Nov 18, 2025 Community Development Commission

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

TODAY'S MEETING, TODAY'S NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025.

UH, IT IS 6:44 PM AND I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOARD IS TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SERVE THE POOR AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. SO, UH, LET'S BEGIN WITH OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP PRIOR TO THE MEETING, PRIOR TO THE MEETING BEING CALLED TO ORDER.

WILL EACH BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING ITEMS NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA.

MIGUEL, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? DO NOT.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO THESE MINUTES ARE FROM OUR CDC REGULAR MEETING ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2025.

AND THEY ARE THE SECOND PAGE IN YOUR PACKET.

PLEASE LOOK OVER THEM, UM, CAREFULLY.

AND IF YOU NEED ANY CORRECTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE READY, SOMEBODY CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE.

OKAY, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR, UM, OCTOBER.

I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES.

UH, COMMISSIONER MENARD, UH, WAS HERE IN ATTENDANCE, IN PERSON.

UH, SHE, AND IT'S LISTED AS, UH, REMOTELY.

YES, SIR.

CHAIR.

WE WILL, UH, CORRECT THAT ON THE OTHER ONE.

OKAY.

UH, COMMISSIONER LONGORIA, DO YOU WANNA MAKE THAT MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENT? YES.

I, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER MINUTES WITH THE AMENDMENT.

I'LL SECOND.

COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ.

UH, SECOND, UH, COMMISSIONER LAGUARDIA'S MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OR CAN WE TAKE A VOTE? RIGHT.

EVERYBODY RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY, AYE, IF YOU APPROVE OF THE MINUTES, UH, FROM OCTOBER 14TH WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT COMMISSIONER MENARD WAS HERE IN ATTENDANCE IN PERSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO THAT WRAPS UP OUR ITEM NUMBER

[2. Staff briefing regarding Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) activities and outcomes. Presentation by Angel Zambrano, Program Manager III, Austin Public Health.]

LET'S GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT, THE CSBG ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES PRESENTED BY AN ANGEL ANO PROGRAM PROGRAM MANAGER THREE FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

UH, WELCOME ANHILL.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THE PRESENTATION.

YES.

GETTING THE PRESENTATION.

HE, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST DO A SINGLE, UH, SLIDE ON THIS.

IT'LL BE MORE, A LITTLE MORE INFORMATIVE AND WE ARE LEARNING THE TECHNOLOGY .

OKAY.

GOT IT.

ONE SECOND CHAIR.

LET ME CHECK WITH OUR TECH.

YES, SIR.

THAT WAS FAST.

HELLO.

ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU.

AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ANKA ANO FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

GIVEN THE PROGRAMMATIC AND FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT 2025, I'LL START WITH THE MISSION.

UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT IMPROVES

[00:05:01]

WE DO THAT THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS.

WE ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS, FOOD, CLOTHING, INFORMATION, REFERRAL, TRANSPORTATION, CAR SEATS, ET CETERA, AT ALL SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.

UH, WE DO PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH ARE ALSO FREE, UH, CASE MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE, UH, WANTING TO REENTER THE WORLD OF WORK AND TRANSITION OUT OF POVERTY.

AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE, YOU WILL FIND THE, UH, BUDGET THROUGH, UM, SEPTEMBER.

WE'RE ON TRACK TO FULLY EXPAND THE FUNDS.

UM, MID-JANUARY OF A, USUALLY WE GO A LITTLE BIT LONGER WITH FUNDING, BUT THIS YEAR I THINK WE'LL GO THROUGH JANUARY.

UM, IF YOU GO TO PAGE NUMBER, UH, TWO, SCROLL DOWN ONE PAGE, I'LL FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

OUR TRANSITIONS OUTTA POVERTY, UH, OUR GRANTOR, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, UH, SETS THE GOAL FOR US.

IT'S 41, UH, THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER.

WE HAD 24 TRANSITIONS, I THINK THROUGH TODAY.

WE HAVE 31, BUT AGAIN, THE REPORT IS ALWAYS TWO MONTHS BEHIND.

SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING GOOD THERE.

AND THAT'S THE WORK OF OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ON OUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

IF YOU GO DOWN, WE CAN FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

ONE OF OUR HOUSING OUTCOMES HOUSEHOLDS WHO AVOIDED EVICTION 506, UH, THROUGH 2025, OUR TARGET WAS A THOUSAND.

UH, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, UH, PEOPLE COMING TO US WITH HIGHER, UH, BACK RENT DUE.

SO KIND OF THROWS OFF YOUR PROJECTIONS FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

'CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.

SO SOMETIMES IT'S DOUBLE OR THREE TIMES WHAT WE BUDGETED PER FAMILY.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE GLOBAL WILL PROBABLY NOT BE MET, BUT IT'S NOT FOR A BAD REASON.

IT'S JUST HELPING FOLKS WITH HIGHER BILLS.

UH, WE HAVE OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.

UH, WE'VE SERVED OVER 63,000 PEOPLE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WE'RE SEEING A REALLY HIGH DEMAND.

UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE WAS THAT SNAP, UH, SUSPENSION OF SNAP BENEFITS, UH, THAT AFFECTED A LOT OF FOLKS.

WE ENDED UP SEEING A LOT OF NEWER FAMILIES THE FIRST, SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER, UH, DUE TO THAT.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS FOR NOW IS THAT, UH, THOSE BENEFITS WOULD REINSTATED AND HOPEFULLY, UH, THEY WILL BE SECURE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.

UM, IT'S NOT ON HERE, BUT A LITTLE BIT OF JUST EDUCATION ON THAT.

ABOUT 150,000 INDIVIDUALS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, LIKE, UH, BASTROP HAYES WILLIAMSON, AND TRAVIS COUNTY DEPEND ON THESE SNAP FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR, UH, NUTRITION.

HALF OF THOSE ARE CHILDREN UNDER 18 AND 25,000 OF THOSE ARE CHILDREN UNDER FIVE.

AND I, THERE'S ALSO A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OVER 65.

SO IT REALLY DOES AFFECT THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE WERE THERE TO, YOU KNOW, TO HELP PEOPLE.

CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK HAS BEEN REALLY, UH, AN AMAZING PARTNER TO US.

THEY STEPPED UP AND WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE FOOD FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

UH, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO HELP ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO US AND NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY.

BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE, MOST OF YOU'RE NOT NEW ANYMORE, BUT YOU'LL SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

YOU GO TO PAGE THREE.

I JUST TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FOOD HELP.

WE DID SEE AN INCREASE.

UH, WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT WITH THE HELP OF THE FOOD BANK.

UM, AND WE HAVE REALLY FULLY STOCKED, UH, FOOD PANTRIES NOW, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.

UM, DUE TO OUR AUSTIN RETAIL PICKUP PROGRAM WITH THE FOOD BANK AS WELL, A LOT OF GROCERIES IN TOWN LIKE HEB DONATE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO US AND PROTEIN.

SO THAT'S REALLY ENHANCED, NOT JUST GIVING PEOPLE CANNED GOODS AND PASTA.

UH, NUMBER FIVE, PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING HIGHLIGHT.

UH, OUR NURSES, AS YOU KNOW, PROVIDE ALL THESE SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE.

AND IN THE FALL, THEY, THEY KIND OF FOCUS ON FLU AS WELL.

AND, UM, THROUGH SEPTEMBER, THEY ADMINISTERED 144 FLU VACCINE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THROUGH TODAY.

UH, I THINK IT'S OVER 400.

SO I'LL REPORT THAT PROBABLY TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

AND WE CAN LOOK BACK AT THE WHOLE SEASON.

BUT THAT IS THE MOST WE'VE EVER DONE.

UM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, LIMITED FLU VACCINE AND STAFF.

BUT, UH, WE STEPPED UP AND WE'RE ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE EITHER UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED.

SO SHOUT OUT TO THE NURSES AT, UM, THE NEIGHBOR SERVICES UNIT.

AND, UH, NUMBER SIX KIND OF GOES WITH SEVEN.

I USED THE SUCCESS STORY FROM,

[00:10:01]

THIS ONE'S A LOT SHORTER.

UM, AND IT'S ALSO ONE THAT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THE SOMETIMES CHANGE AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES COME QUICKLY.

UH, WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO, THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS ABLE TO MEET REALLY SUBSTANTIAL GOALS.

UH, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE THAT FOR YOU TO READ ON YOUR OWN.

UM, I JUST LOVE IT.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A YEAR FOR SOMEONE TO, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY WORK HARD TO GET THROUGH SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS AND HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

BUT THIS TIME IT WAS PRETTY QUICK.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS, THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL GET THEIR DEGREE IN, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING AND BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS.

UM, THAT'S END OF MY REPORT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANIL.

UM, COMMISSIONERS ONLINE.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ANKI AND HIS REPORT? COMMISSIONER KEISHA? WELL, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU.

SO NOT A QUESTION, JUST A COMMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION AND EXPANDING UPON WITH CONTEXT OF THE IMPACT THAT'S BEING MADE.

SO THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW HEB EXPANDED THE PROGRAMS, THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW IT'S AFFECTING WITH THE, THE YOUTH AND THE YOUNG KIDS.

I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE IT EXPANDED IN THAT WAY.

UH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER TEISHA.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THOSE COMMISSIONERS? ONLINE COMMISSIONERS HERE IN PERSON? DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR HIL? COMMISSIONER MENARD? GO AHEAD.

IT'S WORKING.

OH, OKAY.

GREAT.

UM, WELL, TODAY WE KIND OF SPENT THE MORNING AT COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, BUDGET.

SO I JUST BROUGHT THIS TO MIND, THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

AND, AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS YET, BUT, UM, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT ANY AREAS THAT WOULD SEE CUTS IF THE CURRENT BUDGET WAS APPROVED? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK FOR THE REST OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH 'CAUSE I MAY MISSPEAK.

BUT IN TERMS OF, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT, WE DON'T FORESEE ANY CUTS.

SO IN TERMS OF OUR UNIT, I CAN SPEAK PRETTY MUCH WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE'LL BE GOOD.

YEAH.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU HIL.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? SO, YEAH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO, OH, YEAH.

SO, UH, I, I HAD A QUESTION.

UM, I WAS THINKING ABOUT TWO THINGS.

ONE IS THAT WE DO HAVE OUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS WORKING GROUP, AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO REFER THEM TO YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, TO START THOSE CONVERSATIONS OF HOW THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, UH, WORK, UM, WITH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CDC.

I KNOW THAT, UM, OUR LAST, I GUESS, RETREAT THAT WE HAD, YOU GAVE US A AWESOME PRESENTATION ON THAT.

SO, UM, I GUESS IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'LL REFER THAT WORKING GROUP TO CONTACT YOU, UH, TO LOOK INTO THOSE PROGRAMS AND ESPECIALLY THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

THAT THAT'D BE GREAT.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

YEAH.

THE OTHER ONE IS, UH, ALSO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, WE HEAR ALL THESE STORIES AND A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SEE THEM OR WE DON'T SEE THESE.

UM, DO YOU, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE FOOD, UM, PANTRY, THINGS LIKE THAT, DO YOU TAKE VOLUNTEERS OR DO YOU DO, DO Y'ALL NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THAT? UH, YES.

WE, WE DEFINITELY DO.

UH, WE HAVE A, I DON'T USUALLY FOCUS ON THAT.

WE'VE HAD ABOUT 1,578 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERS HOURS THE PAST, WELL, SO FAR THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

BUT WE ALWAYS NEED MORE MM-HMM .

SO DEFINITELY YOU CAN REFER 'EM TO ME.

MM-HMM .

UH, IF YOU KNOW THEM.

AND THERE IS A PROCESS TO BE ONBOARDED AS A VOLUNTEER, BUT WE WELCOME HELP.

YES.

YEAH.

YEAH.

AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VOLUNTEER, ESPECIALLY, UH, HEARING THESE, UH, SUCCESS STORIES ALWAYS MAKES ME THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SEE THOSE THINGS ON, ON THE GROUND TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE MONEY GOES, HOW IT'S BEEN, AND, YOU KNOW, SEE THOSE THINGS IN REAL, IN REAL LIFE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, ANGEL.

UH, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

UH, THANK YOU ALL.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

SO

[3. Staff presentation regarding Austin Housing program activities and outcomes and the cadence and format for regular reports to the CDC. Presentation by Nefertitti Jackmon, Community Displacement Prevention Officer, Austin Housing.]

UH, SO WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION, UH, REGARDING THE AUSTIN HOUSING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES.

UH, AND TALKING ABOUT THE FORMAT FOR REGULAR REPORTS TO THE CDC.

SO WE'LL HAVE REGULAR REPORTS FROM AUSTIN HOUSING.

AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

UH, SO PRESENTATION IS BY NEFERTITI JACKMAN, UH, COMMUNITY DISPLACEMENT PROBATION PREVENTION OFFICER FROM AUSTIN HOUSING.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

UM, THANK YOU.

I WAS JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE THIS.

SO

[00:15:02]

UM, CAN WE GO TO THE PREVIOUS, IS IT A PREVIOUS PAGE? YEAH, RIGHT THERE.

THAT IS PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

I WILL SAY THIS, UM, I'M PULLING UP SOMETHING ON MY COMPUTER 'CAUSE I HAVE SOME EXTRA NOTES THAT I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I SHARE.

UM, THIS IS YOUR MIC, PLEASE.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY.

SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR REQUEST TO COME AND PRESENT TO YOU.

UM, THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST MONTHLY REPORT.

WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO REFINE THE REPORT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF WORK WITHIN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

AND, UM, THE REPORT THAT I'M SHARING THIS EVENING IS JUST ONE OF MANY DIFFERENT REPORTS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

I ACTUALLY LIKE AND HA'S ON, HA'S, UH, FORMAT AND I WILL WORK, I CAN WORK TO DESIGN SOMETHING MORE LIKE THAT.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE REAL ESTATE SIDE, BUT TONIGHT I'M JUST GONNA SHOW ONE AREA, UH, ONE PROGRAM AREA.

AND THIS IS THE WORK, UH, WITHIN THE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION, UM, DIVISION FROM OUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS DIVISION.

AND THAT DIVISION IS LED BY OUR HOUSING DIVISION MANAGER, SUSAN WATKINS.

AND THE FOCUS THERE IS ON PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES PRIMARILY TO RENTERS THAT HELP TO STABILIZE RENTERS, BUT AS WELL AS HOMEOWNERS.

SO IT'S, UH, UH, TENANT AND HOMEOWNER STABILIZATION PROGRAMS. UM, THE DIVISION LEADS, UH, SHE LEADS A RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED.

AND THOSE WOULD BE THE PROJECT CONNECT, UH, PROGRAMS, FUNDED PROGRAMS. AND THOSE PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS OF A PROJECT CONNECT LINE OR STATION.

AND IN AN AREA THAT IS FACING ONE OF THREE DISPLACEMENT RISK CATEGORIES, WHETHER IT'S A VULNERABLE, ACTIVE, OR CHRONIC.

SO WHAT YOU WILL SEE ON THE NEXT THREE PAGES, UM, IS BOTH, UH, PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAMS THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED AS WELL AS OUR CITYWIDE PROGRAMS. UM, SO I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE OF THE PROGRAMS. I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE EYEBALL LONG IN AUSTIN PROGRAM.

THIS ONE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS AN EMERGENCY RENT PROGRAM.

UM, IT GREW OUT OF THE COVID, OUR COVID RESPONSE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS FEDERALLY FUNDED.

AND NOW THIS PROGRAM, UM, HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ONGOING FUNDING RIGHT NOW AT $3.6 MILLION.

AND IT SERVES HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WITH OUR, UH, FOR FY 25, WE SERVED 932 HOUSEHOLDS.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS OPERATED BY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, BU ELANO AND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. UH, WE WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY'RE ALMOST LIKE AN EXTENSION OF THE CITY TO PROVIDE A REACH, UM, AND SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THERE IS ALSO, THE SECOND ONE IS REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

THIS IS OUR EVICTION REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.

AND THE GOAL THERE IS TO REPRESENT HOUSEHOLDS WITH LEGAL SERVICES IF THEY ARE FACING AN EVICTION.

AND YOU CAN SEE THERE, 277 HOUSEHOLDS WERE PROVIDED WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND 4,600 HOUSEHOLDS WERE PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION AND OR COUNSELING.

I'M GONNA SCROLL DOWN AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT MIGHT BE LINE EIGHT.

UH, THERE'S ONE THAT'S CALLED COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS.

AND THE COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS ARE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS UNDER PROJECT CONNECT.

THIS ONE IS CALLED CONNECTIONS TO WORK.

IT IS OPERATED BY GOODWILLS, UH, INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS.

AND WE HAD, UH, 145 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS A WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PLACE INDIVIDUALS IN JOBS WITH, UM, INCREASED WAGES.

WHAT THEY ALSO DO, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS HAVE A HOUSING COMPONENT.

SO WE ALSO HELP TO STABILIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE AS WELL.

AND

[00:20:01]

IT MIGHT BE, IF YOU'RE ON YOUR SPREADSHEET, IT SAYS, UH, THE AUSTIN CLT ACCELERATOR.

I'M TRYING TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A DIVERSE SET OF THE PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LENDERS OF CENTRAL TEXAS.

IT'S A, UM, CDFI OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.

AND THEY ARE OPERATING THIS PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

IT'S A-C-L-C-L-T ACCELERATOR, MEANING THAT, UH, THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING COMMUNITY OPTIONS FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY AFFORDABLE OR SUSTAINED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THE CITY.

SO LONGER TERM AFFORDABILITY.

AND THE GOAL WITH THIS PROGRAM IS TO WORK.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH, UH, ROUGHLY SIX NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO EXPAND, UM, CLT CAPACITIES IN AUSTIN, CAPACITY IN AUSTIN.

AND THEN I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, JUST ONE MORE MEALS ON WHEELS THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

UH, MEALS ON WHEELS THROUGH THE THIS PROGRAM, THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING FOOD THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, BUT THEY ARE REACHING SENIORS AND THEY REACH, UH, 215 SENIORS, UH, BOTH RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS WHO WERE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY UNIQUE WITH ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS, UM, THAT WE'RE TARGETING DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, WITH A VERY, UH, UNIQUE FOCUS TO HELP THEM STABILIZE AND ADDRESS THEIR HOUSING NEEDS.

SO, UM, FROM THERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE REACHING HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE IN NEED.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REACH THAT WE CANNOT, OR KNOW THAT WE CAN'T REACH OR ASSIST EVERYONE.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

UM, AS THE NEEDS ALWAYS, UH, OUTWEIGH OUR FINITE RESOURCES.

IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE VERY PAINFUL DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS THE DESIRE TO SERVE MORE HOUSEHOLDS.

BUT WE DO ESTABLISH PROGRAM PARAMETERS THAT HELP US TO FOCUS OUR LIMITED RESOURCE.

AND WE OFTEN PRIORITIZE HELPING HOUSEHOLDS AT 30% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND BELOW.

UH, ONE OF THE SUCCESS STORIES, UH, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT WITH YOU, I'M, I AM GONNA READ IT AND YOU DON'T HAVE IT BEFORE YOU, IS FROM, UH, EL BU THEY SHARED THIS STORY WITH US A WHILE AGO, AND IT'S A STORY OF LA HOSTS AND ERICA 62-YEAR-OLD COUPLE THAT RESIDED IN THE 7 8 7 4 1 ZIP CODE.

AND THEY FACED SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIPS INCLUDING JOB LOSS.

AND I'M SHARING THIS 'CAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL POEM AT THE END.

UM, THEY FACED JOB LOSS, RENTAL DEBT, FOOD INSECURITY, UTILITY STRUGGLES, AND LIMITED ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICATION.

UH, DURING THIS CHALLENGING PERIOD, THEY RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM L BUEN AND THEIR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE TEAM, AND A LETTER AND A HEARTFELT LETTER.

THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID DATED DECEMBER 24TH.

UH, THEY PROVIDED AS THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE IN JANUARY, 2025, BUT THEY EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THE CARE THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD.

THEY DESCRIBE, I BELONG IN AUSTIN AS A MOMENT OF GRACE IN A WORLD THAT HAD OTHERWISE OVERLOOKED THEM.

THE SUPPORT BOTH EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL HELPED RESTORE THEIR HOPE AND THEIR DIGNITY.

AND NOTABLY, THE PROGRAM PAID THEIR RENTAL DEBT, WHICH THEY LIKENED TO CLEAN OIL AND SWEET WINE POURED INTO THEIR WOUNDED SOULS.

I DID NOT ASK FOR THESE .

UM, THESE, THESE WERE THEIR WORDS.

AND I JUST WANNA READ THE, THE POEM THAT THEY SENT TO ELWYN THAT THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SHARE WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING AND NOTICING US IN THE WHIRLWIND OF THIS WORLD WHILE OTHERS LEFT US WITHOUT HELP.

AND WORD, THANK YOU FOR HAVING PLACED US ON YOUR HEART AND HOSTED US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS.

IT WAS LIKE CLEAN OIL AND SWEET WINE THAT YOU POURED INTO OUR WOUNDED SOULS.

THANK YOU FOR PAYING OUR ENTIRE DEBT TO OUR ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING HOPE AND FAITH, ALLOWING US TO DREAM ABOUT OUR FUTURE AGAIN DURING OUR NIGHT OF LIFE.

AND

[00:25:01]

AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE WONDERING IF WE'RE DOING ANYTHING.

AND, UM, AND WE ARE, WE'RE DOING A LOT.

AND, UH, WE WILL BEGIN TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING ON A REGULAR BASIS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING BEYOND JUST THE ANNUAL REPORTS THAT WE ALSO HAVE AND THE PUBLICLY FACING, UH, FACING DASHBOARDS THAT WE ALSO HAVE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK TONIGHT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPE OF REPORTS, WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND RECEIVE.

AND WE WILL PROVIDE A STRUCTURE AND A FORMAT.

I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR ME TO PRESENT ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, NEFERTITI.

MM-HMM .

UM, YES.

LET'S START WITH QUESTIONS FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THAT DISCUSSION OF HOW, UM, ANY, ANYTHING THAT WE NEED FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OR HOW THAT WOULD LOOK.

BUT, UH, LET'S START WITH QUESTIONS FOR NEFERTITI ON THIS PRESENTATION.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANY FROM, UH, COMMISSIONERS, ONLINE COMMISSIONERS IN PERSON? UH, COMMISSIONER LONGORIA.

GO AHEAD.

THANKS, MS. JACKMAN.

MM-HMM .

UH, YOU MENTIONED THIS, UH, 3.6 MILLION FOR, UH, ELANO.

MM-HMM .

UM, WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

UM, THAT'S NOT JUST FOR ONE YEAR, IS IT? THAT IS FOR ONE YEAR.

WOW.

OKAY.

UM, AND I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, ALL THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS IS, AND, UM, WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM? MM-HMM .

UM, I DID HAVE A TOTAL BUDGET IN THERE AT FIRST, BUT I WILL SAY, UM, I TOOK IT OUT BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING.

SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED FOR ONE YEAR AND SOME ARE OVER MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT I WILL DO, I'LL TAKE MORE TIME AND BREAK IT DOWN AND SEND AN UPDATE SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE FUNDING IS FOR ONE YEAR VERSUS MULTIPLE YEARS.

UM, BUT THAT IS CHANGING.

SO I ASK, UH, THAT YOU BE PATIENT WITH ME, UH, FOR FY 26 BECAUSE WE, UM, THE COUNCIL IS GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE, THE BUDGETS AMOUNTS ARE CHANGING.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE WAS, UH, RECOMMENDED HAVE THE TAX RATE ELECTION PASSED, IT WOULD'VE BEEN 4 MILLION, BUT IT IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR A REDUCTION OF 400, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS.

UM, THERE WAS ALSO, UM, OUR DIRECTOR, DETA DEAN SPOKE BEFORE COUNCIL DURING THE WORK SESSION TODAY.

THERE WAS ANOTHER PROGRAM FOR, UM, COMMISSIONER TISHA MENTIONED, UM, CLOSING THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

AND THERE WAS A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS TANGLED TITLES AND HOW PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR PROPERTIES.

AND, UM, BUT THAT ONE IS BEING CUT.

AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE MANY PRIORITIES, AND SO WE HAVE TO OFFER SOMETHING UP TO MAKE SURE SOME OF OUR OTHER PRIORITIES ARE ADDRESSED, LIKE EMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.

SO, UM, TO ANSWER YOUR OTHER QUESTION, THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT I IDENTIFIED TODAY.

ONE IS A HOUSING TRUST FUND, WHICH FOR THOSE PROGRAMS, I WILL NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE, UH, COUNCIL CONTINUES THEIR DELIBERATIONS AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FA, UH, FINAL DOLLAR AMOUNTS WILL BE.

AND THEN THE OTHER PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED, UM, THROUGH PROJECT CONNECT, THOSE THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE PROJECT CONNECT STATION AND LINES.

AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE ARE, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE, HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS.

I'M SORRY.

YEAH.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? UH, COMMISSIONER MENARD, GO AHEAD.

YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS AND A QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, I AM A RECIPIENT OR BENEFICIARY OF A PROGRAM, SO I WANTED TO GET PROPS TO LIFE ANEW.

YES.

SO I DID A REALLY GREAT JOB AND HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE ON, YOU KNOW, ESTATE PLANNING.

RIGHT.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, MY OWN PERSONAL SUCCESS STORY

[00:30:01]

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YES.

.

AND THEN ON MEALS ON WHEELS, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A, A SENIOR, UH, A FRIEND WHO'S A SENIOR AND HE, BUT IS NEEDING SOME SERVICES, BUT WAS TOLD MEALS ON WHEELS HAS A LONG WAITING LIST.

IS THAT STILL TRUE? I WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT.

MEALS ON WHEELS HAVE, THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND SO THEY, LIKE, WE WORK WITH THEM FOR A HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, BUT THEY DO FOOD ASSISTANCE AND THEY DO, UM, HOME ASSISTANCE.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO DO YOU KNOW, WHAT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY? IT WOULD BE HOME ASSISTANCE.

IT WAS FOR HOME ASSISTANCE.

YOU WOULD NEED THAT.

I WILL FIND OUT WHAT THE WAITING LIST IS FOR THAT PROGRAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES.

UH, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER ARNA.

GO AHEAD.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

NOT YET.

WE, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

SHE HAS A COMPUTER LIKE MINE.

MINE DOES THAT OFTEN.

CHIP ONE, TWO.

OKAY.

YEAH, DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE A ISSUE WITH HER.

'CAUSE I CAN'T, I'M ON THE WEBEX AND I'M COMING FIRST, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY SHE'S NOT COMING THROUGH.

DO YOU HAVE A BLUE? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU YET.

SOMETIMES MINE, IF I HAVE A DIFFERENT DEVICES PLUGGED IN OR A DOCKING STATION, THAT ALSO MAKES IT, NO.

OH, LEMME HEAR YOU NOW.

NO, THAT'S ME.

.

NO, NO, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

YEAH.

OH, OKAY.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, I RECOMMEND LEAVING AND COMING BACK.

I THINK SHE DID.

DO WE HAVE, YEAH.

DO WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE MEANTIME? UH, COMMENTS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONERS? I, I WOULD, UM, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, SORRY.

CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME NOW? OH, THERE WE GO.

YES, WE CAN GO AHEAD.

ALSO, I JUST WANNA SAY I DON'T, I DIDN'T HAVE A QUESTION.

I JUST WANNA SAY HUGE, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ELWEN.

UM, WE NAVIGATE RESOURCES TO THEM ALL THE TIME.

I'M ALSO A RECIPIENT.

I KNOW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE RECIPIENTS AND LW DOES A LOT OF WORK.

AND IF WE CAN GET MORE FUNDING THERE TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE, THEY'RE AMAZING.

FROM THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD PANTRY, COMMUNITY, UH, IMPACT PARTNERSHIP.

I LOVE THAT ONE.

MM-HMM .

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UM, I HAD A, JUST A QUESTION ABOUT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

I KNOW THAT, UM, LIKE HIL WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMING TO, UM, LIKE MORE OFTEN FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, I WAS THINKING MORE ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

UM, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES, YOU KNOW, LIKE GO, HAS TO GO THROUGH A LOTTERY SYSTEM, SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED IT QUICKER THAN THAT.

UM, I GUESS WHAT WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION OR, UH, SOMEWHERE FOR A FAMILY LIKE THAT TO TURN IF THEY NEEDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE NOW? SO WE DO NOT HAVE, I MEAN, UH, THE CITY DOES, IF THEY GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, UM, THERE ARE ALSO SOME CHURCHES, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO.

I BELIEVE THERE'S A RESOURCE LIST.

I DON'T, I DON'T, IS THERE A RES YEAH, WE WILL SHARE A RESOURCE LIST, BUT THEY ARE NON, UM, THEY ARE NOT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO THE LOTTERY SYSTEM.

IT WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY DURING THE COVID, UM, 19 PANDEMIC.

AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THAT IS MORE OF AN EQUITABLE PROCESS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT PRIORITIZING PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUICK AND EASY ACCESS.

RIGHT.

WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION OR WHETHER THEY'RE, UM, SAVVY ON USING TECHNOLOGY TO GET ACCESS.

SO IT IS VERY HARD, UH, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE MORE PEOPLE APPLYING EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

AND THERE IT'S, YEAH, I DON'T, YEAH.

YES.

AND I KNOW THAT, YEAH.

YEAH.

UM, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE HEALING PROJECT, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, UM, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN MUTUAL AID RECEIVE THOSE MM-HMM .

LIKE, I NEED ASSISTANCE NOW AND IT'S HARD TO FIND, UM, HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND I KNOW, I BELIEVE YOU SHARED THAT LIST WITH ME OKAY.

OF THE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT, UH, CHURCHES AND LIKE WHAT NOW? YEAH.

UM, YEAH, IT IS FRUSTRATING.

I HAVE PEOPLE IN MY PHONE, UH,

[00:35:01]

AND I DON'T, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS PEOPLE.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A JOB LIKE THAT BECOMES MORE, UM, YEAH.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS, UH, LET'S START, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE REPORT FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UH, FROM AUSTIN HOUSING.

UM, SO HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT TO LOOK AS FAR AS HAVING A MONTHLY REPORT? AND WHAT KIND OF, UM, ITEMS WOULD YOU LIKE ON THAT IN THAT REPORT? SO COMMISSIONERS, UH, THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR THAT, FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT, UH, A MONTHLY REPORT FROM AUSTIN HOUSING.

I'D LOVE TO, TO START WITH.

UM, I'M SO HAPPY THAT THIS IS NOW GOING TO BE A PART OF CDC, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. SHACKMAN, FOR THIS SUPER EXCITING, UH, ONE THING.

WELL, THE MAIN THING I WOULD SAY, UH, THAT HOPEFULLY CAN BE A THOROUGH LINE IS SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

YOU STARTED TO ALLUDE TO THIS EVEN WITH JUST NOW WHAT YOU WERE DESCRIBING AND YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION.

UH, THERE'S A HIGH DEMAND FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS, UM, OR THERE'S DEMAND WITH EVERY PROGRAM THAT YOU PRESENTED TONIGHT, BUT THERE'S LIMITATIONS OF SUPPLY THAT IS AVAILABLE.

SO IN REGARDS TO WHAT THE SUPPLY IS AND HOW YOU WANNA PRESENT, I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU ALL.

UH, I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MONETARY SUPPLY, BUT THEN ALSO LOOKING AT, LOOKING AT THE DEMAND SIDE OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN OR EVEN LOOKING AT, UM, DEMAND MAY BE RELATED TO, UH, LOCAL GOVERNANCE OR, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

HOW THERE MIGHT BE DEMAND IN REGARDS TO YOUR REPORTING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED OF YOUR DIVISION, YOUR DEPARTMENT.

UH, SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M HOPING WILL, WOULD BE A PART OF THE REPORTS.

AND EVEN EYEING A LITTLE BIT OF HOW THE DEMOGRAPHER D DEMONSTRATED IT THROUGH GRAPHICS, UH, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A WHEEL, UM, TABLE, UH, TO SHOW THE DISCREPANCY OR THE VARIATION BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND, I THINK WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

AND, UM, THE OTHER, THE LAST THING I'LL JUST SAY THIS IS IN REGARDS TO WHAT, AND ANGEL HAS, HAS PROGRESSIVELY EVOLVED IN HIS PRESENTATION WITH A PH OF HOW IT WENT FROM JUST DESCRIBING NUMBERS AND RETELLING OF NUMBERS, UH, TO PLEASE EXPAND UPON EXPOUND UPON THE CONTENT AND THE CONTEXTUAL EVIDENCE AND STORIES THAT YOU CAN PRESENT THAT LINK TO THIS PARTICULAR SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER STORY OF HOW WE'RE DRAWING IMPACT, UM, IN THE COMMUNITIES, I THINK WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER TISHA.

UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENT SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR MONTHLY REPORT FROM AUSTIN HOUSING AND THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE? OR HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT PUT PUT TOGETHER? I GUESS? UH, COMMISSIONER LONGORIA, GO AHEAD.

GREAT.

WELL, UM, I WAS CERTAINLY NOT EXPECTING THIS, HONESTLY.

LIKE, THIS IS REALLY GREAT.

IT'S GREAT.

IT'S REALLY AWESOME.

I WAS, HONESTLY, FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE CDC, I'VE ONLY SEEN A LOT OF LIKE CDBG AND I WANNA SEE MORE CDBG, YOU KNOW, UM, I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT, UH, FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAM AND THAT CREATION AND THAT PLAN.

AND 'CAUSE WE'VE KIND OF BUILT SOME SYSTEMS WHERE WE CAN PARTICIPATE SOME MORE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE REGULAR REPORTS ON LIKE THE CDBG, THE FUNDING AND WHERE IT'S BEING SPENT.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I THINK THE WORK THAT, UM, ED BLAKE IS ALSO REALLY GREAT WITH THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND ALSO THE HOME, UH, CONSTRUCTION AND THE RENOVATIONS.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TOO.

LIKE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE FAMILY STRUCTURES.

I, I, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THAT TOO.

AND THEN LASTLY, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO LEARN ABOUT LIKE, THE HOUSING INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY IS MAKING.

LIKE IT, LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.

I KNOW THAT MANDY DE MAYO HAS ALLUDED TO IT IN THE PAST, LIKE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS OWNED BY THE CITY OR PURCHASED BY THE CITY OR WHATEVER.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT BENEFIT SENIOR CITIZENS AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

YEAH.

SO, YEAH.

THANKS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER LONGORIA, UM, COMMENTS? UH, NO COMMISSIONER, SORRY.

UH, VICE CHAIR.

[00:40:04]

AND YES, ALSO, ALSO LOVE THIS.

UM, I KNOW THIS IS ITERATIVE AND WE'RE TRYING IT OUT, SO I'M JUST GONNA THINK OUT LOUD.

'CAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S STILL WHAT I DO.

UM, SO LOVE WHAT EVERYONE SAID.

UM, I, I WOULD BENEFIT IF IT'S POSSIBLE AND REASONABLE FROM LIKE A COVER PAGE THAT LET US KNOW WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE AND SOME OF THE CONTEXT THAT FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT UP.

BUT IN THAT, IN THAT COVER PAGE, SO THIS PARTICULAR REPORT, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE CHANGING DEPARTMENTS EVERY MONTH OR SEMI-REGULARLY, UM, SO WE'RE NOT GETTING USED TO EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

IF IT'S THE SAME THING EVERY MONTH, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT, SO WE KNOW IN THIS REPORT WHAT THIS MEANS IS X AND THEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT UP, UM, COULD POSSIBLY BE IN THAT MEMO ON THE, ON THE FRONT.

AND THEN WE COULD STILL HAVE THIS REALLY GREAT BREAKDOWN, WHICH THIS WAS A REALLY HELPFUL, I AGREE.

THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING THING TO BE ABLE TO SEE.

UM, AND I ALSO WANNA SAY, 'CAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES THERE'S A TENSION OF THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE WANNA KNOW AND WE'RE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE HOW WE'RE GONNA USE IT.

UM, SO I DO ALSO WANNA SAY THAT HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE REPORTS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE HAPPENING AT LEAST ANNUALLY, AND WE CAN BE ABLE TO TRACK THEM FROM ONE YEAR TO ANOTHER, HELPS THEM ALSO PROVIDE A PUBLIC HISTORIC RECORD THAT WE COULD USE MORE THAN ONCE.

I WOULD ALSO REALLY LOVE TO SEE THIS INCLUDED ONLINE, EVEN IF IT FOLLOWS THE AGENDA POSTING AND IT ISN'T, BUT STILL TO GET IT ADDED TO THE MATERIALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UM, ON OUR, AS PART OF OUR RECORD.

OKAY.

I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THE LAST PART.

I THINK I'M FOLLOWING.

UM, CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE LAST PART OF WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE ONLINE? SO JUST, I KNOW THIS WASN'T IN OUR ORIGINAL BACKUP AND I DIDN'T GO BACK TO THE WEBSITE TODAY, BUT IF THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, JUST CAN THIS ALSO BE SOMETHING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? YES.

EVERYTHING THAT WE PRESENT, EVEN IF IT ENDS IN A YEAH, IT'LL BE OKAY.

PERFECT.

YES.

AWESOME.

IT'LL, THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.

UH, MIGUEL.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, IT IS UPLOADED AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I SHOULD HAVE SENT A MESSAGE, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET THE CADENCE.

THANK YOU, MIGUEL.

AND YES, I SUGGEST EVERYBODY LOOKS AT IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.

UH, DEFINITELY.

UM, I WANT TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COMMISSIONER TEISHA SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXPOUNDING ON, ON THE PROGRAMS, THE CONTENTS, THE EVIDENCE.

UM, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD MAYBE INVITE SOME OF THE VENDORS THAT ARE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES, UM, TO COME, I KNOW THAT EDWINA ANO HAS COME BEFORE MM-HMM .

BUT I KNOW THEY'RE JUST LOOKING THROUGH THIS LIST.

THERE'S, UH, SO MANY OTHERS.

UH, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY CIS APPLICATIONS BEING REVIEWED AND ARE, UM, THEY WERE SUBMITTED IN JUNE, I BELIEVE.

AND SO THERE'S GONNA BE NEW VENDORS WITH NEW FOCUS, UH MM-HMM .

UH, NEW SERVICES AND ALL OF THAT.

YES.

UM, AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE CLARIFICATION THAT I WOULD LIKE FROM YOU.

RIGHT.

AND AS I SHARED, THIS IS JUST ONE AREA FROM MY TEAM AND THERE'S TWO OTHER AREAS.

AND SO JUST FROM THIS ONE AREA, AS YOU WILL SEE, THERE'S OVER, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS 20 SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW RIGHT.

PROGRAMS. AND SO I DON'T WANT THE CONTENT TO BE OVERWHELMING, BUT I CAN, WE CAN PROVIDE WHAT YOU LIKE BECAUSE, AND SO I'LL SAY THIS FOR NEXT MONTH, UM, WELL, THIS IS MY QUESTION.

WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE EVERY SINGLE MONTH A HOUSING REPORT WHETHER WE COVER CDBG HOME REPAIR, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT WHATEVER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, BUT THEN BRING IN THE VENDORS, WHICH WE CAN ALSO DO.

WOULD THAT BE IN ADDITION OF, OR IN ADDITION TO, OR IN LIEU OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT REPORT? 'CAUSE WE COULD ALSO INVITE, WE HAVE VENDORS WHO THEY COULD COME EVERY MONTH AND YOU, IT WOULD TAKE OVER A YEAR TO, IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE WE WOULD HEAR FROM ALL OF OUR VENDORS.

SO, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS AT THE AGENDA SETTING MEETING MM-HMM .

WHICH VENDORS, UNLESS SOMEONE SEES SOMETHING WHEN WE BRING A REPORT, IF THERE'S SOMEONE SPECIFIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM, YOU CAN LET US KNOW AND WE COULD, YEAH.

YES.

SO, UM, YEAH, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

UM, SO THE QUESTION IS HOW, ESSENTIALLY HOW WE WANT THE REPORT TO BE.

IS IT A, LIKE

[00:45:01]

REPORT, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

OR WHAT WAS THE OTHER VERY SPECIFIC TO A, A PROGRAM AND JUST HEAR FROM ONE OF THE, UH MM-HMM .

UM, PARTNERS, OUR VENDORS MM-HMM .

TO COME IN.

UH, AND I CAN CREATE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T I DO THAT? BUT I, WELL, I'LL LEAVE THAT ON THE TABLE FOR NOW AND THEN YOU GUYS TELL US.

YES.

UM, DO WE WANT TO CHAIR? YES, GO AHEAD.

COMMISSIONER.

CAN I PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES.

BECAUSE I REALLY, REALLY LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA.

AND I'M WONDERING IF FROM THE SIDE OF THE VENDOR, THEY CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF THE CLIENT PERSPECTIVE AND THEN YOU STILL HAVE THE HOUSING REPORT.

SO FOR INSTANCE, THE CLIENT PERSPECTIVE IS WHAT DOES THE CLIENT HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN TERMS OF THE APPLICATION, THE TERM OF LENGTH OF THE PROJECT, UM, WHAT SORT OF THE, WHAT WAS THE ASK? WHAT WERE THEY HOPING FOR IN TERMS OF AN IMPROVEMENT? LET'S SAY IT'S THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OR EXCUSE ME, HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.

WHAT WERE THEY NEEDING TO HAVE REPAIRED? WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE IN TERMS OF TERMS OF LENGTH? AND THEN HOW HAS IT IMPROVED THEIR LIFE AFTERWARDS? AND THEN JUST AN OVERALL IDEA OF THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR, UM, OF THE SERVICES THEY OFFER, MAYBE HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS, HOW, HOW THEY IMPACT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN.

THAT'S, THAT'S IN TERMS OF, AND, AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I DON'T KNOW CHAIR IF THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE GOING, BUT IN MY MIND WHEN YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, THAT'S IMMEDIATELY WHAT I THOUGHT OF, OF HOW TO, UH, OF TERMS OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO FROM THE HOUSING REPORT, LIKE I WAS DESCRIBING, THAT SUPPLY AND DEMAND, THERE'S THAT OVERALL, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN, UM, WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR HOW IT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THIS PROGRAM.

AND THEN THE VENDOR IS DESCRIBING MORE THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE, WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.

AND THEY'RE GIVING THAT IN THAT PERSONAL, UM, PERSPECTIVE, INCLUSIVE OF HOW THE VENDOR IMPROVES COMMUNITY OR OFFERS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

EXACTLY.

YES.

UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.

AGAIN, PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT YOU HAD SAID AT FIRST, UM, UH, WITH THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND PART OF IT, BUT YEAH.

UM, DOES THAT, UH, NEFERTITI, DOES THAT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING WE COULD DO? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? ANY, DOES THAT SOUND GOOD WITH EVERYBODY? I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE TOO MICRO, TOO DETAIL ORIENTED.

I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE COMPONENT OF THE HOUSING PERSONALLY.

UH, BUT, UM, UM, YEAH.

YEAH.

UM, I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, I GUESS I JUST WAS SO YOU GUYS CAN ALWAYS GIVE US , CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION AT ANY TIME, RIGHT? IF SOMETHING ISN'T WORKING, WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE DIRECTION.

MM-HMM .

YEAH.

YES.

NOW, BUT CERTAINLY THE MACRO, LIKE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, LIKE MM-HMM .

MM-HMM .

OKAY.

TO BE CLEAR, WE, WE WILL HAVE A HOUSING REPORT AND THEN, WHICH COULD COVER, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING, UM, REPAIR PROGRAM AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE VENDOR TELL US THE, YOU KNOW, THE PAINT THAT PICTURE.

RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UM, YEAH.

IT IS INSIGHTFUL.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

UH, VICE SHARE, YOU HAD COMMENTS, I WAS JUST GONNA COMMENT THAT WE COULD HAVE THE ASSUMPTION BE THAT AT EVERY MEETING THERE IS A REPORT FROM HOUSING.

AND AS MUCH AS THERE'S POSSIBLE IN THE AGENDA, WE ALSO INCLUDE A VENDOR.

AND THE REALLY GREAT THING IS WE HAVE SOME STRATEGY CONVERSATIONS COMING UP THAT WILL HELP INFORM HOW WE WOULD SELECT A VENDOR.

SO FOR NOW, IT MIGHT BE ONE OFF IN THE AGENDA SETTING UNTIL WE HAVE A STRATEGY FOR HOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD.

AND THEN I THINK THAT COULD HELP REALLY INFORM, YEAH, KIM ISHA HAS SOME GREAT PLANS FOR US, SO WE'RE REALLY GONNA GET THERE AND IT'LL BE STRONG.

BUT I THINK FOR NOW WE COULD HOPEFULLY BE COMFORTABLE WITH SORT OF A ONE OFF UNTIL THAT'S ESTABLISHED, BUT KNOWING WE'LL HAVE SOME, SOME REAL CLEAR REASONS WHY WE'RE DOING THINGS GOING FORWARD.

OKAY.

DEFINITELY.

YEAH.

I LIKE THIS THINKING THAT'S GOING ON.

YEAH.

UH, THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME.

UM, ANY QUESTIONS, ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YOU GOT IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO

[4. Discussion on the process and potential priorities for future budget recommendations. Discussion led by Chair Elias.]

SO THIS IS A DISCUSSION ON THE PROCESS AND POTENTIAL PRIORITIES FOR FUTURE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, SO WE DO NOT, UM, SO IT'S JUST A, IT IS JUST A DISCUSSION, UM, WITH, UH, COMMISSIONERS.