, AS WE ARE ON, SORRY, UH, I'M READING THE WRONG THING HERE.
SO, FOR TODAY'S AGENDA, WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UM, THE COM COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THEN WE WILL RECEIVE A BRIEFING UPDATE ON HOMELESSNESS SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS, FOLLOWED BY A BRIEFING UPDATE ON THE STATUS FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FEDERAL GRANTS.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TODAY'S AGENDA? ALRIGHT.
FIRST, WE'LL WELCOME SPEAKERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
MAY THE CLERK'S OFFICE PLEASE GET US STARTED WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS TODAY.
[Approval of Minutes]
APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE.CAN I GET A MOTION? THANK YOU.
UH, MOTION BY VICE CHAIR UCHIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING THE MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 6TH, 2025 AS PRESENTED? CASEY? NO OBJECTIONS.
NEXT WE WILL ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA PA LET'S DO THE SOBERING CENTER ITEM LAST.
UM, SO LET'S SKIP THAT ITEM FOR NOW AND MOVE TO THE
[3. Briefing on homelessness services for older adults from Family Eldercare. [Aaron Alarcon, CEOFamily Elder Care Inc.].]
BRIEFING ON HOMELESSNESS SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.ADDON, AL CARON, CEO OF FAMILY ELDER CARE, TO PROVIDE US A BRIEFING ON HOMELESSNESS SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND DID WE HAVE, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF THAT WOULD LIKE TO ALSO GIVE REMARKS? NO, SORRY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE? NO.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PROAM FUENTES AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
ERIN ALARCON, CEO OF FAMILIAL CARE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE INVITATION TO PRESENT FOR THIS COMMITTEE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE WORLD THAT FAMILY ELDER CARE HAS BEEN DOING FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS TO ERADICATE HOMELESSNESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS.
AND IF I MAY, I'LL START BY TING BY PROVIDING AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT FAMILY ELDER CARE.
OUR ORGANIZATION WAS CREATED IN 1982 BY TWO VISIONARY SOCIAL WORKERS THAT AIM TO CREATE A RESOURCE CENTER FOR FAMILIES THAT DECIDED TO BE CAREGIVERS FOR THE ELDERLY MEMBERS IN THEIR FAMILIES.
HENCE THE NAME FAMILY ELDER CARE.
FROM THAT SMALL ORGANIZATION WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES, NOW 43 YEARS LATER, FAMILY ELDER CARE IS ONE OF THE LEADING VOICES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE AGING AND DISABILITY FIELD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
LAST YEAR ALONE, WE SERVED MORE THAN 16,000 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE FOUR DEPARTMENTS AND 12 PROGRAMS, ALL OF THEM WITH THE OVERREACHING MISSION TO PROVIDE, TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT PROMOTE DIGNITY AND STABILITY AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND JUSTICE DOES NOT ONLY APPLY TO OUR CLIENTS, BUT ALSO TO OUR WORKFORCE.
WE WERE THE FIRST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN AUSTIN THAT IMPLEMENTED A MINIMUM LIVING WAGE OF $24 AN HOUR AND IS CURRENTLY TESTING A 36 HOUR WEEK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A HEALTHIER WORK LIFE BALANCE.
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, FAMILY ELDER CARE IS CURRENTLY BUILDING THE FIRST LGBTQ PLUS AFFIRMING AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY FOR OLDER ADULTS, WHICH WILL BE OUR THIRD PROPERTY AND WILL EXPAND OUR FOOTPRINT, WHICH IS BASED ON EXCELLENCE AND COMPASSION, ADVANCING OUR GOAL OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS.
AND SPEAKING OF HOMELESSNESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS, LET ME SHARE SOME STATISTICS THAT I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU ALL BEFORE AND THAT I WILL CONTINUE SHARING IN WHATEVER OPPORTUNITY AS THESE NUMBERS IN MY VIEW SHOW HOW LEFT FALL WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE BEEN TOWARDS MARGINALIZED OLDER ADULTS, WHICH ARE ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ACCORDING TO THE PIT ACRONYM FOR POINT
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IN COUNT ORGANIZED, BUT ECHO THAT TOOK PLACE IN JANUARY OF 2025.THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 55 EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, BOTH SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED, INCREASED BY 70% IN TWO YEARS.
THIS UNFORTUNATELY MATCHES A TREND THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH NUMBERS PROJECTED TO TRIPLE BY 2030.
VERY ALARMING, BUT THERE'S HOPE.
AND TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE HOPE TURN INTO ACTION, I'M GONNA LET MY TEAM SHARE ABOUT OUR FOUR PROGRAMS THAT ARE FIGHTING.
SO HOMELESSNESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS, START GOING DOWN AS OPPOSED TO GOING UP.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO EMILY HABER MILL, SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT OUR SERVICE COORDINATION PROGRAM.
UH, I THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT SERVICE COORDINATION.
AT OUR CORE, WHAT SERVICE COORDINATION DOES IS CONNECT OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES RESIDING IN LOW INCOME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES WITH VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN AGE IN PLACE TYPICAL TASKS OF A SERVICE COORDINATOR.
IT CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS ASSISTING AN OLDER RESIDENT WITH THEIR SMARTPHONE ALL THE WAY TO CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO VITAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.
AND ESSENTIALLY WE ARE THE GO-TO FOR RESIDENTS AT THE PROPERTY WHO NEED HELP.
SERVICE COORDINATION SERVICES AT FAMILY ELDER CARE, UH, FAMILY ELDER CARE, EXCUSE ME, BEGAN IN 2010.
OUR SERVICE COORDINATOR'S OFFICE AT THEIR ASSIGNED PROPERTIES MAKING IT MUCH EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE.
WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE SERVICE COORDINATION TO 10 SENIOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROPERTIES AND SEVERAL SMALLER FAMILY HAKA PROPERTIES.
HOW DOES SERVICE COORDINATION HELP? UM, WE HAVE THREE, UM, AREAS, UM, AND I CAN HAVE SOME OUTPUTS, UH, TO GO WITH THOSE.
UM, FIRST FISCAL YEAR 2024 SERVICE COORDINATION ASSISTED 1014 RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE ASSISTED 677 RESIDENTS TO DATE THROUGH SERVICE COORDINATION.
WE'VE HELPED 412 RESIDENTS OBTAIN GOVERNMENT BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP AND MEDICAID, AND INCLUDING UTILITY AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
WE ENGAGED 79 RESIDENTS AND EVICTION PREVENTION AND HOUSING RETENTION SERVICES, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH LEASE RENEWALS AND VOUCHER RECERTIFICATIONS.
WE'VE ASSISTED 57 RESIDENTS WITH RESOLVING CONFLICTS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
BASED ON A RECENT SURVEY, 79% OF THE RESIDENT SURVEYED OUR AGING IN PLACE, AND 87% REPORT IMPROVED INDEPENDENCE AND SAFETY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A RESIDENT SUCCESS STORY.
MR. SANCHEZ, A 70-YEAR-OLD MAN LIVES ALONE AT LYONS GARDENS.
HE HAD TO STOP WORKING EARLY DUE TO HIS VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, AND THIS DID AFFECT HIS SOCIAL SECURITY CREDITS AND THEREFORE HIS INCOME WAS VERY LOW.
UH, PAYING RENT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR HIM, AND THIS GREATLY IMPACTED HIS QUALITY OF LIFE AND IT PUT HIS HOUSING AT SERIOUS RISK.
THE LIONS GARDEN SERVICE COORDINATOR REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM MR. SANCHEZ OPTOMETRIST TO OBTAIN CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO APPEAL THE SOCIAL SECURITY CASE AND ADJUST HIS INCOME TO SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME, WHICH IS MUCH HIGHER.
UH, HE SUCCESSFULLY WAS ABLE TO APPEAL THAT CASE.
THE RESIDENT'S, UH, INCOME INCREASED.
THE SERVICE COORDINATOR ALSO HELPED HIM WITH AN APPLICATION TO ASSIST WITH HIS ELECTRICITY BILL, AND HE WAS ALSO, UM, THEY ALSO COORDINATED FREE MEALS, UH, FOR HIM, WHICH AGAIN HELPED HIS FINANCIAL SITUATION GREATLY AND HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS HOUSING AS A RESULT.
AND NEXT IS DELIA DIAZ HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER.
UM, I'M GONNA GO OVER OUR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM AND OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PRO PROGRAMS. OUR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM OFFERS SHORT TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ALONG WITH WRAPAROUND SUPPORT.
SERVICE IS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LITERALLY HOMELESS OR FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WHOSE INCOME IS AT OR BELOW 200 OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
WE TAKE A TRAUMA INFORMED INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH, MEANING THERE ARE NO PRECONDITIONS TO RECEIVING HELP.
CORE SERVICES INCLUDE HOUSING IDENTIFICATION, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, AND MOVE-IN CAUSE AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
MANY OF OUR CLIENTS COME TO US AFTER EXPERIENCING LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS, OFTEN LEAVE IN AND PLACES NOT MEANT FOR HABITATION.
SOME ENTER EMERGENCY SHELTERS WITH REALLY COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING BACKGROUNDS.
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ENROLLED IN RAPID REHOUSING, THEY BEGIN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CASE MANAGER TEAM.THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP, THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS MOVING TOWARDS STABILITY, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND ULTIMATE SUCCESS.
UM, AS YOU WILL SEE, THERE IS A PICTURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS HOUSED HOMELESS FOR SEVEN YEARS, RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH US, WAS ABLE TO GET HOUSING, FOUND A JOB, AND, UM, SECURE, UM, A VEHICLE THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR OTHER INDEPENDENTS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.
IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE.
PSH IS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS WHO NEED MORE INTENSIVE LONG-TERM SUPPORT.
THESE SERVICES ARE GROUNDED IN THE HOUSING FIRST AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE MODELS, AND THEY FOCUS ON HELPING CLIENTS ACHIEVE LASTING HOUSING STABILITY.
CURRENTLY OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS INCLUDE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT PECAN GARDENS, AND FAMILY ELDER CARE.
AT OUR DAC PROJECT, WE OFFER 46 SCATTER SITE EFFICIENCY UNITS.
THEY ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED NEAR TRANSITS.
REFERRALS COME, COME DIRECTLY FROM DAC AT OUR PECAN GARDEN APARTMENT.
WE HAVE 78 UNITS DEVELOPED THROUGH THE AUSTIN MOTEL CONVERSION PLAN OFFER AN ONSITE CASE MANAGEMENT WRAPAROUND SERVICES THROUGH SERVICE COORDINATION, SO R PEER SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE THE UT SCHOOL OF NURSING AND BLUE BONNET TRAILS WITH OUR HUD PSH FEDERALLY FUNDED IN 2022, OFFERING 37 SCATTERED SITE UNITS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL HEALTH.
IT SUPPORTS INDIVIDUAL LEAVING MEDICAL RESPITE TO SECURE STABLE HOUSING DURING RECOVERY.
ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL IS TO EMPOWER CLIENTS WITH TOOLS AND SUPPORT THEM TO, TO NEED TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AND BUILD GREATER EMPLOYMENT.
PLEASE PROVIDE THAT INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICE.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LONG-TERM STABILITY THROUGH PERSONALIZED SERVICE PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, AND DEVELOPING THE SKILLS.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE QUICKLY ABOUT, UM, ONE OF OUR STORIES, OUR SUCCESS STORIES THAT WE RECEIVED BACK IN 2022.
WHEN THE CLIENT CAME TO US, THEY WERE LIVING IN A SMALL WINDOWLESS APARTMENT.
UM, OUR CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WAS ABLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AND PROVE THE CREDIT UP TO SEVEN 40, WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, THEY FOUND A JOB THROUGH GOODWILL, UM, AND PROUDLY, UM, WAS ABLE TO GET A NEW CAR AND PLANNING FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
WE'RE DEEPLY HONORED TO HAVE WALKED ALONG THEM ON THIS JOURNEY ON SEPTEMBER 13.
WE WILL MARK ONE YEAR SINCE THEIR PEACEFUL PASSING, REMEMBER NOT ONLY THEIR CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO CELEBRATING EVERY STEP OF THE REMARKABLE SUCCESS AS WE LOOK AT THE BROADER IMPACT OF OUR WORK.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE'VE SERVED 112 CLIENTS THROUGH OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM, AND WE'RE ON TRACK TO SERVE OVER 145.
BY THE END OF 2025, ABOUT 45% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WE WORK WITH HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THEIR INCOME, EITHER THROUGH EMPLOYMENT OR BY ASSESSING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
AND MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS WE'VE SUPPORT HAVE REPORTED FEELING MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND EXPERIENCING BETTER OVERALL HEALTH OUTCOMES RECEIVING SERVICES.
THESE NUMBERS NOT REFLECT JUST OUTCOMES, BUT THE RESILIENCE OF OUR CLIENTS AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEAM.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE SHELLY HUN, OUR FINANCIAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
SHE'S GOING TO SHARE SOME GREAT WORK HAPPENING IN FINANCIAL ADVOCACY.
OUR FINANCIAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM FINANCIAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION.
WE STRIVE TO ENSURE CLIENTS' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF BENEFITS, HOUSING, ADVOCACY AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROVIDERS.
WE ASSIST CLIENTS IN ACHIEVING LONG-TERM HOUSING STABILITY.
IN 2024, WE SERVED 640 CLIENTS.
UM, I JUST HAVE SOME INFORMATION HERE ABOUT THOSE CLIENTS.
WE SERVE 358 OF THOSE WERE OVER THE, THE AGE OF 55, 345 OF THOSE IDENTIFIED AS A RACIAL OR ETHNIC MINORITY.
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THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WITH 450 OF THOSE BEING UNDER 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.UM, LONGEVITY OF CURRENT CLIENTS.
UM, OUR CLIENTS CAN BE ENROLLED UNTIL THEY PASS AWAY, WHICH IS OFTEN THE REASON WE CLOSE.
UM, 32 HAVE BEEN ENROLLED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
ONE TO FIVE HAVE, UH, ONE TO FIVE YEARS IS 418 CLIENTS.
UM, FIVE TO 10 YEARS IS 54 CLIENTS, AND THEN 10 PLUS IS 30 CLIENTS.
WE HAVE A CLIENT WHO'S BEEN ENROLLED FOR 26 YEARS.
UM, SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAM OUTPUTS I WANTED TO SHARE.
FROM 2024, UH, 94% OF CLIENTS SURVEYED REPORTED SERVICES HELPED THEM LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
100% OF REPORTED CLIENTS ACHIEVED IMPROVED FINANCIAL STABILITY AND 100% OF CLIENTS, UM, OBTAINED OR MAINTAINED PUBLIC BENEFITS.
UH, GENERALLY SOCIAL SECURITY, UH, VETERANS BENEFITS, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, SNAP, ET CETERA.
UM, SO WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN AND HOW DO OUR SERVICES IMPACT HOUSING? UM, NUMBER ONE, WE ENSURE THEY'RE RECEIVING BENEFITS.
UH, CLIENTS OFTEN DO NOT HAVE A CONSISTENT PHONE, UM, AN ADDRESS, UM, EMAIL, WAYS TO BE CONTACTED.
UM, SOME, SOME CLIENTS SIMPLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS OR RENEW BENEFITS.
UM, SO OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THEY'RE RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS.
UM, WE ESTABLISH A BUDGET, PAY BILLS, AND DISTRIBUTE APPROPRIATE ALLOWANCE FUNDS TO ENSURE OBLIGATIONS ARE MET, PARTICULARLY HOUSING COSTS.
UM, WE PAY ABOUT $200,000 IN HOUSING EXPENSES MONTHLY WITH THE CLIENT'S OWN BENEFITS.
UH, WE NEGOTIATE FEE REDUCTIONS AND PAYMENT PLANS.
WE ASSIST CLIENTS WITH OBTAINING AWARD LETTERS, ID RECORDS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN HOUSING.
WE COORDINATE HOUSING RENEWALS.
UM, AGAIN, A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS CAN BE TOUGH TO REACH, SO WE MIGHT LINK THEM TO THE PROGRAM, UM, OR THE PROPERTY MANAGERS OR HAKA OFFICERS.
UM, WE ADVOCATE FOR OUR CLIENTS TO REMAIN IN HOUSING AND LINK TO LEGAL SERVICES WHEN NEEDED, IF THEY MAY BE FACING, UH, POSSIBLE EVICTIONS, UM, AND RE REDUCE THE NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
UH, EVERYTHING WE PAY IS WITH OUR CLIENTS' OWN SOCIAL SECURITY OR BENEFITS.
SO THIS REDUCES THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE OF THAT.
UM, I HAVE SOME CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES I WANTED TO SHARE.
UM, OUR FIRST CLIENT, UM, MARK HAD A NOTICE TO VACATE.
UM, HE HAD NOT FOUND NEW HOUSING AND HAD RECEIVED PAPERWORK THAT HIS HAWK OF VOUCHER WOULD BE TERMINATED, UH, DUE TO NOT COMPLETING RENEWAL PAPERWORK.
UH, ONCE LOOPED IN HIS ACCOUNT, NAVIGATOR ASSISTED THE CLIENT IN FINDING NEW HOUSING WHEN HE HAD LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE HE WOULD BE EVICTED AND HELPED AVOID TERMINATION OF HIS HAKA VOUCHER BY COMPLETING THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK.
UH, THE SECOND CLIENT, ERIC, ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, WAS INCARCERATED FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR.
DURING THAT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION, CONTINUE SERVICES UPON BEING RELEASED FROM, UM, JAIL TRANSPORTATION WAS ARRANGED BY HIS ACCOUNT NAVIGATOR.
HE WAS GIVEN IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO HIS FUNDS TO MEET HIS BASIC NEEDS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HYGIENE ITEMS. HIS ACCOUNT NAVIGATOR ASSISTED WITH A SPEND DOWN TO REDUCE HIS ASSETS TO UNDER 2000.
SO HE WOULD QUALIFY FOR, UH, MEDICAID, UH, MARY LEE, ICF MEDICAID COVERAGE.
MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SEE REFER TO US HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RELEASED, UM, FROM INCARCERATION AND END UP HOMELESS IMMEDIATELY DO LACK OF SUPPORTS.
BY STAYING CONNECTED WITH OUR CLIENTS, WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THEM TRANSITION AND AVOID INSTABILITY FOLLOWING INCARCERATION.
AND OUR LAST CLIENT WHO WAS PICTURED HERE, THIS IS WANDA.
UM, SHE WAS, HER DAUGHTER, USED TO BE HER POWER OF ATTORNEY.
UM, HER DAUGHTER RESIGNED, CLOSED ALL OF HER BANK ACCOUNTS WITH NO NOTICE, AND THEN HANDED EVERYTHING OVER TO WANDA.
UM, SHE WAS AT RISK OF LOSING HER HOUSING AFTER THIS EVENT DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO MANAGE HER FINANCES AND TO KEEP UP ON HER BILLS INDEPENDENTLY.
FAMILY ELDER CARE STEPPED IN, SECURED THE BENEFITS INTO A NEW BANK ACCOUNT AND STABILIZED THE HOUSING SITUATION.
THE CLIENT NOW HAS SECURE HOUSING, BASIC NEEDS MET, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO HER FAVORITE LUXURIES.
AGAIN, SHE LOVES MAKEUP AND SKINCARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU ALL WITH ONE THOUGHT.
THE FOUR PROGRAMS THAT WE JUST PRESENTED TO YOU SERVE COLLECTIVELY MORE THAN 1900 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE COULD HAVE END UP IN THE STREETS BECOMING ANOTHER STATISTICS IF IT WEREN'T BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES THAT FAMILY ELDER CARE PROVIDED TO THEM.
AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO TAM SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, YOU REQUESTED THIS BRIEFING.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KICK US OFF? NO, GO AHEAD.
C COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE CHAIR, UCH.
UM, IN THE LATTER PORTION OF THE BRIEFING, YOU TOUCHED ON THAT THERE WERE 640 CLIENTS SERVED, BUT ONLY ABOUT, UH, 55% WERE OVER 55.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT YOU'RE SERVING THAT, I MEAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TARGET GROUP THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, IS, UH, OLDER ADULTS.
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SO UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU STEPPING IN TO HELP PEOPLE THAT DON'T FIT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC? SURE.OUR POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, UH, A COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A SERVICE, THEY MUST BE EITHER OLDER THAN 55 AND OR WITH A DISABILITY.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
UM, I'M GONNA START WITH YOUR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM.
ARE, IS THAT A 12 MONTH OR 24 MONTH PROGRAM? UM, IT'S UP TO 24 MONTH.
AND HOW HAS THAT EXPERIENCE BEEN FOR Y'ALL? WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS HERE ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE MATCH TO RAPID AND THAT BEING LEADING TO A LONGER STAY WITHIN THE PROGRAM.
HAVE Y'ALL EXPERIENCED A, A SIMILAR PHENOMENON WHERE YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, MORE OF YOUR CLIENTS ARE GOING THE FULL 24 MONTHS AND THEN AT THE END KIND OF FACING THAT CLIFF OF WHERE DO THEY GO NEXT? UM, ACTUALLY DURING, UM, THE PAUSE BECAUSE OF THE REFERRAL PAUSE, IT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, UH, ASSESS OUR CLIENT'S NEEDS.
AND WE CREATED A, UM, LEVEL OF SERVICE ASSESSMENT TOOL SO THAT WE'RE PROVIDING MORE INTENSIVE SERVICES SO WE'RE NOT JUST DOING THE MINIMUM FOR WHAT OUR CONTRACT SAYS.
SO WE'RE SPENDING THAT ADDITIONAL TIME.
SO BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDING THAT WEEKLY, BIWEEKLY, OR EVEN MONTHLY, UM, IT'S FADING OFF TO THEIR BEING ABLE TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE STILL, WE SEE THAT, UM, TRANSITION A LOT SMOOTHER.
AND GIVEN THAT YOUR CLIENTS, MANY OF THEM EITHER WOULD QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY OR SSI, IS IT PRETTY COMMON THAT PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH INCOME TO QUALIFY, EVEN IF IT'S VERY LOW INCOME HOUSING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY NEEDING PSH LEVEL HOUSING? UM, WE HAVE SPENT, UM, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE SECOND PART OF THE 24 MONTHS IS REHOUSING TO FIND MORE OF THE AFFORDABLE.
SO WE SEE WHERE THE LOT, UM, GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET, HELPING SUPPORT THEM, AND THEN ONCE THEY DO OBTAIN THOSE BENEFITS, WE TRANSITION THEM TO A SECOND HOUSING THAT IS MORE LONG TERM FOR THEM TO SUSTAIN.
I WAS ALSO CURIOUS AS IT RELATES TO YOUR SCATTER SITE, PSH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MOVING MORE TOWARDS THROUGHOUT, UM, THE CITY'S INVESTMENTS.
AND I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY COMPARISON OF PECAN GARDENS VERSUS YOUR SCATTER SITE PROGRAMS, BOTH IN TERMS OF EITHER BENEFITS, CHALLENGES, JUST IF YOU KINDA GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR FEEDBACK ON, UM, COMPARING THE TWO PROGRAMS IF YOU WERE TO DO THAT.
IF YOU COULD PULL THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER, I'M SORRY.
UM, I WOULD SAY FOR OUR SCATTERED SITES, IT DOES GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO LIVE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ANYWHERE.
UM, BUT I THINK WITH PECAN IT'S VERY INTENTIONAL EVERY, WHEN WE FIND OUR LOCATION THAT WE TAKE IN MIND TRANSPORTATION, WHAT INDIVIDUALS NEED.
UM, AS FAR AS LIKE LIVING AND THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT THEY HAVE TO OUR STAFF.
LIKE, IT'S JUST VERY IMPACTFUL BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO WAIT, UH, FOR, UH, A DAY OR, OR EVEN A WEEK TO MEET UP WITH THE CLIENTS.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR CASE MANAGER IF THEY WANNA DROP IN TO HELP THEM WITH A QUICK MEDICAL APPOINTMENT OR WALK THEM UP TO OUR UT UM, NURSING JUST TO, BECAUSE THEY FELL OR SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
SO, UM, THAT TIME DELAY IS NOT THERE.
SO THAT IS MORE IMPACTFUL AND WE'D BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES A LOT QUICKER.
BUT I DO SEE THE BENEFITS FOR, FOR GROWTH SIZE, JUST VERY INDIVIDUAL AND, AND I LIKE THAT WE HAVE THOSE OPTIONS FOR THEM.
SO INDIVIDUALS DO COME AND THEY REALLY WANNA JUST BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, HAVE THAT, UM, OPTION.
AND SO I REALLY LIKE THAT WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AND MEET THAT STRUCTURE TO HELP TRANSITION FROM BEING ON THE STREETS FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WOULD YOU SAY THE OUTCOMES ARE PRETTY COMPARABLE OR, YEAH, I WOULD SAY IT'S REALLY COMPARABLE.
IT'S JUST REALLY SEEING WHAT THAT INDIVIDUAL'S PREFERENCE ARE AND WHERE THEY SEE THEM LONG TERM.
I THINK THAT'S THE END OF MY QUESTIONS.
WELL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU'RE DOING.
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IT'S AN IMPORTANT, UM, YOU KNOW, I SAW, I KNEW WE WERE GONNA HAVE THIS BRIEFING TODAY AND I SAW AN OLDER GENTLEMAN, UH, STANDING ON THE CORNER AND IT REALLY MADE ME KIND OF PAUSE AND JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE WE NEED TO BE DOING AND, AND THAT WHILE THIS GOOD WORK IS BEING DONE, THERE'S STILL, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP, UH, AN UNMET NEED.AND SO I JUST, I'M GLAD Y'ALL ARE THERE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND, UH, ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
UM, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR, FOR, UM, FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR, AND FOR THIS PRESENTATION, UH, I HAD A COUPLE OF, AND ALSO FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY, IT'S GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, WHEN YOU, YOU WERE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT REFERRALS, WHERE DO THOSE PREDOMINANTLY COME FROM? FROM, UM, THROUGH ECHO? UM, SO WE RECEIVE ALL OF OUR RAPID MPSH REFERRALS THROUGH ECHO EXCEPT FOR OUR DAC PROJECT.
THOSE REFERRALS COME DIRECTLY FROM DAC.
AND, AND OUTSIDE OF, OUTSIDE OF THOSE REFERRALS, IS, IS THERE ANY, UM, WAY OR, UH, OR IS THERE ANY WORK BEING DONE TO LIKE, UH, ID FOLKS THAT MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF DOING THAT? I AND I, I JUST THINK OF, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A, UM, A FACILITY IN, UH, DISTRICT THREE, THE LADY BIRD, WHERE A LOT OF OLDER RESIDENTS RESIDE.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THERE IS ANY, ANY TYPE OF INTERVENTION THERE THAT THAT HELPS WITH FOLKS THAT ARE MAYBE ON THE VERGE OF ENDING UP, UH, HOMELESS.
UM, AND, AND JUST A CURIOSITY TO THAT END.
I'M NOT TRYING TO TASK OUT WITH MORE WORK RIGHT NOW.
IF I MAY, I CAN'T MEMBER, UH, VELASQUEZ, UH, FOR PSH IN RAPID REHOUSING DE RIGHT, THE REFERRALS COME FROM ECHO, BUT FOR SERVICE COORDINATION, WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE A SERVICE COORDINATOR INSTALLED IN THAT FACILITY FOR FINANCIAL ADVOCACY.
WE REF, WE, UH, TAKE REFERRALS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED FUNDING, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE REFERRALS.
A LOT OF REFERRALS FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR CASELOADS ARE MAX STOP.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT LADY BIRD, FAMILY ELDER CARE USED TO HAVE A PRE IN THAT FACILITY, BUT, UH, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS, LADY BIRD DECIDED TO END OUR SERVICE COORDINATION CONTRACT WITH THAT FACILITY.
WE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, WE WOULD LOVE TO, UH, RESTART IF, UH, THE FACILITY REQUESTED.
WELL, LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP BROKER THAT CONVERSATION.
I KNOW A FEW FOLKS OVER THERE AND A FEW FOLKS ON THE BOARD.
AND I DID WANNA ADD, UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE CLIENTS IN OUR FINANCIAL ADVOCACY SERVICES OVER AT LADYBIRD STILL.
UM, WE RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM ALL DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTION, UM, HOPEFULLY PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, WE DO ACCEPT REFERRALS FOR THAT.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES CLIENTS REFER TO US BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING THEIR RENT FOR THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AND THEY REFER THEM TO US.
UM, WE GET THE CLIENT ENROLLED, WE GET THEM SET UP ON A PAYMENT PLAN, UM, AND THEY CONTINUE MAKING SURE THAT THEIR RENT IS PAID ONGOING, AS LONG AS THE CLIENT WANTS THE SERVICE.
AND AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION THAT Y SHARED WITH US TODAY.
AS Y'ALL KNOW, I'M A HUGE CHAMPION FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS IN AUSTIN AND WAS PLEASED TO CHAMPION A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AROUND THE FINANCIAL ADVOCACY AND LITERACY, UM, SUPPORT.
I MEAN, I JUST WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT CASE MANAGEMENT AND NAVIGATION SERVICES IS WHERE IT'S AT BECAUSE THESE SYSTEMS ARE COMPLEX AND, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATING MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, WHETHER IT'S HEALTHCARE OR BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IT IS INTENDED THAT WAY.
AND SO THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO.
AND I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THE, ON THE QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ASKED ABOUT WHICH OPTION WE THINK THAT WORKS BEST, WHICH IS PECAN GARDENS IN THIS CASE OR SCATTER SITES.
I AGREE WITH DELIA THAT BOTH HAVE PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY, WHEN IT COMES TO OFFERING TO OUR CLIENTS HOME THAT THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE, THAT THEY CAN FEEL THAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE LIVING THERE.
I CAN SAY THAT PECAN GARDENS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OFFERING THAT HOME.
WHEN YOU WALK INTO PECAN GARDENS, YOU FEEL THE WARMTH, YOU FEEL THE CAMARADERIE AMONG OUR RESIDENTS, WHICH IN MY VIEW IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IS VITAL IN NORTHERN FOR THEM TO STAY HOUSED.
[00:30:02]
THAT INSPIRED ONE QUESTION.DO Y'ALL PARTNER AT ALL OR UTILIZE, UM, LIKE THE WAYFINDER PROGRAM, THE SUNRISE IS UTILIZING, THEY HAVE SET UP A KIND OF DIVERSION RAPID EXIT PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SOME KIND OF INCOME TO END UP GETTING INTO HOUSING MORE QUICKLY.
AND I WAS CURIOUS IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE PLUGGED INTO, UH, WITH THEM? WE, WE DO NOT, BUT, UM, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BRING THAT UP BECAUSE FAMILY LIQUOR, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
THE, UH, THE JOB APPLICA, THE JOB AD IS ALREADY OUT.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING A JOB TRAINING SPECIALIST WHO WILL HELP BOTH OF OUR PSH CLIENTS AND A RAPID REHABING CLIENTS FIND EMPLOYMENT.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE WANT A RESIDENT, WE WANT OUR CLIENTS TO BE INDEPENDENT, AND ONE PRIMORIAL PART OF BEING INDEPENDENT IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR OWN INCOME.
SO WE, WE HOPE THAT BY ACQUIRING THIS PERSON, UH, THE FINANCIAL AND HOUSING INDEPENDENCE OF OUR CLIENTS WILL INCREASE.
[4. Briefing on the status of Austin Public Health Federal Grants. [Adrienne Sturrup, Director – Austin Public Health].]
OUR NEXT ITEM.THIS IS, UH, AN, A BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FEDERAL GRANTS.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR DIRECTOR, ADRIAN STIRRUP, UH, TO JOIN US AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE.
COLLEAGUES, AS Y'ALL KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AN EVER EVOLVING TOPIC FOR US, IS UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT THAT FROM THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION ON THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, AS IT CHANGES ON A WEEK BY WEEK BASIS, THAT WE ARE KEEPING UP TO DATE AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
WELCOME AND WELCOME, CASSIE DE LEON.
ADRIAN STIRRUP, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND, UH, THE EVER KNOWLEDGEABLE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT CASSANDRA DELEON.
UM, AND SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHAT WE KNOW, UM, AND WHAT WE'RE USING TO PLAN REGARDING FUNDING.
AND I THINK THE CONVERSATION NOW IS LESS ABOUT CUTS AND MORE ABOUT, UH, UNCERTAINTY AND INSTABILITY.
AND SO, UM, THIS FIRST SLIDE SHOWS THE GRANTS THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE AT RISK.
UM, IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THE PRESENTATION THAT WE, WE DID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE LIST IS SHORTER.
UM, SO SOME THINGS HAVE COME THROUGH OFF TOP OF MIND.
I KNOW THE TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION GRANT WAS ON HERE BECAUSE WE HADN'T YET HEARD ABOUT THE RENEWAL.
UM, AND THAT WAS RENEWED AND WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
UM, BUT ALL OF THE, THE GRANTS HERE ARE CONTINGENT UPON FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND ALLOCATION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET.
UM, THESE ARE THE CONTRACTS THAT WERE SUBJECT TO PAUSES, UM, MAINLY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ALLOCATED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 FEDERAL BUDGET BECAUSE OF TIMING AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND CHANGES AT HHS AND THE CDC, UM, THEY WERE SUBJECT TO, UM, SOME UNFORTUNATE PAUSES AND, UM, RESTARTS.
UM, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT WE HAVE SOME, AND SO LEMME GO BACK.
ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN RENEWED AS OF RIGHT NOW.
MANY OF THEM HAVE END DATES OF 2026.
HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY, AND THAT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON, ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET.
UM, WHAT WE'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW IS THE, UH, REFUGEE MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAM.
WE ARE A SUBCONTRACTOR, UH, FOR U-S-C-R-I RIGHT NOW.
UM, OUR CONTRACT, OUR FUNDED CONTRACT ENDS ON NINE 30.
UM, U-S-C-R-I RECENTLY SENT US A NO COST EXTENSION, UM, TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS THROUGH 12 31 25.
AND SO THE STAFF PUT TOGETHER A SHOESTRING BUDGET, UM, TO PRESENT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO PRO TO GET APPROVAL, TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES USING OTHER FUNDS.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, CERTAINTY OR PROMISE OF REIMBURSEMENT AFTER NINE 30.
UM, SO WE ARE, WE'VE PROPOSED A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS THE PHYSICIAN AS WELL AS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HELP, UM, OUR CLIENTS FILL OUT THE VERY IMPORTANT PAPERWORK.
AND WE'RE BACK FILLING SOME OF THE CLINICAL SERVICES FROM OTHER AREAS IN THE DEPARTMENT, UM, JUST TO GET US THROUGH DECEMBER TO SEE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, THE OTHER GRANT THAT WE ARE UNSURE OF IS
[00:35:01]
THE WHOLE AIR MONITORING OR THE BIO WATCH PROGRAM.UM, WE WERE RECENTLY, UH, SENT A NOCO EXTENSION, UM, TO CONTINUE THOSE OPERATIONS THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST.
WHAT I'VE ASKED THE STAFF TO DO TO SEE, UM, WHAT SPENDING AVAILABILITY IS LEFT ON THAT CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A GOOD RECOMMENDATION TO, UH, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT NO COST EXTENSION.
UM, THE PROGRAM USED TO HAVE THREE PEOPLE, AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT RIDE AROUND AND CHECK THE LITTLE MACHINES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE AIR THAT ARE GONNA TURN THIS INTO TEENAGE MUTANT INTO TURTLES.
UM, AND SO WE MANAGED TO, THROUGH THE RIF PROCESS, PLACE ONE OF THOSE STAFF PERSONS, AND THEY'RE CALLED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS IN ANOTHER POSITION.
WE'RE MAINTAINING TWO RIGHT NOW.
THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS SCHEDULED TO END ON, UH, SEPTEMBER 19TH.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF FAST TRACKING THAT WORK TO GET INFORMATION TO, UM, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT OUR BEST RECOMMENDATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT NO-COST EXTENSION.
AND SO, UM, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF THE GRANTS THAT HAVE EITHER ENDED OR HAVE BEEN REDUCED.
UM, AND SO IF WE START AT THE TOP, WE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE COVID-19 IMMUNIZATIONS GRANT THAT ALLOWED US TO DO, UM, IN THE FIELD WORK.
UM, THE MOV PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED, UH, SHOTS AT EITHER JD OR OTHER PLACES WHERE FOLKS CAN'T MAKE CLINIC APPOINTMENTS.
UM, IT WAS A $8 MILLION GRANT WITH OVER FIVE YEARS WITH AN AVERAGE OF A 1.7, UM, MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR SPEND.
AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO END ON 2025, SO WE KNEW IT WAS COMING, BUT THERE WAS AN ABRUPT CANCELLATION IN MARCH.
UM, AND SO THAT REALLY HINDERED A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAD TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SUPPORT, NOT ONLY FOR COVID-19, BUT WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH MEASLES AND WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH RSV AND THE UPCOMING FLU SEASON.
AND SO WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BE IN PLACES AND SPACES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TO EXPECT US TO BE.
UM, WE STILL HAVE OUR BRICK AND MORTAR CLINICS, UM, THAT PROVIDE KEY SERVICES.
WE STILL HAVE A SKELETON TEAM THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UH, COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS IN DIFFERENT EVENTS, BUT THAT CAPACITY IS REDUCED.
UM, THE OTHER GRANT, UM, THAT IS OF NOTE TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR COVID-19 EPI AND EPI SURVEILLANCE AND LAB CAPACITY.
AND SO THIS INCLUDED, UH, TWO FTES AND FIVE TEMPS THAT REALLY SUPPORTED DATA MODERNIZATION FOR DISEASE REPORTING FROM PROVIDERS.
ALL THE COOL DASHBOARDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP, UM, THAT INFORMATION CAME FROM THAT TEAM.
UM, AGAIN, THAT GRANT WAS SLATED TO END IN JULY OF 2026, BUT ABRUPTLY ENDED, UM, IN MARCH OF 25.
AND SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE REPOSITION OTHER RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT REAL TIME INFORMATION THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TO APPRECIATE, UM, AND EXPECT.
ANOTHER, A ABRUPT ENDING WAS OUR TOBACCO CONTROL GRANT.
AND, UM, THIS REALLY FOCUSED ON, UM, TOBACCO CESSATION FOR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND THAT ALIGNS WITH THE POPULATION HEALTH DATA THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND SO, UM, YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE POPULAR CAMPAIGNS, UM, ENTITLED BREATHE WITH PRIDE, UM, THAT TALKED ABOUT CREATING HEALTHY AND SAFE PLACES, UH, FOR THAT POP FOR THOSE POPULATIONS TO SEEK TREATMENT AND HELP, UH, TO KICK THEIR NICOTINE ADDICTIONS.
UM, OUR HIV PREVENTION GRANT WAS NOT AWARDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, AND SO THAT WAS A SEVEN MEMBER TEAM THAT GOT IN, UH, PLACES AND SPACES WHERE A LOT OF OTHER PROVIDERS DON'T GO BECAUSE OF NEIGHBORHOOD REPUTATION, UM, AND WHERE THEY'RE PROVIDING, UH, HIV AND STI SCREENS.
UM, THEY ALSO GET, UH, GIFT CARDS, UH, $5 FOR MEALS AND OTHER THINGS TO HELP SUPPORT.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, TO WALKUPS, WE DID SEE A LOT OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDED THOSE SERVICES.
AND SO WE ARE AGAIN, TRYING TO REIMAGINE HOW WE USE SOME GENERAL FUND RESOURCES TO SEE IF WE COULD STILL AT SOME LEVEL PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES.
UM, BUT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE KNOW SQUARELY
[00:40:01]
WHERE WE HAVE TO BE, WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS, IS IN THAT FOLLOW UP PIECE.UM, AND SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO AN A PH CLINIC FOR TESTING, IMMEDIATELY THEY'RE GETTING CONNECTED TO SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IMMEDIATELY WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION, UM, TO ABOUT THEIR OTHER PARTNERS SO THAT WE CAN DO THAT FOLLOW UP SO IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON.
WE'RE SERVICING THEM AS WELL, BUT THEN WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING GOOD POPULATION HEALTH CONTROL BY PUTTING THOSE OTHER FACTORS IN PLACE.
AND SO, UM, PART OF IT WAS JUST ACQUIESCING, OKAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RELY ON OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE IN THESE PLACES WHERE WE USED TO BE.
AND, AND THEN ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, WE'RE WALKING IN LOCK STEPS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AND THAT VERY CRITICAL, UM, DISEASE INTERVENTION FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTROLLING, UM, SPREAD IN COMMUNITIES.
UM, THE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT, UH, EARMARK THAT HAS ENDED WAS THE STUFF AROUND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
AND SO IF YOU'VE SEEN OUR, OUR NARCAN KITS AND, UM, THE ABILITY THAT WE HAD TO PARTNER WITH EMS TO, TO CREATE CLASSES AND TRAINING FOR FOLKS AT, UM, THE LIBRARY, I KNOW DIRECTOR TERRELL WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT WORK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, TO DO FOR HER STAFF.
UM, AND JUST WORKING WITH OUR VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERS LIKE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION AND OTHERS, CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD, NOT MY HEART.
EVERYONE THAT WE WORK WITH ARE, ARE IMPORTANT.
SO JUST BECAUSE I DIDN'T NAME YOU DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT.
UM, BUT THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT WIDESPREAD, UM, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND TO SUPPORT NARCAN AVAILABILITY, UM, WHEN IT WASN'T READILY AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE, UM, THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR THE CITY.
NOW WE DO HAVE, UH, THE SETTLEMENT DOLLARS THAT WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVATE IN, IN THOSE SPACES, BUT THIS, UM, THIS $2 MILLION REALLY ALLOWED US TO LEVERAGE THOSE SETTLEMENT DOLLARS AND STRETCH THEM IN A WAY THAT PERHAPS OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE THAT, UM, I'LL TALK ABOUT IS THE, UH, EARMARK FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEACE PROJECT.
AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY JUMPSTARTED SOME OF OUR WORK IN, UH, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION.
UM, IT REALLY HELPED AUGMENT THE, UM, INVESTMENTS THAT WERE, UH, MADE BY THIS COUNCIL.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO DR. TILLMAN AND OTHER PLACE PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE ABOUT NATIONALLY, UM, THE IMPACTS TO, TO VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION FUNDING AND THE, THE EFFECT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ON GOOD HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO WE WERE THANKFUL TO SEE THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET OR THE APPROVED BUDGET, THERE IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, FOR THOSE VERY IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
UM, THE OTHER ONE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE CLOSELY WATCHING BECAUSE OF THE RECENT STRUCTURAL CHANGES AT THE CDC IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.
AND THIS WAS LIKE THE UNICORN OF PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING BECAUSE IT WASN'T TIED TO A SPECIFIC DISEASE, UM, STATE.
IT WAS TRULY FLEXIBLE FUNDING THAT ALLOWED, UM, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO EITHER AUGMENT VERY IMPORTANT SERVICES OR TO BUILD UP, UM, KEY INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AND SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
UM, WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PROJECT OFFICER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY NEW REQUIREMENTS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT FUNDING.
UM, BUT FOR NOW IT'S REALLY JUST, UH, A GAME OF WAIT AND SEE.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT TALKS REGULARLY WITH THE OFFICIALS FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MEMBERS ACROSS, UH, THE REGION THAT ARE A PART OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS.
UM, WE ARE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BIG CITIES HEALTH COALITION.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING WATCHED LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND NATIONALLY.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT REFUGEE THAT YOU WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT PERHAPS I MAY HAVE MISSED? I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
UM, YOU KNOW, AN INNOVATIVE TOOL THAT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST HIGHLIGHTING ONLINE THE STORY MAP THAT YOU ALL CREATED AS A DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INCREDIBLE WAY FOR US TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPACTS, THE FUNDING CUTS, AND THE GRANTS THAT Y'ALL HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE AT RISK, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR CITY.
I, I'LL START AND THEN I'LL, I'LL ALLOW, UM, MS. DEION TO, TO AUGMENT.
I, IT REALLY WAS A WAY JUST TO TRY TO PERSONALIZE THE STORY.
UM, SOMETIMES WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE NUMBERS AND WE DON'T, IT DOESN'T REALLY TRANSLATE TO WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN TO A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
[00:45:01]
AND SO THAT WAS JUST OUR ATTEMPT AT, UM, REMINDING PEOPLE THAT IT WAS MORE ABOUT DOLLARS.IT WAS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE STAFF WHO, YOU KNOW, GIVE OF THEMSELVES EVERY DAY, BUT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL PROBABLY BE WORSE FOR WEAR WITHOUT HAVING THESE SERVICES.
I'M GONNA SHARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES, UM, ABOUT THAT, AND THEN I'LL, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO MS. DE LEON.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE REFUGEE CLINIC, ONE OF THE STAFF SAID THAT THEY WERE IN THAT DAY, AND A NURSING STUDENT FROM ONE OF OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES CAME IN TO DO AN INTERNSHIP AT THE CLINIC.
AND SHE WENT OVER TO THE WALL, AND ON THE WALL WAS A PICTURE OF HER FAMILY.
UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS, BUT THEY HAD IMMIGRATED.
AND I, I'LL TELL YOU WHERE THE PLACE IS, UH, AND I'M SURE SOMEONE IS WATCHING AND TEXTING CAST YOU RIGHT NOW.
THEY WERE FROM HERE, BUT THEY IMMIGRATED FROM, FROM A COUNTRY.
AND ONE OF THEIR FIRST STOPS IN AUSTIN WAS THE REFUGEE CLINIC.
HER MOM WAS A NURSE, I BELIEVE, UM, IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
AND SHE WAS FOLLOWING IN HER MOM'S FOOTSTEP, AND SHE WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE PLACE THAT HELPED HER FAMILY FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE THEIR HOME.
UM, AND SO THAT IS, IS TOUCHING FOR ME.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CARRY WITH ME EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT THE CLINIC AND WHAT IT HAS MEANT GENERATIONALLY TO PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND CASSIE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA ADD.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF, UH, TALK, SPEAK TO THE INSTABILITY THAT THE FUNDING JUST JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE HAS CAUSED, UM, NOT JUST FOR OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO HAVING THIS INSTABILITY AND FUNDING, UM, AND NOTING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS SO HEAVILY RELIANT ON FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.
UM, THERE'S, UH, LONGSTANDING PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE REFUGEE PROGRAM, IT'S A DECADES OLD CLINIC.
IT'S BEEN THERE AS FOR 30 YEARS, FOR 30 YEARS.
AND TO HAVE, UH, SOME OF THE STAFF HAVE BEEN THERE THEIR ENTIRE, UM, CAREER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO SEEING THIS CHANGE, UM, HITS IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.
UM, IT'S NOT JUST A JOB, IT'S THEN THEIR LIFE.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE MANAGING THROUGH AND REFUGEES, ONE EXAMPLE OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT, UM, SEEING THEM STOP AND IT TRIGGERS A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO, TO DO WITHIN THE CITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT MANAGE MANAGING THE RESOURCES.
BUT IT STARTS TO EBB A WAY AT THE CONFIDENCE WITHIN, UM, OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE, THESE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN MAINSTAYS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, JUST ARE NOT AUTOMATIC OR NOT THERE ANYMORE, OR THE RISKS THAT THEY'RE NOT THERE ANYMORE.
AND, UM, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT, UM, WHEN WE HAD THE PAUSES IN FEDERAL FUNDING IN JUNE THAT AFFECTED OUR HIV PROGRAMS AND OUR, UM, OUR BY WATCH PROGRAM AND OUR OTHER, UH, PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN SO IMPORTANT, UM, IT DID CREATE A SITUATION THAT WE'VE LOST THOSE IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES OF STAFF.
AND, UH, WERE, WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE THROUGH WHAT IS THIS GONNA LOOK LIKE IN THE LONG TERM SO WE CAN PLAN, BUT NOT HAVING THOSE, UM, NOT HAVING THAT REAL AWARENESS OF WHAT THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE AND HOW STABLE IT IS.
UM, IT JUST PUTS US IN A SPACE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WITH, UH, FLYING WITHOUT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE GOOD PROGRAMMATIC PLANS.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING, UH, DILIGENTLY.
I HAVE TO REALLY GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN SO COMMITTED AND CONTINUE TO, UM, UH, PUSH FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, PUSH US TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO STAND UP FOR, FOR WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
UM, AND ALSO WHAT CAN WE DO WITH DO MORE WITH LESS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IN HOUSE, UM, AND THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SHORE UP THE GAPS THAT THESE, UH, THESE POTENTIAL FUNDING, UM, LOSSES MAY CREATE.
SO HOW CAN WE BE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE IN THIS SPACE TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP, UM, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT, I MEAN, THERE IS, THERE IS THAT LOCAL IMPACT 'CAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE SAME CAPACITY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE MANAGING THROUGH THAT.
UM, AND THEN MANAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS, LEANING INTO PARTNERS, BUT THEIR CAPACITY HAS BEEN AFFECTED TOO.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, IT'S NOT JUST OUR REFUGEE CLINIC, IT'S ALL THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PARTNERS THAT ARE ALSO GRAPPLING WITH THESE POTENTIAL FUNDING CHANGES THAT MAY REALLY AFFECT THE CAPACITY TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
I MEAN, WE'RE LIVING IN SOME VERY TROUBLING TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE CDC LEVEL AND, AND IT'S, UM, RAMIFICATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA DIG IN ON THE REFUGEE SERVICES
[00:50:01]
CLINIC BECAUSE THAT IS AN ITEM AND THANK YOU FOR LAYING OUT THAT INCREDIBLE STORY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS SERVED AT THE REFUGEE REFUGEE SERVICES CLINIC, CAME BACK AS AN INTERN, AND JUST THAT FULL CIRCLE MOMENT THAT WE'VE HAD AS IN PROVIDING THAT SERVICE AND A KEY SERVICE, ESPECIALLY AS A WELCOMING CITY FOR US TO HAVE FOR OUR REFUGEES.YOU KNOW, THE, IF I RECALL, DURING, UM, BUDGET, THE UH, AMOUNT THAT WE APPROVED IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WAS ADOPTED WAS 1.5 MILLION.
AND TO OPERATE THE REFUGEE SERVICES CLINIC, IT WAS ABOUT, OR IS ABOUT 5 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT FOR A FULL YEAR'S WORTH OF OPERATIONS? OR WHAT WOULD BE THE OPERATIONS AMOUNT FOR THE CLINIC? SO IT'S A VARIABLE.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY, UH, REFERRALS WE RECEIVE.
SO THE FUNDING IS TIED SPECIFICALLY TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE OPERATED THAT CLINIC ON A SHOESTRING OF UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, AND UH, RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT FUNDING IS 5 MILLION.
SO IT REALLY IS, THE VARIABLE IS HOW MANY, UM, REFERRALS ARE RECEIVED FOR REFUGEES TO BE RESETTLED.
SO IT'S TIED DIRECTLY TO, THERE'S A BIG TIE DIRECTLY TO HOW MANY REFUGEES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS, UM, ALLOWING INTO THE COUNTRY AND WHAT VISAS ARE ALLOWED AND WHAT THEIR ELIGIBILITY, UH, PROVIDES.
NOTING THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE RESETTLING, THEY HAVE A YEAR TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS, UM, TO GET THEIR, UM, HEALTHCARE NEEDS MET, UM, THROUGH THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.
SO THERE'S, WE'RE ACTIVELY, UH, PROVIDING SUPPORT TO REFUGEES.
AND I THINK IN, WHEN WE TALKED IN MAY WHEN WE WERE GRAPPLING WITH WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, WE HAD A WAIT LIST OF ABOUT 400 REFUGEES THAT REFERRALS THAT WE WERE MANAGING AND, AND KUDOS TO THE CLINIC BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO POWER THROUGH THOSE REFERRALS AND, AND GET ALL OF THEM SCHEDULED AND SEEN WITH THE NINE 30 DEADLINE.
AND HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WOULD YOU SAY ARE ON THE WAIT LIST TODAY? SO AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED WAIT LIST.
WE'RE UNDER 50 FOR OUR WAIT LIST.
AND SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I THINK THAT ALSO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THEIR PRE-SCREENING APPOINTMENT.
SO THEY'RE SCHEDULING, THEY'RE SCHEDULED FOR THEIR PRE-SCREEN, WHICH IS THE FIRST VISIT, AND THEN THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THEM TO HAVE A PHYSICAL EXAM.
UM, AND THEN ANY FOLLOW UP VISITS, SO LABS AND THEN ALSO VACCINES.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS FROM TEN ONE TO 1231, WHAT WE SEE AS OUR NO-COST EXTENSION WOULD BE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR FULL SLATE OF VACCINES SO THEY'RE UP TO DATE, ANY LABS THAT THEY NEED.
AND THEN ALSO FOR US TO CATCH ANY REFERRALS THAT MAY COME IN BETWEEN, UM, NOW AND IN THAT TIME TO GET PEOPLE AT LEAST, UM, MANAGED THROUGH, UH, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
IF I MAY, MAYOR PRO TEM IS THE 50 BECAUSE WE WERE SCALING DOWN TO MANAGE THE CONTRACT ENDING, OR IS THE 50 BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THE DEMAND IS.
SO THE DEMAND DEFINITELY WE, THE DEMAND, WE, WE MADE A COMMITMENT AND THE STAFFING, THE COMMITMENT TO MEET EVERYONE.
AND SO ANY REFERRALS THAT WE RECEIVED, WE WERE MANAGED.
WE'VE NOT TURNED ANY REFERRAL AWAY AT THIS POINT.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THOSE GET TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, WE, UH, BUT THE DEMAND IS DEFINITELY DWINDLED AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE LEVEL OF, UM, REFERRALS THAT WE HAD, UM, THAT WE HAD SEEN IN THE PAST.
AND SO THERE'S DEFINITELY LESS, UM, DEMAND AND LESS REFERRALS THAT WE'RE SEEING DAILY.
AND SO AT THIS POINT, OH, GO AHEAD.
I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THAT AND UM, IF I'M WRONG, YOU CAN SAY IT FROM THESE PEOPLE.
I THINK THE FIRST THING IS THAT THE INSURANCE THAT FOLKS ARE PROVIDED HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, WHICH HAS IMPACTED THE ABILITY TO SEEK SERVICES.
AND THE SECOND THING IS THE CURRENT CLIMATE AND, UH, FEAR OF O OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND BEFORE YOU ANSWER, I DO WANNA GO BACK TO THE COST WHEN WE PRICED IT OUT.
IF USING 25 AS AN EXAMPLE, IT WAS ABOUT 175 TO 225,000 PER MONTH TO OPERATE THE CLINIC.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU, UH, A NUMBER.
UM, TO JUST REFER BACK TO WHAT ADRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT ON THE, ON THE, UH, INSURANCE, THERE'S A SPECIAL INSURANCE THAT'S ALLOTTED FOR, UM, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING RESETTLED.
UM, AND IT IN THE PAST HAS BEEN A FULL YEAR THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO COMFORT CARE.
IT'S A SPECIAL INSURANCE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT.
UM, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION ADJUSTED THAT TIMELINE TO WHERE THEY ONLY HAVE ACCESS FOR FOUR MONTHS.
AND SO ANYONE THAT'S BEING RESETTLED BEGINNING IN MAY ON, UH, THEY ONLY HAD FOUR MONTHS TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THOSE NEEDS.
AND SO THERE IT'S A LOT FOR SOMEONE WHO'S COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY TRYING TO NAVIGATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICE THINGS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE HEALTHCARE ACCESS THAT THEY CAN HAVE.
AND SO THAT, THAT PUTS AN UNDUE, CAN PUT AN UNDUE COST BURDEN ON, UM, THAT POPULATION AS WELL AS, UH, WHAT ADRIAN SAYING, THE FEAR OF PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO PURSUE, UM, COMPLETING THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE
[00:55:01]
ARE, UM, SITUATIONS WHERE THOSE VISAS ARE NO LONGER BEING HONORED.AND SO THERE'S ALSO A RISK THAT THE, UH, COMMUNITY IS, IS FEELING AND, AND THERE'S A RISK THAT DO THEY TRUST THE, UH, SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED.
AND SO JUST I'M FOLLOWING, THE CLINIC IS SLATED TO END BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
WE ARE IN A NO COST EXTENSION TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND YOU ALL HAVE, ARE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HERE HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND FINANCING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR? YES, MA'AM.
SORRY, I'LL HAVE TO RUN HERE IN A MINUTE, BUT, UM, AND I APPRECIATE FIRST OF ALL THE UPDATES.
THIS IS REALLY USEFUL IN TERMS OF CATALOGING, UM, WHAT'S AT RISK AND WHAT'S ALREADY, UH, BEEN REDUCED AS YOU SHARED WITH US PRIOR UPDATES ON THIS.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU TOLD A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE STORY MAP TOOL TALKED ABOUT VERY PERSONAL, UM, UH, IMPACTS THAT IT'S MAKING.
SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE MAKING PEOPLE, MY QUESTIONS ARE PURELY FINANCIAL.
JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU ARRIVED THE TOTALS, UH, ON BOTH TABLES ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET TO THE SAME TOTALS THAT YOU GUYS GOT TO.
IS THAT BECAUSE THIS STUFF IS LIKE IN FLUX EVERY SINGLE DAY? THE THE, THE FIRST ANSWER IS YES.
UM, I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT DATA SOURCES YOU'RE USING AND LIKE WHAT, OH, I'M JUST DOING THE MATH ON WHAT'S PROVIDED HERE ON THE TWO TABLES.
AND CAN'T GET TO NINE AND A HALF MILLION AND CAN'T GET TO 18 MILLION WITH WHAT'S ON THE LIST THERE.
I, I WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND LOOK AT THAT IF I'M, ARE YOU 1213? OH YEAH, IT MAY, IT MAY NOT BE 18.
I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT, SIR.
I APOLOGIZE IF THERE IS A MISTAKE THERE.
LIKE FOR INSTANCE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE, UH, HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS, THE HOPWA THAT'S LISTED THREE TIMES.
I DUNNO IF THAT'S ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTED ONCE BECAUSE IT'S THREE SEPARATE GRANTS STARTING AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.
I WONDER IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC REASON THAT THE MATH WORKS OUT THE WAY IT DOES.
I KNOW THAT THE HOPPA GRANT IS A SQUIRMY ONE, WHICH IS WHY, WHICH IS WHY IT HAS THE ASTERISK THERE.
AND I DO NOT WANNA BUTCHER WHAT THE EXPLANATION IS, BUT I WILL SURELY GET THAT FROM THE STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT THE MATH IS RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION AND IT'S KIND OF A, A HOLISTIC QUESTION, BOTH BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING THAT YOU DESCRIBED AND WHERE YOU THINK YOUR AGENCY IS, DO YOU FEEL LIKE WITH, WITH THESE CUTS AND POTENTIAL CUTS, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO FACE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS TOMORROW, ARE WE MORE PREPARED, LESS PREPARED, JUST AS PREPARED? WHERE ARE WE, WE'RE WE'RE DIFFERENTLY, MORE PREPARED BECAUSE THE, THE VALUE OF LESSONS LEARNED, UM, IS, IS THERE, UM, I I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE AND INFORM MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
UM, BUT WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE WITH RECRUITING, UM, RECRUITING PEOPLE AND HAVING TO TRAIN PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE UP TO SPEED, WHICH IS WHY THE, THE LOSS WITH THAT MOBILE VACCINE TEAM, UM, IS A HARD ONE TO, AND AS MINOR OF A DIFFERENCE AS IT MAY BE TO GIVE A, A SHOT IN A CLINIC IS A VERY DIFFERENT THING THAN GIVING A SHOT IN, UH, THE PARKING LOT OF A CONVENIENCE STORE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND SO WE ARE PREPARING, UM, WHAT I'VE SAID TO THE TEAM IS THAT WE NEED TO BECOME A DEPARTMENT OF SWISS ARMY KNIVES.
UM, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE HIGH SPECIALIZATION.
WE NEED TO BE READY TO RESPOND AND MOVE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
AND SO, UM, I HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY, BUT THE BREADTH AND REACH OF OUR RESPONSE WILL BE LIMITED JUST BECAUSE OF NUMBERS AND THE TIME THAT IT WILL TAKE TO, TO TRAIN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND APPLICANT'S I SHOULD SAY, UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS
[Future Items]
WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS TO DISCUSS ANY FUTURE ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE.IS THERE ANY TOPICS YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SURFACE? I WOULD LOVE TO DIVE INTO
[01:00:02]
DIVERSION, RAPID EXIT, UM, TALK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN INVITE, I KNOW SUNRISE HAS KIND OF ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE PROGRAMS, SO THEIR WAYFINDER PROGRAM.UM, I KNOW, UM, LIFEWORKS HAS A DIVERSION PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND, AND JUST CURIOUS IF, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE SOME KIND OF CONVERSATION AROUND THIS TYPE OF INTERVENTION AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES GAPS MIGHT EXIST.
ALRIGHT, SO WITH THAT, I'LL NOW MOVE US BACK TO OUR
[Items 2 & 5]
INITIAL ITEM, ITEM NUMBER TWO, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPOINTMENTS TO THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A PAUSE ON THIS ITEM TO TAKE THIS CONVERSATION INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I BELIEVE I NEED TO READ PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, DISCUSS THE SELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? HEARING NONE, THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE NOW OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED THE PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
UM, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD.
UH, WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS AND THAT'LL BE, UH, WITH THE INTENTION TO APPOINT A MEMBER AT THE OCTOBER 1ST PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING.
ALRIGHT, SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS UP IN FRONT OF OUR COMMITTEE, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND I WILL ADJOURN THIS COMMITTEE MEETING AT 11:11 AM ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.