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[CALL TO ORDER]
THE TIME IS 1:01 PM ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2025.AND WE ARE HERE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I AM JOINED HERE BY OUR VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER BER UCHIN, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND CADRE ARE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE FOR OUR VERY LAST COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR.
FOR OUR AGENDA, WE'LL START WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, THEN WE WILL LOOK AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING MINUTES FOR APPROVAL.
WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE REAPPOINTMENT FOR THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS.
THEN WE WILL REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING DATES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2026.
AFTER THESE ACTIONS, WE'LL RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM A ISD ON PROJECT HELP.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE'LL RECEIVE A BRIEFING UPDATE FROM THE AUSTIN HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES OFFICE ON THE LATEST ENCAMPMENT EN ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS SOME FEDERAL FUNDING CHANGES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA? OKAY, CLERK, WE WILL
[Public Communication: General]
NOW WELCOME SPEAKERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS WITH US TODAY? YES, WE HAVE ONE.
CAN I HAVE SCOTT JOHNSON? GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, MAYOR POT TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR SCHEDULING A A SD TO, TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M HAPPY THAT I'M HERE AND THAT SHE'S HERE.
CARLA SCOTT, THIS IS A LETTER SENT FROM ROUND ROCK.
ROUND ROCK DOES HAVE PART OF THEIR, OF THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN THE AUSTIN ENERGY SERVICE AREA.
AND I HAVE CONTACT WITH THE LIAISONS THAT ARE CALLED MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISONS AS CARLA IS ONE WHO'S GONNA SPEAK LATER.
UH, ALSO, DEAR AUSTIN, CITY LEADERS ON BEHALF OF THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FAMILIES IN TRANSITION PROGRAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
OUR DISTRICT SERVES MORE THAN 1100 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN AUSTIN ENERGY SERVICE AREAS.
SOME OF OUR YOUNGSTERS WE SERVE LIVE IN HOTELS OR MOTELS, SOME IN THEIR CARS, OTHERS IN SHELTERS, OR DOUBLED UP WITH OTHERS, MEANING THEY'RE STAYING WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS.
OUR ENTIRE MISSION IS ACADEMIC BASED TO ENSURE THESE STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS THEIR HOUSED PEERS.
THIS INCLUDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS TUTORING, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
AND OF COURSE, HELP WITH BASIC NEED RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE IN CLASS.
THE HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS ARE TRULY APPRECIATED IN THAT THROUGH THE FUNDS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES SUCH AS HYGIENE, BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, EMERGENCY FOOD, TENNIS SHOES, AND EVEN AIR MATTRESSES AND BLANKETS TO OUR STUDENTS.
IN TIMES LIKE THESE, YOUR SUPPORT BRINGS TRUE HOPE TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SIGNED AND GRISHA, THE COORDINATOR FOR FAMILIES IN TRANSITIONS, MCKINNEY-VENTO AND FOSTER CARE, AS ALL OF THE MCKINNEY BENTOS ARE ALSO FOSTER CARE, UH, LIAISONS FOR THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN TERMS OF MY INTEREST, AS YOU'VE SEEN ME DOWN HERE BEFORE, I'M THE DEDICATED, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTER ON MANY ISSUES.
SO I'M GONNA BE A LITTLE MORE SCARCE THE REST OF THIS YEAR.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS ISSUE IS AN EMERGING ISSUE STILL BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY BELIEVES THAT HOMELESSNESS RELATES TO, UH, SINGLE MEN WHO ARE OUT ON THEIR OWN AND, AND SOME SINGLE WOMEN.
AND THAT IS PARTIALLY TRUE, BUT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN MOVING THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY FORWARD IN A DIRECTION WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND THROUGH THE AWARENESS PROJECT, THROUGH EDUCATION OUTREACH, THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT WE CAN RAISE THAT AWARENESS.
AND THAT THEREBY HAVING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.
AND IF IT RELATES TO STUDENTS WHO ARE NORMALLY IN SOME FAMILY UNIT, THEN THEY CAN EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS DURING THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS, HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, AND UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES BEYOND THAT.
SO LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND AND LET'S MAKE 2026 A BETTER YEAR FOR ADDRESSING STUDENT HOMELESSNESS.
ANYONE ELSE? NO, THAT'S EVERYONE.
[Approval of Minutes]
OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES FOR ITEM ONE.CAN I GET A MOTION, MOTION VICE CHAIR SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALTER TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 5TH, 2025 MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE, ANY OBJECTION IN APPROVING THE MOTION? ALRIGHT, THE
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MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER, STAND APPROVED.[2. Discussion and consideration of appointments to the Central Health Board of Managers.]
NUMBER TWO.COLLEAGUES, ELISA MAYS, TERM ON CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF DI OF MANAGERS EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31ST, AND SHE'S EXPRESSED INTEREST IN BEING REAPPOINTED FOR ANOTHER TERM.
BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A, A BACKUP OF HER APPLICATION AND MATERIALS FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
CAN I GET A MOTION MOTIONED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR UCHIN ON THE APPROVING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ELISA.
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ELISA MAY NOW STANDS APPROVED, AND WE'LL GO TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
[3. Discussion and consideration of the 2026 Public Health Committee Calendar]
WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING DATES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026, THAT THOSE DATES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU IN OUR PACKET.UH, ANY COMMENTS OR CONCERNS ON THE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED? ALL RIGHT.
CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION BY VICE CHAIR UCHIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ANY OR ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION? VERY GOOD.
THOSE MEETING MINUTES FOR 20, OR THE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES FOR 2026? STAND TO PROVE FOR THE RECORD, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 4TH, MARCH 4TH, APRIL 1ST, MAY 6TH, SEPTEMBER 2ND, OCTOBER 7TH, NOVEMBER 4TH AND DECEMBER 2ND, 2026 WITH THE MARCH 4TH AND DECEMBER 2ND MEETINGS TAKING PLACE AT 1:00 PM PLEASE NOTE THAT THOSE MEETING DATES ARE, UH, SUBJECT TO CHANGE, BUT ANY, UH, CHANGES WILL BE MADE PUBLIC ACCORDING TO OUR OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
[4. Briefing from Austin Independent School District on Project Help which is aimed at assisting homeless students and their families. [Carla Scott, Administrative Supervisor - Austin Independent School District].]
NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS A BRIEFING FROM AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ON PROJECT HELP, WHICH IS AIMED AT ASSISTING HOMELESS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, CARLA SCOTT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR AT A ISD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR PROTI AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR OF THE AUSTIN ISD PROJECT HELP PROGRAM, WHERE OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO SERVE HOMELESS, FOSTER CARE, AND MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS.
THIS, UM, PROGRAM OR THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE IN A ISD OVER 25 YEARS.
UH, I HAVE BEEN THE STEWARD FOR THE LAST FIVE, AND, UH, I AM JUST HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE COLLECTIVE WORK THAT OUR PROGRAM DOES AND HOW WE DO THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, THE FIRST COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT YOU'LL SEE, UM, RELATE TO WHAT THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT IS.
THIS ACT WAS STARTED IN 1987 UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, AND IT ENSURES THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, HAVE SOME RIGHTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR EDUCATION WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
THAT COULD MEAN IF A STUDENT IS HOMELESS AND THEY'RE LIVING IN SOUTH AUSTIN, BUT THEIR ORIGINAL SCHOOL WAS IN NORTH AUSTIN, THAT CHILD, THAT CHILD AND THAT FAMILY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO TRANSFER SCHOOLS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE LIVING IN A SHELTER OR WITH FAMILY.
THAT MEANS THAT THIS ACT ENSURES THAT THAT STUDENT'S CONTINUITY OF EDUCATION CAN STAY IN PLACE.
SO THIS ACT ENSURES THAT THAT STUDENT CAN RECEIVE TRANSPORTATION TO GO TO THEIR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE STUDENT IS AFFORDED, UM, FREE LUNCH AND SUPPLIES OR WHATEVER THAT STUDENT NEEDS TO REMOVE THE BARRIER TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION.
SO, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE IT, AND I'M HAPPY TO OFFLINE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UM, IN THE NEXT SLIDE, I WANNA JUST SHARE THIS.
WHO IS, WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES? WHAT STUDENTS? THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE DOUBLED UP WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
THEY MAY BE LIVING IN HOMELESS SHELTERS.
THEY MAY BE IN HOTELS, THEY MAY BE IN CARS, PARKS, UH, ABANDONED BUILDINGS, TRAIN STATIONS.
UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU IN A ISD, WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN ALL OF THESE SPACES, AND WE SERVE THOSE FAMILIES AND THOSE, THOSE STUDENTS IN ALL OF THESE PLACES, OUR ROLE IS TO IDENTIFY THEM, ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ENROLLED IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE WITH THE CONTINUITY OF THEIR EDUCATION WITHOUT ANY OTHER, UH, BARRIERS THAT MAY HAPPEN.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, AGAIN, WHO'S ELIGIBLE? OUR BIGGEST NUMBERS, AND I'M GONNA SHOW SOME DATA IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE DOUBLED UP, MEANING THEY'RE LIVING WITH FAMILY.
THEY COULD BE LIVING WITH, UM, RELATIVES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, OR WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE LIVING IN SURROUNDING CC COMMUNITIES, UM, LIKE BASTROP OR MAINOR.
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AND WE ENSURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE A, HAVE TRANSPORTATION FROM WHEREVER THEY'RE LIVING TO THEIR SCHOOL.IN AUSTIN, ISD THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY EVICTION.
UM, SOME JUST HAVE INADEQUATE HOUSING, UH, FAMILIES WHO ARE IN BETWEEN, UH, MAYBE A WEEK WITH THIS FAMILY MEMBER, ANOTHER WEEK WITH THIS FAMILY MEMBER.
ALL OF THESE SCENARIOS HAPPEN AND ALSO MEANS THAT, UH, FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED WITH THE LOSS OF A JOB AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILY IN A CAR, IN A WALMART PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE KIDS WHO ARE LIVING IN, UH, HOTELS.
WE HAVE KIDS WHO ARE LIVING IN CAMPGROUNDS, YOU NAME IT.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE IN ALL OF THESE SCENARIOS.
SO OUR ROLE IN OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE KIDS ARE ONE I IDENTIFIED, AND THE CAMPUSES UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR WORK WITH THEY'RE LIVING IN SO THEY CAN RECEIVE SERVICES.
UM, ANOTHER, UM, GROWING CONCERN OR A GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE ARE SERVICING ARE THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED.
THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO HAVE, UM, RUN AWAY FROM HOME, BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO SCHOOL.
THESE ARE KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THOSE THINGS DO HAPPEN.
AND, UM, KIDS WHO ARE JUST COUCH SURFING, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.
UM, SO OUR ROLE IS TO ONE, IDENTIFY THE STUDENT, ENSURE THAT WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE LIVING SO THEY CAN CONTINUE WITH THEIR EDUCATION, AND WE ALSO CONNECT THEM WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAND IN THE GAP IN SOME OF THE AREAS THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE.
WE HAVE UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH AS YOUNG AS FOURTH GRADE, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE LEGAL EXPECTATIONS? AGAIN, I MENTIONED IMMEDIATE ENROLLMENT, MEANING THE MOMENT A STUDENT, UH, OR A FAMILY PRESENTS THEMSELVES TO AN A ISD SCHOOL, WE, WHETHER THEY HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS, WHETHER THEY HAVE THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, WHATEVER THOSE ITEMS ARE, THOSE STUDENTS, JUST BY COMPLETING A FORM CALLED THE STUDENT RESIDENCY QUESTIONNAIRE, ALLOWS THEM AT THAT MOMENT TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ARE NOT COLLECTED LATER.
IT JUST MEANS AT THAT MOMENT, AT THAT TIME, THAT FAMILY IS PRESENTING THEMSELVES AS HOMELESS.
SO OUR OFFICE WORKS WITH THE CAMPUS TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE GATHERED WHATEVER DOCUMENTS MIGHT BE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE OFFICIAL ENROLLMENT PACKET.
IT ALSO ENSURES, AGAIN, THAT THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO ATTEND THEIR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN.
AND, AND AGAIN, WHEREVER THEY'RE LIVING, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE SCHOOL IN THE AREA.
IF THEIR FRIENDS, IF THEIR NORMALCY IS IN THEIR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN, A SCHOOL IN NORTH AUSTIN, NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE LIVING, THEY CAN CONTINUE IN THAT SCHOOL.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT OUR, OUR DISTRICT, UM, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A ISD, NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE LIVING, WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM TRANSPORTATION.
IF THAT TRANSPORTATION MEANS THAT A CHILD IS ON A ROUTE FROM SOUTH AUSTIN TO THEIR NORTH AUSTIN SCHOOL, OR THAT FAMILY'S LIVING IN MAINOR AND THEIR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN IS IN AUSTIN, WHATEVER THOSE PARAMETERS ARE, WE ENSURE THAT THAT STUDENT CAN CAN GET TO SCHOOL.
WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
I JUST HAVE TO BRAG ON THEM FOR A QUICK SECOND BECAUSE THAT DIRECTOR AND HIS TEAM WORKS WITH EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN OUR AREA TO ENSURE THAT WE SHARE THAT TRANSPORTATION RESPONSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS.
IF A STUDENT IS LIVING WITH FAMILY IN MAINOR, BUT THEY GO TO SCHOOL IN AUSTIN, MAINOR WORKS WITH US TO TRANSPORT THOSE STUDENTS.
SO, AND VICE VERSA, WE HAVE STUDENTS IN EVERY DISTRICT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA AS FAR AWAY AS ELGIN, UM, TO, UH, LAGO VISTA, TO LEANDER, ROUND ROCK, PFLUGERVILLE, YOU NAME THE DISTRICT IN THIS AREA.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE LIVING THERE, BUT ATTENDING SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT.
STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THESE THREE BUCKETS, MEANING THEIR FOSTER CARE HOMELESS OR MILITARY CONNECTED, ARE ENTITLED TO FREE NUTRITION.
SO OUR OFFICE MAKES SURE THAT WE WORK WITH THE NUTRITION OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS DON'T, ARE NEVER CHARGED FOR THEIR BREAKFAST OR LUNCH.
AND WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE RECORDS ARE IN PLACE SO THOSE STUDENTS, UM, CAN RECEIVE, UM, LUNCHES AND, AND A BREAKFAST.
AND THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE JUST DATA.
AND I, I, I SHARED THIS BECAUSE, UM, WE, WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, NOT ONLY GOVERNED BY THE, THE GRANTS THAT SUPPORT US, BUT OUR WORK IS, IS ALIGNED WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, SPECIFICALLY THE PROGRAM ENTITLED TEXAS EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
THIS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE GRANTS THAT A ISD RECEIVES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE THESE STUDENTS.
SO AS YOU SEE, UM, THESE ARE STATEWIDE NUMBERS.
SO YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE IN 20 20, 22, 23, 23, 24, AND 24, 25 COLLECTIVELY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THE
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NUMBER OF IDENTIFIED STUDENTS THAT, UM, WERE, WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THOSE TIMES AND HOW THEY WERE CLASSIFIED THERE WERE DOUBLED UP IN SHELTERS, HOTELS, OR UNSHELTERED.SO I SHARE THAT BECAUSE OUR DATA IN OUR DISTRICT KIND OF MIRRORS THESE SAME NUMBERS.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE, AND SO I'M, I'M SHARING NUMBERS FOR 24 25, THE HOMELESS STUDENT SPECIFIC NUMBER THAT WE SERVED IN A ISD WAS 1,768 STUDENTS.
OF THAT, UH, THE UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH NUMBER WAS 155.
AND YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS, SOME, A FEW WERE IN A SHELTER.
WE HAD ABOUT 1246 THAT WERE D DOUBLED UP.
UH, WE HAD 57 THAT WERE UNSHELTERED.
UH, 100 STUDENTS WERE LIVING IN EITHER A HOTEL OR MOTEL SETTING.
AND ABOUT 363, I CAN'T SAY WITH THESE GLASSES, UM, WERE IN SOME TYPE OF SHELTER OR SOME TYPE OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
SO WITH ALL OF THOSE, AND THAT LITERALLY MIRRORS WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE OF HOW STUDENTS ARE CLASSIFIED AND WHERE THEY'RE LIVING.
AND FOR UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH, WE HAD ABOUT 14 STUDENTS, UM, I CAN'T SEE THERE IN THE PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF THEIR PARENT.
AND ABOUT 141 THAT, UH, WERE NOT IN THE PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF, OF THEIR PARENTS.
SO THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO, TO GROW.
UM, WE, AT THIS POINT OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS THE FALL OF 2025, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ABOUT 85 UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH SO FAR ON THE VERY NEXT SLIDE.
OUR PROGRAM SERVED ABOUT 3,294 STUDENTS DURING THE 20 24, 25 SCHOOL YEAR IDENTIFIED IN THE AREAS OF HOMELESS, FOSTER, AND MILITARY.
CONNECTED, AGAIN, 1768, HOMELESS 133 FOSTER CARE, AND 1393 MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS.
THIS IS, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE I GET TO JUST SHARE, UM, HOW THE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS.
AND MANY OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO AFFORD FAMILIES COME BECAUSE WE HAVE PARTNERS AND WE HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT WHAT WE DO.
THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION CALLED, UM, HINDU CHARITIES FOR AMERICA.
THEY GIVE US ABOUT 500, UH, COMPLETELY FILLED STUDENT BACKPACKS EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE'RE ABLE TO THEN PASS ON TO STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THESE TRAUMATIC CRISIS AREAS AND, AND SPACES TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO START SCHOOL AND REMAIN IN SCHOOL WITH THE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED.
UM, IF YOU'VE EVER BOUGHT B BONE BUZZ SOCKS, THANK YOU.
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO A, A PHENOMENAL PARTNER.
THEY SUPPLY US WITH ABOUT 1500 PAIRS OF, UH, SOCKS EVERY YEAR THAT WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO PASS OVER TO FAMILIES WHO ARE IN, UM, THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS SPACE OF NOT BEING SURE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE.
UH, THE CAP CITY KIDS, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US, AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS CALLED UNDIES FOR EVERYONE ENSURING THAT, UM, THERE IS NO, UM, THAT CHILDREN HAVE CLEAN UNDERWEAR FOR, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THEY GIVE US ABOUT 10,000 PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR, AND THEY'RE IN PACKAGES OF SEVEN.
SO A FAMILY, UM, OR A STUDENT CAN HAVE THAT FOR A COMPLETE WEEK.
SO IT, IT COMPLETELY HELPS TO ELIMINATE THE SCARCITY OF, HOW DO I DO LAUNDRY? HOW DO I CLEAN PERSONAL ITEMS? SO WE'RE ABLE TO, TO REALLY SUPPORT FAMILIES THERE.
OF COURSE, THE AUSTIN EDUCATION FUND, UM, WHICH IS THE A ISD, UH, FOUNDATION, IS COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE.
AND THEY, THEY SUPPORT US WITH MANY THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND ANOTHER, UH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CALLED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THIS, UM, OR THIS GROUP OF CITIZENS, UM, GIVE US ABOUT $5,000 WORTH OF, UM, GIFT CARDS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE TO STUDENTS DURING THE WINTER BREAKS, SPECIFICALLY THE UN, THE, UH, UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH, ENSURING THAT DURING THAT TIME THAT KIDS ARE OUTTA SCHOOL FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THEY HAVE GIFT CARDS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET FOOD, UM, BLANKETS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
SO WE ARE VERY THANKFUL, UH, TO THEM.
AND AS I WRAP THINGS UP, I HAVE TO JUST TILT MY HEAD AND SALUTE, UM, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, THROUGH, UM, WORK THAT YOU, UH, DID, UH, THE, THERE IS A, A FUND CALLED THE HOMELESS STUDENT FUND.
THE HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND, WHICH IS NOW A PART OF THE, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY BILL, WHERE CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO ADD DONATIONS TO THAT AMOUNT.
AND THAT WAS, FUNDS ARE TURNED OVER TO DISTRICTS, UM, IN OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR.
SO THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR RECEIVING.
AND THE VERY FIRST YEAR WE RECEIVED A CHECK THROUGH THOSE DONATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF 15,000 $168 AND 24.
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OCTOBER, UM, OUR PORTION OF THOSE DONATIONS FOR A ISD SPECIFIC WAS OVER $21,000.SO I APPLAUD YOUR WORK AND YOUR SEEING THE NEED OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN OUR AREA WITH, UH, THESE FUNDS.
AND WE, SPECIFICALLY IN OUR DISTRICT, EARMARK THESE FUNDS FOR BASIC NEEDS.
THIS, THESE FUNDS HAVE ALLOWED US TO OPEN 10, UH, BASIC NEED CLOSETS AND 10, UH, CAMPUSES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.
SO OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND PRINCIPALS CAN GO TO THE CLOSEST CAMPUS AND PICK UP ITEMS THAT THEY MAY NEED IN AN EMERGENCY FOR A STUDENT AND NOT HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN TO OUR OFFICE AND GET SOMEBODY TO DELIVER THINGS.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE IT EASY FOR CAMPUSES AND OUR PARENT RESOURCE, UM, STAFF TO ACCESS ITEMS TO SERVE STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THESE FUNDS HAVE DONE, AND I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SHARE IS THAT PROJECT HELP.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATIONAL EQUITY STARTS WITH STABILITY, SUPPORT, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.
WE ARE HONORED TO WALK ALONG OUR, ALONGSIDE WITH OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS DURING THEIR MOST VULNERABLE TIMES, AND TO HELP LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR BRIGHTER AND HOPEFUL FUTURES.
UM, I WORK WITH AN AMAZING TEAM, UM, OF, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONLY FOR PEOPLE.
AND WE SERVE THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
THEY ARE PHENOMENAL, AND THEY WORK EVERY DAY IN IDENTIFYING STUDENTS AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS READY FOR THEM.
AND I, I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL FROM ME.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND INFORMATION COLLEAGUES.
I, UH, THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IS INCREDIBLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY KID DESERVES TO HAVE A CHANCE AND HAVE THE EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF HIM OR HER AND THIS FAMILY SITUATION OR, YOU KNOW, HOUSING SITUATION SHOULD NOT STAND IN THE WAY.
AND, AND I, I JUST, I THINK OF, THERE'S A FAMILY AT THE SCHOOL WHERE, WHERE MY KIDS GO AND, YOU KNOW, THEY PARENTS PICKED UP THE KIDS AND WITHIN AN HOUR, YOU KNOW, WE SAW THEM ON THE STREET CORNER YEAH.
TRYING TO, TRYING TO MAKE IT, AND THAT'S JUST, NO, NO.
CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT TO DEAL WITH THAT.
AND THEN THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
I APPLAUD YOU AND, AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE AS HELPFUL AS WE CAN.
AND THE GREAT THING IS THAT YOU NOTICE THEM MANY TIMES.
AND I, AND I CHALLENGE OUR, OUR STAFF.
DO YOU KNOW YOUR KIDS? DO YOU KNOW THE KIDS ON AT YOUR CAMPUS WHO ARE LIVING IN THIS TRAUMATIC SPACE? AND PRINCIPALS SAY, YES, CARLA, I KNOW.
'CAUSE I, I STAND ON A BOX AND I JUST SHOUT MY LITTLE THING ALL THE TIME.
UM, BUT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT YOU SAW THEM.
AND IF, IF YOU SEE THEM AGAIN, MAKE, JUST, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, HEY, HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT PROJECT HELP, JUST POINT THEM BACK TO THEIR CAMPUS.
EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT KNOWS MY NAME 'CAUSE THEY'RE TIRED OF MY VOICE.
SO, UM, PLEASE DIRECT THEM BACK TO THEIR CAMPUS SO THEY CAN GET TO ME AND MY TEAM, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO SERVE VICE CHAIR.
THIS IS, UH, PROBABLY I WOULD SAY, UH, UNIQUELY HELPFUL FOR ME IN THAT I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE PRESENTATION, UNTIL WE READ THROUGH THE, UH, THE SLIDES, THE BACKGROUND, UH, AND THE BACKUP.
I HAD TWO QUESTIONS THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR CLARITY ON.
ONE IS TO UNDERSTAND, YOU CAN JUST TOUCH ON, UM, DOES THIS WORK LIKE A SIMILAR MODEL THAT THE, THAT A ISD WORKS ON FOR STATE FUNDING, EXCEPT WITH A FEDERAL GRANT THAT COVERS THE STUDENT.
SO YOU DO A, UH, WHAT A, I GUESS CENSUS OR INTAKE ON A PERIODIC BASIS OR THROUGH THE YEAR, AND THEN YOU GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COVER THIS PROGRAM.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
SO OUR PROGRAM IS FUNDED IN TWO SEPARATE GRANTS.
ONE IS THROUGH THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, THE, UH, UH, THE, UM, TEXAS EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH TECHIE FOR SHORT, AND THE OTHER IS TITLE ONE.
SO THOSE TWO GRANTS SUPPORT ALL OF THE WORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN IN THE NEWS, UM, HOW BOTH OF THOSE GRANTS HAVE BEEN KIND OF IMPACTED.
SO WE GET A, A VERY SPECIFIC HARD LINE DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND MY JOB IS TO DO WHAT I CAN WITH MY TEAM AND MY STAFF WITH THOSE FUNDS.
THAT'S WHY THE DONATIONS THAT COME THROUGH THE, UH, HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS TO SERVE IN THAT GAP SPACE WHEN WE HAVE KIDS WHO NEED, UM, IMMUNIZATIONS OR KIDS WHO NEED EYEGLASSES OR THEY MUST GO TO THE DOCTOR, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
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WHO ARE GETTING READY TO GO, GO TO COLLEGE, AND THEY'RE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT I NEED TO DO TO PREPARE, YOU KNOW, HEALTH WISE.SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEM IN WITH THEIR DOCTORS AND GET SHOT RECORDS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS DONE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW A LOT OF THAT HAPPENS.
UM, SO THERE, THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING TO BE INCREASED IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO IDENTIFY THOSE FUNDS ARE BASED ON THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED EACH YEAR.
SO WE WORK REALLY HARD, UH, WITH CAMPUSES, WITH COUNSELORS, WITH EVERYBODY ASSOCIATED AT A CAMPUS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, YOUR KIDS.
WHO DO YOU THINK, WHO DO YOU, WHO'S OUTLINED? LET US KNOW AND LET US FOLLOW UP WITH THAT FAMILY TO SEE IF WE CAN SERVE.
UM, I, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE UNDER IDENTIFIED IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
AND SO WE WORK REALLY HARD TO REMOVE THE BARRIER OR, AND THE STIGMA THAT IS STILL ATTACHED WITH HOMELESS CHILDREN DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THEY DIDN'T CREATE THE SPACE OF WHERE THEY LIVE.
UM, THEY ARE, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHEREVER THEIR PARENTS ARE OR THEY ARE IN SPACES THAT THEIR PARENTS HAVE LEFT THEM IN.
EITHER WAY, THE CHILD DID NOT CHOOSE THAT SPACE.
SO WE WORK REALLY HARD IN IDENTIFYING AND CONNECTING THEM WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE LIFEWORKS AND, AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT CAN STAND IN THE GAP AND SUPPORT THEM WHILE THEY ARE CONTINUING TO GO TO SCHOOL.
OUR GOAL AT A ISD IS TO EDUCATE EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY.
AND MY, MY GOAL AND THE GOAL AND THE ROLE OF PROJECT HELP IS TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS SO THAT STUDENTS CAN DO THOSE THINGS.
THANK YOU, YOU FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO THEN TWO QUICK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN HERE.
ONE IS, UH, WE'RE DEFINING, UH, UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH AS THOSE NOT IN THE PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF THE PARENT, BUT THEN WE ALSO SAID 9% OF THEM ARE IN THE CUSTODY.
SO THAT 9% MEANS THAT THAT PARENT IS, IS, IS TRANSIENT.
THAT STUDENT, UM, LIVES WITH MOM OR DAD OR WHOMEVER WHEN THEY'RE THERE, BUT 90% OF THE TIME THAT CHILD IS FLOATING AROUND LIVING WITH A FRIEND OR IN A SPACE BY THEMSELVES.
SO AGAIN, IT'S HOW, HOW KIDS, UM, IDENTIFY.
THERE IS STILL A STIGMA FOR A CHILD WHOSE FAMILY HAS ABANDONED THEM.
THEY DO NOT WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH ANYBODY.
SO THE ONES THAT DO, WE ALLOW THEM TO IDENTIFY HO HOWEVER THEY WANT TO, BECAUSE IT STILL GIVES THEM THAT SENSE OF CONNECTION.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
LAST QUESTION IS CERTAINLY THE HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND THAT YOU MENTIONED.
IS THAT, UH, YOU MENTIONED REPORTING IN OCTOBER OF THE PRIOR, THE PRIOR THREE YEARS? YES.
IS THAT JUST THAT MONTH OR IS THAT THE ENTIRE YEAR JUST BEING REPORTED IN OCTOBER THE ENTIRE YEAR? SO THE, THE FUND, UH, RUNS SEPTEMBER ONE THROUGH AUGUST 30TH.
AND, UM, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY FINANCE, UH, TALLIES ALL THOSE COINS AND THEN PROPORTIONALLY DIVIDE UP THOSE FUNDS WITH THE EIGHT DISTRICTS THAT ARE RECEIVING IT.
SO YOU'RE SPLITTING THAT WITH DELL VALLEY? CORRECT.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THAT.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON MY END.
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A STIGMA AROUND HOMELESSNESS.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR NUMBERS ARE THE FULL PICTURE OF THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
IS IT BASED ON THOSE WHO SELF-IDENTIFY OR IS THERE OTHER AREAS OR OTHER METHODS IN WHICH YOU ARE ABLE TO, UM, GET THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING? I, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO FIT IN THE AREA OF BEING HOMELESS.
I THINK FAMILIES AND PARENTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY WORK REALLY HARD TO HIDE THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A STIGMA AND THERE IS THIS JUDGMENTAL PIECE THAT PEOPLE WILL THINK THAT I'M NOT A GOOD PARENT.
PEOPLE WILL THINK THAT I'M NOT TAKING CARE OF MY KIDS, AND IF THE SCHOOL OR SOMEONE FINDS OUT, I WILL LOSE MY KIDS.
SO THAT IS, THAT'S THE BIGGER PIECE.
SO WE WORK REALLY HARD IN DOING WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS IN ANY SPACE, IN EVERY SPACE WE CAN SO THAT FAMILIES KNOW THAT PROJECT HELP IS JUST A PLACE FOR SUPPORT.
WE, WE, OUR JOB IS TO HELP THAT STUDENT GO TO SCHOOL.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE, THAT WE'VE, UM, MET THE FULL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN A ISD THAT DEFINITELY COULD QUALIFY IF WE KNEW OF THEM, WE KNEW OF THEM.
AND SO THE NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE OF THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS BEING SERVED OR MM-HMM
COULD POTENTIALLY SERVED IS BASED SOLELY ON SELF-IDENTIFICATION? CORRECT.
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AND, UH, LASTLY, ARE THERE ANY WAYS OR OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU SEE FOR FURTHER COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.UM, I, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM MOST PROUD OF IN MY DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, WHERE MY PROGRAM LIVES, IS THE CITY SUPPORTS SOME TUTORIAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER CARE STUDENTS.
THE VICTORY TUTORIAL PROGRAM, FOR ONE, IS ONE THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE AS A LIBRARIANS KID.
UM, I LOVE THOSE SPACES AND I LOVE THE SUPPORT THAT THAT PROGRAM ALLOWS KIDS TO HAVE, AS WELL AS THE PRIMETIME PROGRAM THAT IS OPERATING IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT ALLOW AN AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT AND ENGAGEMENT, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS AFTERSCHOOL ON THEIR CAMPUS UNTIL THEIR PARENT COMES TO PICK THEM UP.
SO IF, IF, IF I COULD SAY ANYTHING OF, YOU KNOW, MONEY, MONEY DOES GREAT THINGS, BUT IF THERE WERE WAYS THAT A ISD AND THE CITY COULD CREATE MORE AFTERSCHOOL OR TUTORIAL RELATED PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS, UM, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE, HUGE HELP.
I, I KNOW, UM, AS WE WORK WITH HOMELESS, ONE OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT I WORK WITH IS THROUGH TEA IS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE AREAS THAT WE SERVE ARE, ARE DOING WELL ON THEIR STATE ASSESSMENTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WHEN YOU'RE LIVING IN THIS SPACE OF TRAUMA OF FOSTER CARE AND HOMELESSNESS, YOU MAY NOT BE AS FOCUSED ON THESE STANDARDIZED EXAMS. SO WE WORK REALLY HARD IN THAT TESTING TIMEFRAME TO, TO SUPPORT KIDS AND GET THEM READY.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES, CAMPUSES ARE STRETCHED, UH, TUTORIAL PROGRAMS ARE STRETCHED, AND I AM WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 13 STUDENTS AT YOUR SCHOOL CAN DO WELL ON THEIR STAR EXAM.
SO HOW, HOW DO WE SUPPORT THAT? SO, UM, IF TUTORIALS, UM, OR SUPPORT IN THAT WAY COULD BE DONE, I WOULD, I WOULD WORK WITH WHOMEVER TO HELP CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE FOR IDENTIFIED STUDENTS.
AND YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY NOW HAS A, AN INITIATIVE, A FUND DEDICATED TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
I BELIEVE, I WANNA SAY IT'S 11 MILLION A YEAR, UM, THAT WILL GO TO SUPPORT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR OUR KIDS.
SO I WOULD CERTAINLY SUGGEST THAT Y'ALL MIGHT CONSIDER PRESENTING TO OUR TRAVIS COUNTY LEADERS THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
I WILL, I WILL TALK TO ANYBODY ANYWHERE ABOUT PROJECT HEALTH.
WOULD IT, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE THAT I SHARE SOMETHING WITH EACH OF YOU? SURE.
WE HAVE A OH, OH, YOU CAN, UH, EITHER TO AMELIA RIGHT HERE WITH MY TEAM AND SHE'LL GET IT TO US.
EVERYBODY ARE OUR WAY TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND A WAY TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE.
WE, WE WORKED A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN-HOUSE TO CREATE A LOGO, SO WE CREATED, UM, NOTEPADS WITH OUR LOGO AT THE BOTTOM WITH THANK YOU AT THE TOP.
AND MY CARD IS ATTACHED TO IT.
SO I, IF, UM, IF YOU'RE EVER WRITING A NOTE TO SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICES, WRITE IT ON A PROJECT HELP NOTE AND HAVE THEM SAY, WHAT IS THAT? AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW, WHEN YOU PAY YOUR BILL, ADD A COUPLE DOLLARS TO THAT HOMELESS STUDENT FUND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IS IT A SET DOLLAR NUMBER OR DOES THE, DOES THE CUSTOMER SET THE OUT THEMSELVES? WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THEY JUST WRITE IT IN AND ADD.
WELL, WE'LL BE SURE TO PUT IT IN OUR NEWSLETTER GOING OUT NEXT WEEK.
CAN I MAKE A CLARIFICATION AND A COMMENT ABOUT WHAT? SURE.
SINCE IT'S THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR, WE WILL ALLOW IT
UH, IF THE QUESTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WAS ABOUT WHAT THE PERIOD OF TIME IS THAT THE DONATIONS HAPPEN ANNUALLY? UH, JUST A CLARIFICATION.
IT'S OCTOBER ONE TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.
AND REGARDING TUTORING, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CARLA EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND I'VE OPENED UP A CHANNEL TO, UH, INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL FROM, FROM THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT ABOUT USING SPACE THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR TUTORING.
AND WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT IF THE FUND BUILDS AND IT'S NOT TOTALLY UTILIZED WITHIN THE HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND THAT I CREATED, THEN PERHAPS SOME OF THAT FUNDING COULD BE TARGETED TOWARDS, TOWARDS TUTORING AT, AT ONE OF THE BRANCH LIBRARIES OR AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
THERE WAS CONSULTING SPACE WITHIN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY WHEN IT FIRST OPENED.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I BROUGHT THE CONVERSATION UP IN 2009 WITH THE ORIGINAL DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME, UH, BRENDA BRANCH, AND NOW IT'S IN TWO DIFFERENT, UH, LIBRARY BRANCHES WHERE THERE'S SPACE FOR THEM TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS, INCLUDING TUTORING AND CONSULTING
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SPACE FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.AND THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL IDEA, WAS TO PUT IT IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY TO GIVE THE, THE TEAMS THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREET A PLACE TO BRING PEOPLE TO HELP THEM AND DE-STIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH, IN PART BY HAVING SERVICES OFFERED AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
ALRIGHT, COLLEAGUES, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM
[5. Briefing updates from Homeless Strategies and Operations regarding programs and initiatives. [David Gray, Director - Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations].]
NUMBER FIVE.I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DAVID GRAY, DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS FOR A BRIEFING UPDATE REGARDING ASOS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
THIS IS A TWO PART PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM.
WE'LL START WITH THE PRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY ON THE ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP INITIATIVE.
AND THEN OUR LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE, UH, WILL HAVE LEADERS FROM ECHO HERE WITH US FOR THE SECOND PORTION ON A UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING GUIDELINES.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TOSS IT OVER TO DIRECTOR GRAY.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND TO THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM LAID OUT.
THIS IS A, A TWO FOR ONE TO END THE CALENDAR YEAR.
SO, UH, I'LL HAVE MY COLLEAGUES WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN INTRODUCE THEMSELVES FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL INVITE OUR COLLEAGUES FROM ECHO TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
AND THEN I'LL START OFF WITH THE FIRST PRESENTATION.
I'M WITH THE AUSTIN WITH STRATEGIES OFFICE AND THE STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS.
I AM KRISTA STEADMAN WITH AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, UH, AS MY DAY JOB, BUT I MANAGED COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE, UH, PRIORITIZATION INITIATIVE.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AT ECHO, YOUR LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ALSO AT ECHO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYBODY FOR INTRODUCING YOURSELVES.
SO, TO KICK THINGS OFF, UH, ABOUT OUR OFFICE, FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, UH, MAYBE IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE'S VISION IS TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO STABLE HOUSING AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
THIS VISION REALLY IS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, INCLUDING THE RECENTLY COMPLETED ENCAMPMENT, UH, CLEANUP INITIATIVE THAT WE LAUNCHED, UH, A FEW WEEKS BACK.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL COVER TODAY, UH, FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE IS SOME BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ABOUT THIS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE.
YOU KNOW, WHY WE DID IT, WHAT WERE OUR GOALS, THE PROCESS THAT WE TOOK TO MAKE SURE WE DID THIS STUFF, UH, IN A CLIENT INFORMED MANNER, SOME OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES OF THAT, AS WELL AS LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED, UH, AND RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, AROUND HOW WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.
UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GOT WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WAS, WHY NOW? UH, COMING OUT OF F1 AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, WHY START THIS NOW? AND FOR US, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.
UH, EVERY YEAR SINCE WE'VE BEEN A DEPARTMENT, WE'VE TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE OUR COLD WEATHER SHELTER OPERATIONS, UH, AS WELL AS ENHANCE OUR POSTURING FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
UH, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET AHEAD OF SEVERE WEATHER, GET AHEAD OF WILDFIRES, FLOODS, UH, AND WINTER WEATHER, ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE, GET THEM CONNECTED INTO SERVICES AND SHELTER, AND THEN ALSO RESTORE PUBLIC SPACES BACK FOR THEIR INTENDED USE.
SO WE HAD EIGHT GOALS FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
FIRST WAS ENSURING THAT OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS HAD ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
THE SECOND WAS ENSURING THAT WE HAD SHELTER PLACEMENTS, AGAIN, AHEAD OF SEVERE, UH, WEATHER RELATED EVENTS OR WILDFIRE.
THE THIRD WAS TO RESTORE OUR PUBLIC SPACES THROUGH FOCUS CLEANUP EFFORTS ACROSS SOME OF THE MOST HIGH IMPACT AREAS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF.
THE FOURTH WAS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF EVERYBODY, UH, IN MIND, INCLUDING OUR INDIVIDUALS BEING SERVED, OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE OUT DOING CLEANUPS AND CLOSURES.
FIFTH WAS MAINTAINING OPEN COMMUNICATIONS AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, WHICH, UH, WE TRIED TO DO THROUGH REGULAR UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.
UH, RELATED TO THAT WAS SIXTH, MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY LEADERS AND OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS WERE KEPT INFORMED.
SEVENTH WAS MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, THROUGH THE MEDIA AND OTHER AVENUES TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE DOING, BUT ALSO SAW US OPERATING AS ONE CITY, WHAT CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AND EIGHT WAS TO LIMIT IMPACT TO OTHER CITY PRIORITIES.
SO WHILE THIS OPERATION WAS A HUGE LIFT ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WE'LL SEE ON THE LATER SLIDE, UH, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER CITY PRIORITIES WERE NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
UH, AS WE WERE DOING THIS THREE WEEK INITIATIVE, OUR APPROACH TO THIS WORK, UH,
[00:40:01]
RESEMBLES, UM, THE, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE RELY ON DAY IN AND DAY OUT.AND WHEN I SAY IT WAS A, A UNIFIED AND JOINT CITY EFFORT, THIS SLIDE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS OPERATION A SUCCESS.
UH, EVERYBODY FROM, FROM MY STAFF LED BY PATRICIA AND, AND HER TEAM, UH, OUR FRIENDS AT, UH, TRA AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, BUT ALSO ANIMAL SERVICES, A-P-D-A-R-R-T-P-W, WATERSHED, PARD, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, 3 1 1 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.
UH, AND THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHERS WHO DID NOT MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE SLIDE.
AND SO IF, IF THOSE DIRECTORS OR STAFF ARE WATCHING, PLEASE CHARGE IT TO OUR, OUR HEADS AND NOT OUR HEARTS.
UH, BUT IT, IT WAS TRULY A COORDINATED EFFORT.
A A LOT OF 6:00 AM PHONE CALLS AND 11:00 AM PHONE CALLS AND 2:00 PM PHONE CALLS, AND 5:00 PM PHONE CALLS.
AND JUST CITY STAFF REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THIS WORK, THE, THE RIGHT WAY.
THE PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOWED ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SOUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE LEADING WITH THE, THE ETHOS AND THE VALUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US AS A CITY.
UH, IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE WEREN'T JUST GOING IN TELLING PEOPLE TO GRAB WHAT THEY CAN, AND WE WERE GONNA COME AND, AND CLEAR OUT THE ENCAMPMENT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, IN FACT, SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO GET CONNECTED TO SHELTER AND SERVICES.
SO WHEN WE BEGAN WITH SITE IDENTIFICATION, USING 3 1 1 DATA, LOOKING AT ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, COMMUNITY REPORTS, DEPARTMENT NEEDS, UH, AND USING THAT TO CREATE A PRIORITIZED LIST EVERY WEEK FOR SITES THAT WE WANTED TO, UH, DO OUTREACH, FOLLOWED BY CLEANING AND CLOSING.
THE SECOND WAS DOING THE OUTREACH ITSELF, WHICH WAS MOSTLY CONDUCTED BY AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS, AND OUR STAFF.
MAKING SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS HAD WRITTEN AND VERBAL NOTICE THAT A SITE WAS IDENTIFIED WITH 72 HOURS NOTICE AND OFFERED INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO SHELTER AND KEY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE MEDICAL REFERRALS AND REAL-TIME SUPPORT.
THE THIRD STEP IS POSTING, UH, NOTICES AND MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE NOTICES INCLUDE THE DATE AND THE TIMES OF THE PLANNED OPERATIONS.
UH, THERE WERE A FEW DAYS WHERE WE HAD SOME INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT, UH, DID NOT ALLOW US TO CONDUCT THE OPERATIONS ON THOSE DAYS.
AND SO WE WERE SHORT OF FOLLOW UP, UH, WITH FOLKS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THE NEW SCHEDULES FOR WHEN THOSE CLEANUPS WOULD OCCUR.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THROUGHOUT ALL THREE OF THESE STEPS, WE TOOK TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNEW HOW TO GET THEIR PROPERTY SOMEPLACE SAFE, AND IF THEY WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THERE WAS A, A SHELTER CONNECTION THAT WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.
BUT OF COURSE, WE, WE DID NOT FORCE AFTER MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF ENGAGEMENT AND POSTED A NOTIFICATION, WE THEN WOULD PROCEED WITH OPERATIONAL CLEANUP, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY OUR COLLEAGUES IN AUSTIN, RESOURCE RECOVERY, TPW WATERSHED, UH, ET CETERA.
AND, AND SO THESE CREWS WOULD ALSO OFTENTIMES ENGAGE WITH FOLKS ON SITE, LET THEM KNOW THAT IT WAS THE ACTUAL CLEANUP DAY, MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, GAVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, SO SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WHAT THEY COULD, UH, BUT THEN AT SOME POINT, ACTUALLY COMMENCE THAT CLEANUP PROCESS.
WE WORKED WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS WITH A PD AND, AND ALL OF OUR STAFF TO ENSURE PEOPLE KNEW WHAT TO KEEP AND, AND DO OUR BEST TO MAINTAIN.
SO IF YOU CAME ACROSS IDS, MEDICATION, UH, BIKES, PERSONAL ITEMS, UH, DOCUMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD TRY TO KEEP THOSE AND, AND FIND SAFE WAYS TO STORE THOSE, STORE THOSE.
BUT THINGS LIKE SHOPPING CARTS, UNSAFE ITEMS, UH, DIRTY MATTRESSES, ET CETERA, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE, WE WOULD DECLARE AS JUNK AND DEBRIS AND ULTIMATELY WOULD GET HAULED OFF.
A PD PROVIDED OPERATIONAL SECURITY AND, AND SAFETY.
UH, THEY HELPED ENFORCE OUR WORK ZONE PERIMETERS.
UH, UH, AGAIN, A LOT OF THEIR WORK FOCUSED ON VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE, ASKING PEOPLE TO PLEASE VACATE THE WORK ZONE SO THAT WE COULD BEGIN THE CLEANUP AND THE SITE RESTORATION.
UH, IF FOLKS CHOSE NOT TO COMPLY WITH MULTIPLE WARNINGS, THEN A PD WOULD PROCEED WITH ISSUING CITATIONS AND TRANSPORTING FOLKS TO THE COMMUNITY COURT.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE A FEW INSTANCES WHERE ARRESTS WERE NECESSARY, BUT WE TOOK THOSE ACTIONS, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND AND LOCAL LAWS.
THE LAST PART WAS ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION.
SO AFTER REMOVING THE DEBRIS, UH, AND DOING THE HAZARD MITIGATION, BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF RESTORING SITES SO THAT THEY COULD BE ENJOYED BY THE PUBLIC OR RESTORING BACK TO THEIR KIND OF NATURAL VEGETATIVE STATE POST CLEANUP AND ONGOING MANAGEMENT IS THE KIND OF PHASE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, UH, AND DOING THIS WORK THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
[00:45:01]
IT RANGES FROM PROPERTY RETRIEVAL AND DOCUMENTATION, SO MAKING SURE THAT, UH, AS WE'VE DOCUMENTED IDENTIFICATION AND STORED, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE CONNECTED, UH, BACK TO THEIR PROPERTY, ALL THE WAY TO PRE PRO PROACTIVE PREVENTION AND FOLLOW UP, REVISITING SOME OF THE KNOWN SITES, UH, DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP THOSE AREAS CLEAN AND, AND CLEAR FROM FUTURE ENCAMPMENT.UH, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER, UH, AN AFTER ACTION REPORT THAT WILL HAVE FULL FINDINGS FOR, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE FINDINGS THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE, THE KEY INITIATIVE RESULTS AND KPIS THAT WE TRACKED.
UH, AND OF COURSE, I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS IN, IN A MEMO THAT WE RELEASED EARLIER, UH, THIS MONTH, OR I'M SORRY, LAST MONTH.
UH, THROUGHOUT THE THREE WEEKS WE VISITED 669 SITES.
UH, I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THOSE WERE NOT UNIQUE SITES, BUT THOSE WERE, YOU KNOW, SITE VISITS.
SO THERE WERE SOME CASES WE MIGHT VISIT THE SAME SITE MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THAT, UH, OVER THE THREE WEEKS.
UH, BUT EACH OF THOSE WAS, WAS COUNTED AS A UNIQUE VISIT.
WE ENGAGED, UH, 1200 INDIVIDUALS DURING THOSE VISITS.
UH, AGAIN, THERE IS SOME DUPLICATION HERE TOO.
WE MIGHT'VE ENGAGED SOMEBODY AT A SITE ON MONDAY, MAYBE THEY MIGRATED TO A NEW SITE.
WE HAPPEN TO BE AT THAT SITE ON THURSDAY, AND SO WE ENGAGE WITH THAT PERSON AGAIN.
UH, AND SO THAT INDIVIDUAL IS ENGAGED COUNT AS MORE OF A CEILING THAN A FLOOR, BUT THERE IS SOME DUPLICATION.
WHAT'S NOT DUPLICATION ARE THESE NEXT INDICATORS, UH, SHELTERED AND CONNECTED TO SERVICES.
SO WE DID CONNECT 181 UNIQUE PEOPLE TO SHELTERS AND AN ADDITIONAL 87 UNIQUE PEOPLE TO SERVICES THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT ONE IN FOUR OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE ENGAGED.
IF YOU TAKE THAT 1200 NUMBER, UH, AT FACE VALUE, WE DID HAVE SOME PEOPLE RETURN TO CAMPS.
UH, AND THESE ARE FOLKS WHO WE ENGAGED WITH AS WE WOULD GO BACK TO SITES, UH, TO DO SOME OF THE PREVENTATIVE WORK OR TO RETURN TO A SITE MAYBE FOR ADDITIONAL CLEANUP.
UH, AND THEN ON A PD SIDE, THEY ISSUED 71 CITATIONS AND 22 ARRESTS.
UH, MOST OF THOSE ARRESTS WERE FOR OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
UM, AND SO THOSE, YOU KNOW, ARRESTS THAT A PD IS OBLIGATED TO MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITATIONS, WE REALLY LEANED ON CLASS C MISDEMEANOR CITATIONS, WHICH THEN GET PEOPLE INTO THE, UH, COMMUNITY COURT PIPELINE, WHICH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS A NON FEE-BASED COURT, UH, OFFERING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND PATHWAYS OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTED WITH THAT SYSTEM.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WASTE AND DEBRIS REMOVED, LOOKING ACROSS OUR THREE PARTNERS WHO REMOVED WASTE AND DEBRIS, A RR REMOVED, UH, 435 TONS OF DEBRIS OVER THE THREE WEEK PERIOD.
UH, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS HAD AN ADDITIONAL 191 TONS FOLLOWED BY WATERSHED WITH 103 TONS.
UH, THE ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS OPERATION, AND, AND AGAIN, THESE NUMBERS ARE STILL, UH, ESTIMATED WE'RE, WE'RE STILL CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS AND GETTING SOME DATA, SO APOLOGIES FOR SOME OF THE BLANK CELLS HERE.
BUT FROM STAFF TIME, UH, ACROSS ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS ENGAGED WITH THIS, WE ESTIMATE THAT COST TO BE, UH, JUST OVER $831,000, UH, NEARLY $832,000, UH, WITH SOME ADDITIONAL AND COST INCURRED BY DEPARTMENTS FOR OPERATIONS AND LABOR.
UH, IN TOTAL, THERE WERE 369 STAFF WHO PARTICIPATED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION IN THIS WORK, WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT LIKE PATRICIA'S ROLE, UH, COMMUNICATIONS LIKE KRISTA'S ROLE ARE ACTUALLY BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UH, DOING THE OUTREACH OR DOING THE, THE CLEANUP.
THE KEY POINT HERE THAT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS, YOU KNOW, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT OUTREACH AND CLEANUP TO, TO CONTINUE TO DO IT IN THE WAY THAT WE DID IT WOULD REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME.
AND IT DOES COME AT A, A PRETTY CONSIDERABLE COST, UH, TO THE CITY.
AND SO WE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UH, DEMANDS FROM OUR RESIDENTS TO DO MORE CLEANUPS AND, AND TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE A, A PRIORITY AND A GOAL TO DO THAT.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, GIVEN WHERE WE'RE AT POST PROP Q UH, AND GIVEN JUST DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS PERSONNEL NEEDS AND, AND CHALLENGES SUSTAINING THIS LEVEL OF OUTPUT WOULD BE CHALLENGING FOR US.
UH, BUT WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW MUCH TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE SPENT AND HOW MANY STAFF WERE ENGAGED AS WE CONDUCTED THIS WORK, WHICH LEADS TO OUR KEY LESSONS LEARNED.
UH, SO WHEN IT COMES TO JUST KIND OF KEY LESSONS LEARNED, AND IN SOME CASES KEY LESSONS REINFORCED, NOT NECESSARILY NEW THINGS THAT WE LEARNED, BUT THINGS THAT WERE VALIDATED AT THE, THAT WE DID THIS WORK.
THE FIRST WAS THAT HAVING DEDICATED RESOURCES IMPROVED, IMPROVES OUTCOMES.
[00:50:01]
UH, ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN WE HAVE THE DEDICATED STAFFING EQUIPMENT AND SHELTER CAPACITY.AND ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE ALIGNED IN A SPECIFIC WAY IN ORDER FOR US TO GET PEOPLE INTO SHELTER IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, MAKE SURE THAT ALL THEIR POSSESSIONS, UH, THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP AND, AND WANT TO KEEP, ARE ALSO ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED.
AND THEN WE CAN QUICKLY RESTORE, UH, THOSE SITES AFTER WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE POPULATION INTO SHELTER.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED DURING THIS OPERATION WAS A PARALLEL, UH, OPERATION BY DPS.
UH, AND DESPITE SOME REPEAT EFFORTS, UH, WE JUST WEREN'T EVER REALLY ABLE TO, TO SYNC UP.
UM, BUT HAVING BETTER COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE BOTH DOING SIMILAR OPERATIONS, WOULD REALLY REDUCE DISPLACEMENT.
UH, SOMETIMES WE WOULD FIND PEOPLE IN GREENBELTS WHO TOLD US THAT THEY FLED TO THOSE AREAS WHEN THEIR ENCAMPMENT IN A MORE VISIBLE LOCATION GOT, UH, SHUT DOWN BY A STATE AGENCY.
AND SO WE, WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT AND, AND WORK BETTER WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS AND ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, FRANKLY.
UH, AS WE DO THIS WORK AND DO THIS WORK TOGETHER, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT EARLIER LEAD TIME WOULD'VE BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, WE, WE KICKED THIS THING OFF KIND OF QUICKLY, UH, IN A MORE IDEAL STATE, IF WE WOULD'VE HAD FIVE TO SIX WEEKS TO DO MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE AND GET THEM INTO SHELTER, WE THINK, UH, OUR SERVICE CONNECTIONS, ALTHOUGH GOOD, COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALSO INTERNALLY NEED TO REFINE OUR REPORTING PROCESSES.
UH, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THIS WORK, THE, THE DATA COLLECTION PIECE INTERNALLY WAS SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING.
UH, DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS KIND OF COLLECT DATA A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
WE ALL KIND OF MEASURED THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO IT'S HARD TO TELL A TRULY COHESIVE STORY.
WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY RESOLVE THAT, ESPECIALLY THANKS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, KRISTA.
AND THANKS TO PATRICIA AND, AND CHRIS ANDERSON, OUR DEPUTY AND THE FOLKS AT AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UNDER, UH, DIRECTOR REDICK AND HIS TEAM, THEY, THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB HELPING US PULL TOGETHER ALL THE DIFFERENT DATA INTO A STREAMLINED SYSTEM.
AND BY WEEK TWO, WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO A, A MORE REFINED UNIFORM REPORTING.
UH, AND ONCE WE HAD THAT SYSTEM FIGURED OUT, THEN WE WERE OFF TO THE RACES IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET THE DATA OUT TO FOLKS QUICKLY.
UH, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT.
AGAIN, RELATED TO THAT IS STANDARDIZED DOCUMENTATION.
WHEN OUR CREWS HAD CONSISTENT TRAINING ON HOW TO TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOGRAPHS, HOW TO DOCUMENT THINGS THAT YOU COME ACROSS IN THE FIELD, HOW TO DOCUMENT ENGAGEMENT WITH CLIENTS, UH, IT MADE IT MUCH EASIER FOR US TO TRACK WHAT'S GOING ON CITYWIDE AND ALSO BE ABLE TO TELL A, A TRULY, UM, COHESIVE STORY AROUND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THEN THE LAST WAS MEDIA ACCESS PLANNING.
UH, A LOT OF OUR MEDIA PARTNERS WANTED TO COME OUT AND JOIN US ON VISITS.
UH, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, FULL ACCESS TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AS LONG AS WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE SITES ARE SAFE.
AND ALSO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL LIVES.
IT COULD BE WOMEN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.
IT COULD BE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND, AND HAVING A, A NEWS CAMERA MIGHT TRIGGER A REACTION.
AND SO, UH, WE, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK, WE'LL DO KIND OF MORE PLANNING AROUND IDENTIFYING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SITES FOR MEDIA TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THE TRANSPARENT COVERAGE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US, AND I THINK IMPORTANT TO OUR, OUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW, UH, AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING FOR STANDARD OPERATIONS.
UH, IN TERMS OF FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, IF WE WERE TO TRY TO SUSTAIN THIS LEVEL OF OUTPUT AS A STANDARD OPERATION, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY NEED, UM, TO BE, BE BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE STAFF RESOURCES TO DO THIS.
UH, SOME OF THAT COULD COME FROM SOME OF OUR SIBLING DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, OR, OR EVEN INTEGRATING THE LITTER ABATEMENT PROGRAM AS PART OF A, AGAIN, A, A UNIFIED CITYWIDE KIND OF HOLISTIC APPROACH.
IMPROVING SITE ACCESS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UH, WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE BRINGING IN EQUIPMENT LIKE SKID STEERS, UH, THAT WE'RE NOT CAUSING HARM TO TREES AND NATIVE HABITATS, OR EVEN DAMAGE TO CITY FACILITIES LIKE SOCCER FIELDS.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US THAT AS WE DO THIS WORK, THAT WE HAVE GOOD SITE ACCESS, THAT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE ENGAGED, UH, AND CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN THE WORK IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY WERE DURING THE THREE WEEKS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DASHBOARDS AND DATA AND TECHNOLOGY.
[00:55:01]
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING TO AN ARCGIS BASED SYSTEM FOR TRACKING SITES AND TRACKING PROGRESS.AND I THINK SOME OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT WORK THAT'S GOING ON ALREADY.
AND SO, AS WE BRING THOSE NEW DATA AND MAPPING TOOLS ON BOARD, THAT'S REALLY GONNA HELP US ENHANCE, UH, HOW WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK DURING THE STANDARD OPERATION SEASONS.
IF WE HAVE TO DO MORE ENHANCED OPERATIONS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT OCCASIONALLY, UH, WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO, WE MIGHT NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN.
UH, FIRST IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IMPROVING COORDINATION, UH, AND ALIGNMENT.
THIS IS BOTH PROVIDING LONGER LEAD TIMES FOR US TO DO THE OUTREACH, DOING MORE THOROUGH SITE REVIEWS AND WALKTHROUGHS WITH PARTNERS SO FOLKS KNOW HOW TO ACCESS, UH, ENCAMPMENTS SAFELY.
AND ALSO HOW WE CAN GET LARGE EQUIPMENT IN AND OUT WHILE MINIMIZING NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO CLIENTS AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IMPROVING OUR ADVANCED SAFETY PLANNING.
UH, SO AGAIN, WORKING WITH AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO INCORPORATING MORE INPUT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, UH, AROUND OPERATIONAL SAFETY, UH, AND IMPROVING OUR TEAM ASSIGNMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MATCHING SKILLS TO THE CONDITION IN THE FIELDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, MAKING SURE THAT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS CREWS ARE PREPARED FOR GOING INTO A, A WOODED ENVIRONMENT THAT'S NOT PART OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY WORK.
USUALLY THAT'S A WATERSHED, YOU KNOW, CREWS WORK, BUT IF WE HAVE TO USE A TPW CREW FOR THAT PURPOSE, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED AND, AND KNOW WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR AS THEY'RE OPERATING IN THOSE TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE PROVIDING SOME REFRESHER TRAINING, UH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND DISTINGUISHING PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM DEBRIS.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE DO NO HARM AS WE DO THIS WORK.
UH, WE DON'T WANT TO THROW AWAY PEOPLE'S VITAL DOCUMENTS, THEIR PERSONAL IDS, OTHER VITAL RECORDS.
UH, AND SO DOING MORE OF THAT TRAINING, ALSO, OFFERING SEARCH PREP TRAINING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE TROUBLESHOOTED EQUIPMENT NEEDS, UH, AND OTHER THINGS THAT DEPARTMENTS NEED IN ORDER TO, TO OPERATE SAFELY.
UH, IMPROVING OUR USE OF DATA AND TECHNOLOGY IS A RECURRING THEME FOR US.
SO I WON'T BELABOR THAT POINT.
UH, AND THEN THE LAST ONE HERE IS IMPROVING OUR SHELTER AND OUR OUTREACH INTEGRATION.
MAINTAINING OUR SEARCH ELEMENTS SUCH AS ON-DEMAND SHELTER OPERATIONS, SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO QUICKLY MOVE PEOPLE INTO SHELTER AND CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES AS WE GO ABOUT DOING THE WORK.
UM, SO AS I WRAP UP, I, I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN WE FIRST DID THIS INITIATIVE, WE SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT TO DO IT AS A COLLABORATION OF CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, THERE WERE SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAD ASKED TO BE INCLUDED OR HAD ASKED WHY THEY WEREN'T, UH, ENGAGED AND, AND INVITED TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
WE, WE REALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT, NUMBER ONE, FOR US TO DO THIS AS A CITY FAMILY, JUST TO SEE, UH, HOW WELL WE CAN DO WHEN WE CALL UPON, UH, OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER TO OPERATE AS ONE CITY IN SERVICE OF OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF OUR OUTREACH PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING OUTREACH THAT'S TIED WITH ANY FORM OF ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK AS NOW WE'VE WOUND DOWN THIS SURGE AND, AND WE HAVE SOME TIME TO THINK AND REFLECT, WE ARE GONNA BE ENGAGING WITH THOSE OUTREACH PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO INTENTIONALLY AND, AND MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE THEM IN THIS WORK.
UH, SHOULD WE HAVE TO DO, UH, ANOTHER SURGE OPERATION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
SO, UH, I DIDN'T THROW A SLIDE ON IT IN THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE'RE STILL FIGURING IT OUT, BUT I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MINDFUL OF.
UH, WE DO VALUE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND BECAUSE WE VALUE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE JUST WANNA BE VERY INTENTIONAL, UH, ABOUT HOW WE BRING COMMUNITY INTO THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS.
BUT WITH THAT, UH, MADAM MAYOR PRO, TIM, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IT TO YOU.
IF YOU WANNA DO QUESTIONS NOW OR IF YOU WANNA PROCEED TO THE ECHO PRESENTATION AND TAKE ALL THE QUESTIONS AT THE END.
SO LET'S PAUSE TO DO QUESTIONS ON THE ENCAMPMENT INITIATIVE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR NOW? I'LL WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE OKAY.
ONE QUESTION THAT STANDS OUT IN MY MIND.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE CONNECTED WITH SHELTER, THE PEOPLE WE CONNECTED WITH SERVICES.
WHERE DID EVERYONE ELSE GO? WHAT, WHAT, AS A THEORY JUST MOVED TO A DIFFERENT CAMP OR WHAT'S IN GENERAL? WHENEVER THEY WERE, UM, EITHER WENT TO SHELTER OR RECEIVED RESOURCES, A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS WERE JUST LIKE, OKAY, I'LL LEAVE AND JUST KIND OF DISAPPEARED ON US, AND WE HOPEFULLY WILL RUN INTO THEM AGAIN.
AND COUNSEL, I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT.
'CAUSE PATRICIA'S RIGHT, THAT THIS WAS, UH, WE DID NOT KNOW THAT
[01:00:01]
WE WERE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS FOR EVERYBODY WHEN WE STARTED THIS THING.AND I THINK MIRACULOUSLY, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER A SHELTER BED TO EVERYBODY WHO WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH.
UH, THE ONLY TIMES WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FACILITATE A SHELTER PLACEMENT WHEN SOMEBODY WANTED ONE, UH, WAS WHEN THAT PERSON HAD A PET.
AND IF WE COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE PET THAT DAY, THEN IT WAS A MATTER OF US FIGURING OUT AND KIND OF TRIAGING HOW DO WE GET THAT PERSON TO SHELTER WITH THEIR PET AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WHICH I, I THINK WE WERE ALWAYS ABLE TO RESOLVE QUICKLY, BUT THAT WAS PROBABLY THE, THE ONLY INSTANCES WHERE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY WHO WANTED SHELTER ACCESS TO SHELTER THOSE SAME DAYS.
AND ANY EITHER PATTERNS OR JUST THINGS YOU NOTICE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACCEPTING SHELTER, YOU KNOW, A COMMON REASON.
DID, DID THEY GIVE A COMMON REASON WHY? OR DID THEY JUST KIND OF SAY, LIKE YOU SAID, I'M OUTTA HERE, HAVE A GOOD, YOU KNOW, SEE YOU LATER, SOME OF THAT? YES.
SOME FOLKS WERE JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOOD.
AND JUST WENT OFF AND DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
UM, THERE WAS ANOTHER CAVEAT FOR FOLKS WHO DIDN'T, UM, ACCEPT SHELTER AT TIMES WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE, UM, IN A COUPLE, THEY WERE, UM, AND SO THE, THE WANTED TO ROOM WITH TOGETHER, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.
SO WE HAVE A LIMITATION FOR LIKE, THE SAME SEX, UH, SHELTERS.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE, LIKE, HERE'S YOUR ROOM TOGETHER, IT'S, WE CAN PUT YOU IN ARCH AND WE CAN PUT YOU IN A STREET.
AND SO THAT WAS THE OTHER CAVEAT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IF THEY TALKED TO US ABOUT SHELTER AND THEY COULDN'T GET 'EM IN, IT WAS 'CAUSE THE PETS OR 'CAUSE OF THAT, OR THEY WERE JUST LIKE, OH, I'VE BEEN THERE.
AND SO FOR THOSE FOLKS, WE, UH, I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK WITH OUTREACH TO KIND OF SEE WHAT HAPPENED,
AND I'M CURIOUS, AS YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE, WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO THIS, AND, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS, IT'S SOMETHING WE HEAR ABOUT A LOT IN THE AREA.
WE CAN'T CLEAR THE SAME PERSON'S CAMP 10 TIMES IN A YEAR, RIGHT? LIKE, WHAT, I'M NOT ASKING FOR AN ANSWER TODAY, BUT WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO EITHER YOU GO TO SHELTER OR WE HAVE TO HAVE A SOLUTION THAT IS NOT US CONTINUING TO POUR RESOURCES INTO THE SAME REMEDY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KIND OF KNOW HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
SO FOR MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE, NOT COMFORTABLE GOING INTO SHELTER AT THAT TIME, WE UTILIZE OUTREACH.
AND SO THAT BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND ASKING, UM, WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE NEEDING FOR SHELTER? AND MAYBE WE CAN ACCOMMODATE, MAYBE WE CAN'T.
AND JUST TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES WITH THAT PERSON.
IT MAY NOT BE THE FIRST TIME OR THE SECOND TIME OR THE 15TH TIME WE ASK THEM, BUT MAYBE THE 16TH TIME AND THEY SAID, YES, I CAN DO IT NOW.
ALSO, UM, WHEN THE WEATHER'S BAD, THAT KIND OF TURNS THINGS AROUND FOR FOLKS THAT THEY REALIZE LIKE, I'M NOT SAFE OUT HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAW DURING THE FIRST WEEKEND DURING THE WEATHER, UH, INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT WE HAD DURING THIS, THIS EVENT.
I JUST WANNA BUILD ON A QUESTION THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ASKED.
I AM NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO ASK THIS, SO, SO I'M GONNA STRUGGLE HERE FOR A SECOND.
BUT AS YOU WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND YOU'VE FIGURED OUT IF IT HAD MERITS, WHETHER THEY WERE SHEL, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH SERVICES IN SHELTER, WHETHER THEY WERE, UM, CLEANING UP CERTAIN PARTS OF GREEN SPACES, WHETHER THEY WERE, UH, WHETHER THEY WERE BENEFITS, UH, WEIGHING AGAINST THE COSTS THAT YOU HAVE CALCULATED AND PROBABLY ARE CONTINUING TO CALCULATE FOR THIS PROCESS.
AND GIVEN, UM, THE QUESTION YOU JUST ANSWERED REGARDING THIS BEING A STRATEGY, UH, IF, IF THAT'S HOW YOU WERE VIEWING IT AS OPPOSED TO, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE DID AS A ONE-OFF EXERCISE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW, UH, IF, IF THIS RELATIVELY DISRUPTION MIGHT HAVE CREATED IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES OR DISPLACING PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS GREEN SPACES TO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND ENCAMPMENTS, WHETHER THIS IS A STRATEGY THAT YOU WOULD DEPLOY ON A, WHATEVER IT IS, QUARTERLY, YEARLY, I DON'T KNOW, BASIS.
UM, HAVING AND, AND USING THE, THE, ALL OF THE LESSONS LEARNED THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT AND ILLUSTRATED HERE TO REFINE THAT PROCESS OR FIND THAT STRATEGY TO GET IT TO A PLACE WHERE THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, A, A BASIC PART OR A CORE PART OF HOW YOU'RE, UH, HOW WE'RE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SERVICES, FOR INSTANCE.
CAN YOU SORT OF SPEAK TO THAT QUESTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE? LIKE TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS BECOMES A INSTITUTIONALIZED PART OF HOW YOU ARE EITHER TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO SHELTER OR APPROACH YOUR MANAGEMENT OF, UH, GREEN SPACES.
I MEAN, WE GET CALLS ALL THE TIME ABOUT, HEY, THERE'S PEOPLE IN CAMPING IN THIS PART OF THE
CAN YOU SEND LAW ENFORCEMENT? CAN YOU SEND HOMELESS STRATEGY PEOPLE? SO
[01:05:01]
I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO AN OVERALL STRATEGY? THANK YOU, COUNCIL.YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR US, THIS IS, THIS IS A STRATEGY THAT WE WOULD USE POTENTIALLY ONLY LIKE WHEN NECESSARY, KIND OF WHEN NEEDED.
YOU KNOW, WE, OVER THE COURSE OF THE THREE WEEKS OF THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS MEANT TO GET OUT AHEAD OF SEVERE WEATHER, WE HAD TWO SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN TWO FATALITIES OF, OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE.
UM, THE FLIP SIDE THOUGH IS, AS, AS YOU'VE INDICATED, YOU KNOW, DURING THOSE THREE WEEKS, IT WAS VERY DISRUPTIVE TO A LOT OF FOLKS.
UH, WE SAW A LOT OF MIGRATION, UH, OF FOLKS FROM ONE PART OF A CITY TO ANOTHER.
UH, SOME OF OUR OUTREACH PARTNERS HAD SOME OF THEIR SERVICE CONNECTIONS DISRUPTED BECAUSE A CLIENT WHO THEY KNEW AND HAPPENED WORKING WITH AT A SPECIFIC CAMP WAS SUDDENLY NO LONGER THERE BECAUSE THEY, THEY MOVED TO ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE CONS OF, OF THIS KIND OF APPROACH.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL CALL US OR THEY'LL CONTACT US TO REPORT AN ENCAMPMENT AND WE'LL RESPOND AND WE'LL LET THEM KNOW OUTREACH IS AWARE OF THAT PERSON WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT PERSON.
IT, IT MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME FOR US TO GET THAT PERSON IN.
AND I KNOW THAT SOME NEIGHBORS ARE FINE WITH THAT.
SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOT FINE WITH THAT.
UH, OUR TYPICAL APPROACH IS TO, IS TO TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND GET THEM CONNECTED TO SHELTER AND SERVICES.
AND AS PATRICIA MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE CONTACTS OVER MULTIPLE DAYS, IN SOME CASES WEEKS TO CONVINCE SOMEBODY TO, TO COME IN.
BUT THAT IS OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
THE ONLY TIME THAT WE WON'T DO A A 72 HOUR POSTING FOR A, A CLEANUP OF A SITE IS IF IT IS A, A TRULY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
UH, THAT SITE WHERE WE HAVE THOSE TWO FATALITIES FOR THAT FLOOD, UH, WHEN WE HAD RAIN LAST WEEK, WE WENT OUT THERE, THERE WERE PEOPLE AT THAT LOCATION AND WE KICKED THEM OUT.
WE TOLD THEM, WE WILL NOT LET YOU BE HERE.
YOU ARE NOT GONNA DIE ON OUR WATCH.
SO THERE, THERE ARE CERTAIN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHERE WE JUST MAKE A DECISION THAT IT'S IN THE, THE BEST INTEREST OF THE, THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES TO GET THEM OUT OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY.
UH, BUT THAT IS OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE IS THE 72 HOUR POSTING MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF OUTREACH, TRY TO GET PEOPLE INTO SERVICES.
I WOULD SAY THESE SURGE OPERATIONS ARE, ARE REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING ONLY WHEN NEEDED.
I, WE WILL PROBABLY NEED TO DO IT AGAIN AT SOME POINT.
I, I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR WE'RE GONNA DO IT OR ANY OF THAT, BUT I JUST, MY GUT TELLS ME IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY HAVE TO DO AGAIN AHEAD OF ANOTHER SEVERE WEATHER, UH, EMERGENCY.
BUT WHEN WE DO RIGHT, I THINK THERE ARE LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THIS FIRST ONE THAT ARE VERY INFORMATIVE IN SHAPING OUR THINKING ALREADY ABOUT WHAT ANY FUTURE DEPLOYMENT OF THIS STRATEGY LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MINIMIZING THE DISRUPTION TO OUR IN-HOUSE COMMUNITY AND TO OTHER FOLKS IN AUSTIN WHO MAYBE NOW MIGHT HAVE AN ENCAMPMENT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE, BUT SOMEBODY MIGRATED FROM A SITE THAT WE CLEANED.
UH, SO WE'RE STILL DOING THE WORK.
YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE STILL KIND OF EVALUATING AND REFLECTING.
WE DO INTEND TO ISSUE, UH, AN AFTER ACTION REPORT THAT KIND OF GOES INTO MORE SPECIFICS AROUND WHAT THE FUTURE OF THIS TACTIC LOOKS LIKE.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS SURGE IS NOT OUR STANDARD PROCEDURE.
THAT THIS WAS A KIND OF A ONE-OFF THREE WEEK PUSH.
IT MIGHT BE A ONE OFF THAT WE USE AGAIN, BUT IT WOULD ONLY BE USED WHEN, WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY NECESSARY.
I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT.
'CAUSE IT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME EVEN READING THE REPORT AND LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION OF HOW YOU WOULD EVEN GO ABOUT KIND OF CALCULATING WHAT DOES THE NET BENEFIT LOOK LIKE AFTER THE SURGE IS DONE WITH ALL OF BALANCING OUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.
SO I CAN SEE ITS APPLICATION OBVIOUSLY FOR AN EMERGENCY, UM, BUT IT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'D BE EMPLOYING THIS ELSEWHERE GIVEN THE COST AND GIVEN THE CHALLENGES INVOLVED.
AND IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE MORE QUICK KIND OF NOTE JUST ON THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER VARIABLES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS OF THE FOLKS WE BROUGHT IN SHELTER, ARE THEY STILL IN SHELTER? ARE THEY STILL IN SHELTER TWO MONTHS LATER, SIX MONTHS LATER THAT THEY MOVE ON TO HOUSING? SO, OR, OR WAS IT JUST A, A ONE NIGHT STAY? SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE KIND OF DIGGING THROUGH NOW.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE FULL DETAILS.
BUT I THINK TO TO YOUR POINT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IT COSTS US A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO THIS, IS THERE A TRUE VALUE BACK TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND, AND OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND OUR IN-HOUSE CLIENTS FOR US DOING THIS WORK? OR MAYBE WE PIVOT THE STRATEGY AND AND DO SOMETHING ELSE THAT PRODUCES A BETTER COST BENEFIT, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU ON THAT.
UH, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PRODUCE SOME OF THAT.
SO SOME OF OUR BEST THINKING AROUND THAT
[01:10:01]
IN THE AFTER ACTION REPORT.NO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND ADDRESS THE SAME THING I WAS THINKING OF, WHICH IS, IS THE SORT OF CALL IN SPOT, UH, CLEANUP BY SERVICES OR A PD SUPERIOR OR, OR IS THIS MODEL KIND OF SUPERIOR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES? AND YOU'LL ONLY KNOW THAT WHEN YOU CAN SORT OF FILL, YOU KNOW, HAVE RESULTS IN SIX MONTHS IN A YEAR ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE PERFORMING AND IF THEY STILL HAVE SERVICES OR STILL HAVE HOUSING OR HAVE UPGRADED OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS.
ONE LAST QUESTION IS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DATA POINT YOU COLLECTED, UM, BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH STATUS OF THE PEOPLE YOU INTERACTED WITH, I'D BE VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW IS, IS THERE A LARGE NEED THAT WAS IDENTIFIED? YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT WE DO FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE NEED IS FOR THIS SPECIFIC POPULATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO, UM, WE, WE DIDN'T TRACK, LIKE SPECIFICALLY DURING OUTREACH, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS, UM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU ANECDOTALLY THAT WE UTILIZE THE NEW AUSTIN FIRST PILOT TEAM, UM, A A PRETTY FAIR AMOUNT DURING THE THREE WEEKS OF THIS EFFORT.
THEY WERE OUT THERE, UM, EVERY DAY DOING THE OUTREACH WITH US.
WELL, AND, AND WHATEVER, HOWEVER WE CAN IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN HELP, UM, BETTER DOCUMENT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NEED SERVICES AND, AND WE CAN KIND OF CROSS REFERENCE THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES WE HAVE, UH, I KNOW THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE BEING HAD ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THOSE TWO NUMBERS MATCH.
I'M GONNA MOVE US ON TO THE OTHER PART TWO OF OUR PRESENTATION, AND IF WE HAVE TIME, I'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH MY QUESTIONS.
HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY, UM, WITH ECHO.
UM, WE'RE A LOCAL, UM, CONTINUUM OF CARE LEAD AGENCY.
UM, I'M JOINED BY HELEN, UM, IERT, UH, TODAY, AND WE, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE NEW CONTINUUM OF CARE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY OR NOFO.
UM, BUT FIRST I WANNA JUST, UH, ORIENT YOU A LITTLE BIT ON WHO ECHO IS.
SO, ECHO, UM, IS DESIGNATED AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE BY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE SEVERAL ROLES THAT WE PLAY, UM, IN RELATIONSHIP TO BEING THE LEAD AGENCY.
UM, ONE OF THOSE IS THAT WE, UM, COORDINATE A LOCAL FUNDING COMPETITION THAT HUD, UM, SETS MANY PARAMETERS AROUND.
UM, BUT WE DO IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, UM, FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS.
UM, ANOTHER, UH, OTHER, UH, KEY, UH, PARTS OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE WORK ON ARE HMIS, WHICH IS OUR DATABASE WHERE THE LEAD AGENCY DESIGNATED BY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR THAT.
WE ALSO ADMINISTER THE LOCAL COORDINATED ENTRY PROCESS, WHICH IS THE REFERRAL AND PRIORITIZATION SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE THAT GET INTO RAPID AND PSH PROJECTS.
SO THIS TELLS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OUR ROLE IS VERSUS HUD, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT THAT RUNS THIS, UM, FUNDING COMPETITION AND LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WHICH IS OUR, THE NAME OF OUR LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD.
SO HUD HAS CREATED A FUNDING STRUCTURE, BUT THEY'VE ALSO REALLY CREATED, UM, A SYSTEM OF HOW THEY WANT COMMUNITIES TO ADMINISTER THEIR HOMELESSNESS FUNDING.
AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS IS THAT YOU FOLLOW THOSE POLICIES.
AND ONE OF THOSE POLICIES IS THAT WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE A LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD.
UM, AND OURS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL HAS TWO APPOINTED MEMBERS THAT ARE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES, ONE OF WHICH IS APPOINTED BY THE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
THERE'S DAVID GRAY, ANOTHER IS, UM, DESIGNATED BY YOUR EQUITY OFFICE.
UM, SHE'S CURRENTLY OUR CO-CHAIR OF LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS FROM, UM, THAT ARE PROVIDERS, PEOPLE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE, TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, CENTRAL HEALTH IS NOW A MEMBER.
WE HAVE A BROAD VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SETTING THE POLICIES FOR THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND ONE OF THEIR MAJOR OBLIGATIONS IS SETTING THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES AROUND THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE TO DO THAT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS THAT ARE SET BY HUD.
HUD ALSO TELLS US THINGS LIKE HOW MUCH FUNDING WE CAN APPLY FOR, UM, WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS WE CAN APPLY FOR.
BUT THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE FURTHER REFINEMENTS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS THAT HUD GIVES US.
SO ECHO OUR ROLE WITHIN THIS IS WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
WE ALSO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE
[01:15:01]
ASSISTANCE TO LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.UM, WE ALSO ADMINISTER THE LOCAL COMPETITION ITSELF.
SO WE PUT EVERYTHING ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PROVIDERS, UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO COMPLETE A LARGER APPLICATION CALLED THE COLLABORATIVE APPLICATION WHERE HUD MEASURES OUR COMMUNITY ON HOW WELL WE ARE RUNNING AS A HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THEIR POLICY PRIORITIES.
SO THESE ARE THE POLICY PRIORITIES FOR THIS NOFO THIS YEAR.
SO THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT, UM, FOR THE MOST PART THAN POLICY PRIORITIES WE HAVE SEEN IN IN PAST YEARS AND PAST ADMINISTRATIONS.
UM, SO THIS IS REALLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR WHAT WE SEE, UM, AS OUTLINE AND SPECIFICS THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO AS A COMMUNITY WITH THE NOFO.
SO, UM, REALLY LIKE THEY'RE FOCUSING ON ENDING THE CRISIS IN THE STREETS AND THE REFERENCING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, UM, THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT OUT AROUND, UM, DIRECTING RESOURCES TOWARDS OUTREACH, INTERVENTION AND ASSISTANCE.
UM, THEY ARE, UM, PRIORITIZING TREATMENT AND RECOVERY, UM, AND THEY REALLY WANT THOSE SERVICES ONSITE, AND THERE'RE TO BE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.
SO HISTORICALLY, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN HOUSING FIRST AS A POLICY PRIORITY BY HUD, FOR INSTANCE.
THIS IS, UM, THIS IS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSING FIRST PHILOSOPHY AND IS IS REQUIRING, UM, SERVICE PARTICIPATION FROM ALL THE PROJECTS.
UM, IT'S ALSO ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY A LOT THROUGHOUT THE, THE NOFO.
YOU WILL SEE REQUIREMENTS OR INCENTIVES FOR PROJECTS THAT, UM, ARE REALLY LEANING INTO, UM, MAKING SURE THAT, UM, PUBLIC CAMPING IS ILLEGAL.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, ANY COORDINATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY ARE PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
UM, THEY ARE, UM, REALLY WANTING, UM, COMMUNITIES TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW CAN THEY FURTHER THE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE SERVING.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT IMPROVING OUTCOMES.
UM, THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS NO FOS AND PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.
THEY REALLY WANT US TO LOOK AT DATA AND LOOK AT, UM, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE, UM, THE OUTCOMES FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING AND MINIMIZING TRAUMA, UM, IS, IS SOMETHING THEY'RE CONTINUING AS WELL.
UM, LOOKING AT, UM, LOOKING AT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT ALSO, UM, WHAT'S UNUSUAL IS THAT, UH, IS ACCESS TO SAFE SINGLE SEX SPACES FOR WOMEN.
SO THIS CHART, I HOPE ISN'T A LITTLE HARD TO READ, BUT THIS IS WHO WE WERE FUNDED IN 2024.
SO HUD HAD TOLD COMMUNITIES THAT, UM, THIS COMPETITION, WHICH, UM, COMMUNITIES HAD BEEN REALLY ADVOCATING AND TALKING TO THEIR, UM, FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT, IS THAT WE REALLY WANTED A TWO YEAR COMPETITION.
THIS COMPETITION IS, IS PRETTY ONEROUS BOTH ON LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND ECHO AND, AND, UM, ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ON THAT SIDE, BUT ALSO ALL OF THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE HAVING TO RETHINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA APPLY FOR EVERY YEAR.
UM, AND IT WOULD ALLOW US A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS, UM, TO HAVE A TWO YEAR CYCLE.
AND THEY DID THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR THE 2024, UM, NOFO, THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE, UM, THESE AWARDS WOULD BE GOOD FOR 2024 AND 2025.
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING, UM, THAT, THAT THEY'RE NO LONGER HONORING THAT COMMITMENT AND THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR A COMPETITION IN 2025.
SO WE, WE HAD HEARD FROM AN EMAIL FROM HUD A FEW MONTHS BACK THAT WE COULD ANTICIPATE THAT, BUT WE DIDN'T HEAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE NOFO WAS ACTUALLY RELEASED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN.
SO THESE FOLKS WERE ANTICIPATING THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
WE HAD 13 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS.
THEY WERE ANTICIPATING HAVING THOSE FUNDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2025 AS WELL, AND NOT HAVING TO REALLY THINK ABOUT, OH, AM I GONNA HAVE TO COMPETE, POTENTIALLY HAVE THOSE MIGHT BE VULNERABLE FUNDS.
UM, SO WE HAVE FUNDED IN OUR CONTINUUM A LOT OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF THIS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND PAST LEADERSHIP COUNCILS, UM, TO REALLY USE, UM, CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS FOR PSH.
SO WITHIN THAT, SOME OF THOSE ARE SITE-BASED, SOME OF THOSE ARE TENANT-BASED.
UM, SOME OF THOSE, UM, ARE MATCHING WITH OUR LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHERS AND, UM, OUR ON SITES.
SOME OF THEM, UM, ARE, ARE MATCHING WITH LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LOOK AT HAKA, THEY ARE DOING A PROJECT WHERE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS PAID FOR BY CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS.
BUT INTEGRAL CARE IS PROVIDING MATCHING FUNDS BY PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
SO CONTINUUM OF CARE DOESN'T FUND THE SERVICES, BUT TOGETHER THEY CREATE A PSH PROJECT.
SO THIS IS A PIE CHART THAT TELLS YOU, UM, JUST IN A VISUAL SENSE, THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WAS IN
[01:20:01]
THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF WHAT IS TERMED IN HUD TERMS AS PERMANENT HOUSING.
UM, SO PERMANENT HOUSING ACCORDING TO HUD, IS ANYTHING THAT'S PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RAPID REHOUSING.
UM, WE HAVE 87% OF OUR 2024 AWARD IS IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE DO HAVE, UM, A SMALL AMOUNT OF SSO, WHICH IS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ONLY, UM, THAT IS FUNDING COORDINATED ENTRY IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO SUNRISE HAS A SMALL SSO GRANT.
SAFE HAS A SMALL SSO GRANT TO DO COORDINATED ENTRY FOR SURVIVORS.
WE HAVE A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT THAT'S RUN BY SAFE FOR SURVIVORS.
AND WE HAVE ABOUT 5% OF OUR, UM, OF OUR GRANT IS FOR HMIS.
AND THAT GOES TO ECHO TO ADMINISTER OUR DATABASE.
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS THE FUNDING THAT HUD HAS TOLD US IS AVAILABLE, UM, FOR 2025.
SO THEY'RE TELLING US THAT WE CAN COMPETE FOR THE 13 AND A HALF MILLION.
SO THAT'S THAT TOP NUMBER THAT WE WERE AWARDED IN 2024.
UM, WE ARE GIVEN AT, UM, ECHO A PLANNING GRANT AS THE CONSUMER OF CARE LEAD AGENCY.
EVERY, UM, LEAD AGENCY IS PROVIDED A PLANNING GRANT THAT IS A PERCENTAGE THAT HUD CREATES OFF OF YOUR ANNUAL RENEWAL DEMAND.
SO THAT'S GOING DIRECTLY TO HUD, I MEAN TO, TO ECHO, SORRY.
UM, THEY ARE ALLOWING US TO TRY TO COMPETE FOR SOME BONUS FUNDS.
SO THESE ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR.
SO WE HAVE, UM, ABOUT $2.7 MILLION IN WHAT THEY CALL BONUS AMOUNTS.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE 1.2 MILLION, UM, IN DV BONUS AMOUNTS.
AND, UM, HELEN'S GONNA GO INTO MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT'S ELIGIBLE WITHIN THOSE.
BUT, UM, DV HAS TO BE SPECIFICALLY FOR SURVIVORS, UM, OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND COC IS A MORE GENERAL AMOUNT THAT A LOT, UM, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS CAN APPLY FOR.
UM, ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES THAT, UM, WE'RE SEEING IN THIS NOFO, UM, IS THIS TIER ONE AND TIER TWO, WHICH IS A SYSTEM THAT HUDSONS HISTORICALLY USED.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE TRIED TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMPETITION, UM, BETWEEN ALL THE COMMUNITIES AND TO REALLY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO PUT IN REALLY COMPETITIVE PROJECTS.
AND THE WAY THEY'VE DONE THAT IS SAYING, OKAY, EVERYTHING YOU PUT IN TIER ONE IS PRETTY MUCH SAFE, UNLESS IT DOESN'T MEET SOME KIND OF BASIC THRESHOLD.
BUT TIER TWO IS WE'RE GONNA COMPETE THOSE NATIONALLY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM A SCORE AND WE'RE GONNA AWARD THEM BASED ON THE HIGHEST SCORE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
AND, BUT HISTORICALLY, AROUND 90% TO SOMETIMES HIGHER, LIKE 94% HAS BEEN IN TIER ONE OF YOUR FUNDING.
SO YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEED THAT MOST OF YOUR RENEWAL PROJECTS, PEOPLE THAT WERE FUNDED THE YEAR BEFORE, WERE GONNA GET FUNDING YEAR TO YEAR.
THERE, THERE'S CHANGES IN CAVEATS WITHIN THAT BASED OFF OF POLICY GUIDANCE FROM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OR BASED OFF OF PERFORMANCE.
BUT IN GENERAL, MOST RENEWALS WE'RE ABLE TO GO YEAR AFTER YEAR EXPECTING TO GET THE SAME FUNDING.
SO THIS ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY WANTING THERE TO BE A LARGE COMPETITION NATIONALLY.
SO THIS COULD MEAN THAT WE COULD GET A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, OR WE COULD GET A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE ARE, WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF OUR FUNDING THAT IS VULNERABLE.
70% OF OUR ANNUAL RENEWAL DEMAND IS VULNERABLE, WHICH, UM, IS MAKING US ALL A LITTLE NERVOUS.
SO NOW I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO HELEN TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW SPECIFICS AROUND THE NOFO.
SO, UM, SO YES, UH, THERE WAS A 30% CAP ON THE TIER ONE, WHICH WAS NEW.
AND SO IT KIND OF FLIPPED THE COMPETITION ON ITS HEAD, RIGHT.
UM, WHERE MOST OF THE MONEY IS NOW BEING COMPETED FOR.
UM, WHAT THEY ALSO DID IS A 30% CAP ON PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO THAT INCLUDES BOTH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RAPID REHOUSING, UM, AS WELL AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO RAPID REHOUSING BECAUSE THOSE ARE CONSIDERED PERMANENT.
UM, SO AGAIN, 86% OF OUR, UH, FUNDING IS IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO THAT'S A, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
UM, AND THE COCS, IT'S FORCING THEM TO PRETTY MUCH REALLOCATE, UM, THOSE PROJECTS THAT MONEY OR, UH, SHIFT THEM INTO A DIFFERENT, UH, PROGRAM DESIGN.
SO, UM, NEW PERMANENT HOUSING PROJECTS CREATED THROUGH REALLOCATION STILL HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE 30% CAP, UM, TO MEET NEW PROJECT QUALITY AND THRESHOLD CRITERIA.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE PSH IS THAT THEY, UH, THEY ARE NOW FOR NEW PSH PROJECTS ARE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO HAVE SPECIFIC TYPES OF
[01:25:01]
DISABILITIES.SO, UM, THEY CALL OUT SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
UM, THEY DON'T CALL OUT MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES AND THEY SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT THE SUBSTANCE USE DISABILITIES DO NOT QUALIFY.
UM, SO JUST TO RECAP, PSH UH, REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE A QUALIFYING DISABILITY TO GET INTO THE HOUSING.
UM, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS WANTING TO SIGNAL THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN DISABILITIES THAT ARE PERHAPS, UH, MORE WORTHY OF PSH THAN OTHERS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO AN AGE LIMIT IN TERMS OF 62 PLUS.
SO THERE'S, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ELDERLY AND HAVE PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO BE IN PSH AND THAT'S IT.
UM, THAT'S THE DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING.
UH, SO THAT, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR PARTNERS, LIKE OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, WHERE A LOT OF TIMES THE QUALIFYING DISABILITY IS SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.
UM, AND SO FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THAT PSH PROJECT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND BY 2027 A QUALIFYING DISABILITY THAT IS EITHER PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL.
SO, UM, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE I SHOULD PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL KEEP GOING.
YES, NO, ACTUALLY, 'CAUSE I MEAN, WE'LL GIVE US SOME, A REFERENCE THERE OF OUR HOMELESSNESS POPULATION MM-HMM
HOW MANY WOULD, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS A PHYSICAL DISABILITY VERSUS INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES? YEAH, I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE TRI MORBID OR COMORBID CONDITIONS, SO THEY MIGHT HAVE A PHYSICAL HEALTH AND A MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY.
UM, SOME OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN, UH, WITH SPECIFICALLY THE MULTI IN INTEGRAL CARE IS AROUND HOW MANY OF THEIR POPULATION HAVE THAT TRI MORBID CONDITION, RIGHT.
WHERE THEY ALSO ARE GONNA HAVE A PHYSICAL CONDITION.
UM, AND I THINK THEY SAID IT WAS AROUND 40 TO 60%.
BUT THERE'S STILL A, A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GONNA, WILL NOT BE QUALIFIED WITH A PHYSICAL HEALTH DISABILITY.
AND THAT'S ON ALL OF THE FUNDING OR JUST SPECIFIC TO THE, THE STAY 30% PERMANENT HOUSING.
IT'S SPECIFIC TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND JUST FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND JUST FOR, SO, SO IF YOU LOOK BACK AT, UM, THESE PROJECTS, SO THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT $8 MILLION IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT IS FUNDED BY THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FUND 4 MILLION, SO WE'RE GONNA LOSE $4 MILLION IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND SO, UM, ABOUT 4 MILLION OF THE 8 MILLION INTEGRAL CARE IS THE, IS THE MAIN SERVICE PROVIDER AS WELL.
SO ABOUT HALF OF OUR PSH FUNDED THROUGH CONTINUUM OF CARE.
INTEGRAL CARE IS THE MAIN SERVICE PROVIDER AND HISTORICALLY HAS REQUIRED, UM, THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR THEIR SERVICES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE PSH, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY OF SOME KIND.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY TO, TO PRO TO HELP THEM THINK ABOUT HOW TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS WITHIN ALL OF THESE CHANGES THAT JUST PROVIDE A LOT OF CHALLENGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT, WE HAVE A LOT OF PSH IN OUR PIPELINE THAT DOESN'T HAVE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING MM-HMM
SO AS A COMMUNITY AND AS LEADERSHIP COUNCILS, THE POLICY MAKERS ARE GONNA, WE'RE REALLY GONNA HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE BEST UTILIZE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES IF THERE'S GONNA BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GONNA BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING, UM, THE PSH THAT HAS CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO OTHER PSH? AND SO FOLLOWING ALONG THAT LINE OF, OF THINKING, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD HAVE TO POSITION ONE OF OUR NEW PSH DEVELOPMENTS TO BE SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.
AM I RIGHT IN THINKING THAT? WELL, WHAT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL HAS DECIDED AS A POLICY IS THAT THERE'S NOT, THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR, FOR ANY NEW PSH.
RIGHT? SO WE HAVE $8 MILLION THAT ARE EXPECTING A RENEWAL.
HISTORICALLY, THEY JUST WOULD'VE PROBABLY GOTTEN THEIR FUNDS AGAIN.
SO THEY'RE RUNNING, UM, A TENANT BASED PROJECT, LET'S SAY CARITAS HAS TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND A TENANT BASED PSH PROJECT, WHICH THEY DO.
AND THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING THEIR FUNDING OVER THE YEARS, UM, BY, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THESE HOOPS AND GOING THROUGH THESE RULES THAT HUD CREATES.
AND SO NOW THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT NOT GET IN THE CAP MM-HMM
AND SO WE WOULD, IF THAT'S TRUE, 'CAUSE HALF OF THE FUND, HALF OF THE PSH FUNDING ISN'T GONNA GET IN THE CAP.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE ARE THEY GONNA TRANSITION TO BECOMING AN ELIGIBLE TYPE, WHICH WE'RE GONNA GO INTO, IS TRANSIT, MAYBE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, OR ARE THEY, ARE WE GONNA JUST PUT THAT MONEY OUT TO COMPETE FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES? WOW.
THAT IT'S GONNA BE VERY CHALLENGING.
[01:30:01]
YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE $4 MILLION, THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING ALMOST THREE AND A HALF MILLION FOR RAPID, SO YOU'RE, THAT'S ALREADY OFF THE TABLE.SO REALLY IT'S SEVEN PLUS FOR HOUSING.
AND, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS SLIDE, 30% OF OUR 13.4 IS SAFE OR GUARANTEED.
THE 30% CAP, IS THAT A 30% OF THE SAFE AMOUNT OR 30% OF THE TOTAL? IT'S A 30% OF THE TOTAL.
AND, AND ON THE, THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE, JUST SO I'M READING IT CORRECTLY, THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, LIKE IF, IF WE JUST BLEW IT OUTTA THE WATER, WE COULD ACTUALLY END UP WITH 17 MILLION.
BUT WORST CASE SCENARIO IS WE COULD END UP WITH 4 MILLION.
WHAT WAS THE WORST CASE? FOUR, 4 MILLION? GO FROM 13 TO FOUR, JUST THE TIER ONE.
AND, UH, WHAT HUD HAS SAID THIS YEAR, AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE ON THE SLIDE, I'M NOT SURE, UM, IS THAT, UH, THEY CAN PULL PROJECTS ON JUST IN TIER ONE AS WELL.
IF THEY, IF THEY'RE REVIEWING AND THEY DECIDE THAT THEY, THEY DON'T WANT THAT PROJECT, THEY CAN JUST PULL IT.
SO IT, IT, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE 4 MILLION AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
BUT, UM, THAT'S NEW WHERE THEY'VE SAID THEY CAN, UH, USE WHAT WE WOULD CALL, I WOULD CALL COLLATERAL INFORMATION, INFORMATION FROM THE HISTORICAL, UM, WORK OF A PROJECT IF THEY WERE DOING DEI OR, UH, WORKING WITH TRANSGENDER CLIENTS, UM, THEY COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE AND IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY SAW OR IF THEY SAW A NEWS REPORT AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT, UH, THEY COULD CHOOSE TO NOT FUND YOUR PROGRAM.
AND HOW DOES THE PERMANENT HOUSING, THE SHIFT TO 62 PLUS, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT, LIKE THE LIFEWORKS PROJECTS? ARE THEY JUST THEY'RE OUT.
I WOULD SAY THEY HA THEY HAVE THO THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE, IF THEY'RE IN A PSH PROJECT WITH, WITH A SERVING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.
UM, SO THE NEW FUNDING AVAILABLE, UH, WE TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT THE BONUS FUNDS.
UM, THE BONUS FUNDS CAN BE ANY PROJECT TYPE, UM, EXCEPT FOR THE DV BONUS FUNDS ARE SPECIFIC TO PEOPLE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR, UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
SO THE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THIS YEAR IS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, UH, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, ONLY SPECIFICALLY STREET OUTREACH, UM, OR COORDINATIVE ENTRY.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES STANDALONE, WHICH WOULD BE HOW FOR, UH, SERVING, UH, UNHOUSED OR SHELTERED CLIENTS.
SO WHAT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL DID DECIDE TO PRIORITIZE SITE-BASED, UH, PSH OVER TENANT BASED OR SCATTERED SITE.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THREE PROJECTS, UH, THAT WILL BE PRIORITIZED FOR TIER ONE.
UM, AND THAT JUST LISTS WHAT THAT IS FOR YOU.
UH, AND THEN IT BREAKS OUT THE RAPID REHOUSING VERSUS THE PSH AND THE PERMANENT HOUSING CAP AS WELL.
SO THE OTHER THING THAT'S NEW IS THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
SO LAST NOFO, THOSE WERE NOT COMPETED.
THEY WERE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECTS, UH, ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 40 HOURS OF CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT SERVICES.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HIGH, UH, GUIDANCE FROM HUD ABOUT THIS.
UM, THAT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF SERVICES THAT WOULD IMPACT PROJECT DESIGN FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM, AND SO I THINK WHAT MOST PROJECTS ARE DOING IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO SORT OF PIECE TOGETHER WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING ALL PROVIDED BY ONE PROVIDER.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, UM, THAT MULTIPLE PROVIDERS, UH, PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
UM, SO, AND I DID TALK ABOUT HOW TO RESERVING THE RIGHTS TO REDUCE OR REJECT A PROJECT APPLICATION FOR, UH, THE SPECIFIC REASONS AROUND, UM, IF THE, IF YOU WERE, IF THE PROJECT OR AGENCY WAS ENGAGING IN DEI OR, UM, WORKING WITH TRANSGENDER CLIENTS, UM, THEY USED THE PHRASE SEX OTHER THAN AS BINARY AND HUMANS.
SO AGAIN, IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS FROM JANUARY.
UM, AND THEN ALSO CALLS OUT SAFE CONSUMPTION SITES.
SO IF THERE'S BEEN A AGENCY THAT HAS A HISTORY OF PROVIDING SPACE ON THEIR SITE FOR HARM REDUCTION, UH, SAFE CONSUMPTION SITES FOR DRUG USE, UH, THAT THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THIS WAS MENTIONED THAT THE, UH, SOME OF THE PSH PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERING TRANSITIONING TO A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING DESIGN.
[01:35:01]
REAL QUICK ON THAT, THAT'S A MAX OF 24 MONTHS.AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 40 HOURS OF SUPPORT SERVICES.
UM, THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
AGAIN, THEY CALL OUT THE SAME DI DISABILITIES AGAIN, UM, OR IF THEY'RE WORKING.
SO IF THEY'RE WORKING PART-TIME, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO 20 HOURS OF WORK AND 20 HOURS OF, UM, SUPPORT SERVICES.
UH, AND THEN THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, STREET OUTREACH PROJECTS, UM, WOULD HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CAP.
SORRY, CAN YOU SAY WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAPID AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING? THAT SEEMS THE TIME PERIOD'S SIMILAR.
BUT YEAH, SO RAPID REHOUSING, THE IDEA THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE, UH, THAT'S INTERESTING.
SO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN FOR SUBPOPULATIONS.
SO IT'S FOR, UM, WOMEN WITH CHILDREN THAT HA ARE FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND THEY ONLY NEED SORT OF A SPECIFIC, UH, SPECIFIC SET OF INTERVENTIONS.
UM, OR IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY IT'S, IT'S ON LOCATION, IT'S ONE SITE, AND YOU HAVE MULTIPLE SERVICES TARGETING THAT SUBPOPULATION.
UM, SO IN TERMS, THERE'S SIMILARITIES WITH RAPID REHOUSING, BUT IN FROM LIKE HUD SPEAK, THAT'S STILL CONSIDERED PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THE REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE IS THOSE FOLKS ARE STILL CONSIDERED HOMELESS.
SO THEY CAN STILL QUALIFY FOR, SAY, RAPID OR PSH AND A RAPID.
IF THEY'RE IN IT, THEY'RE STILL CONSIDERED, UH, THEY'RE CONSIDERED NO LONGER HOMELESS.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE SORT OF, FROM LIKE A ELIGIBILITY STANDPOINT, THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.
BUT, BUT HISTORICALLY IT IS THAT IT'S SUBPOPULATIONS TARGETED INTERVENTIONS ONSITE WITH EVERYBODY'S KIND OF IN THE SAME LOCATION.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME SCATTERED SITE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, BUT IT'S, IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW COMMON THAT IS.
UM, SO ELIGIBLE NEW PROJECT TYPES, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ONLY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, UM, AND THEN PERMANENT HOUSING RENEWALS THAT ARE CONVERTING TO ONE OF THESE NEW ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES.
SO THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT HAD PSH OR RAPID, AND THEY'RE CONSIDERING POSSIBLY GOING FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ONLY AND TRYING TO MOVE THEIR FUNDS AROUND TO SHIFT SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR, THE SUBSIDIES PAID A DIFFERENT WAY, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO SERVE THE SAME POPULATION.
SO THERE'S, UM, A LOT OF KIND OF CREATIVE THINKING THAT'S GOING INTO THIS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT HARM IS MINIMIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, SO AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.
UM, I THINK WE'VE GIVEN THIS PRESENTATION, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES NOW.
UM, AND A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH THE RENEWALS IN PARTICULAR.
UM, AND THEN A LOT OF WORK WITH, UH, POTENTIAL NEW APPLICANTS BECAUSE THERE IS, UM, SOME MORE MONEY ON THE TABLE THAN IS TRADITIONALLY COMPETED FOR.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD USE THE TERM SILVER LINING, BUT THAT IS EXCITING TO HAVE, UH, NEW POTENTIAL PARTNERS THAT ARE DOING DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS.
THE, SO THE GOAL WE'RE TAKING IS SAYING, LOOK, LET'S MAXIMIZE AND BE AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE, BRING AS MUCH MONEY INTO THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE KNOWING THAT THE PENDULUM SHIFTED ON WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GONNA FUND RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA, OTHER THINGS ARE GONNA HAVE TO FUND THOSE PIECES WHILE WE REDUCE THAT HARM THAT'S CAUSED WHILE WE'RE ALSO BRINGING IN THE STREET OUTREACH, THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT'S STILL NEEDED RIGHT, IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, THAT'S SORT OF THE, UM, THE DIRECTION WE'RE TAKING.
AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST, IF Y'ALL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.
I HAD TWO QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
ONE IS, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY YOU JUST HIGHLIGHTED A MOMENT AGO, IF WE CAN CALL IT THAT? CAN YOU EXPAND ON MORE WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE? LIKE HOW COMPETITIVE ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT? ARE WE COMPETING NATIONWIDE FOR EVERY CITY AND PROGRAM THAT'S IN THAT SPACE? MM-HMM
YEAH, I CAN, I CAN TAKE THAT ONE.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S TIER TWO PRIMARILY THAT, SO ANY PROJECTS, WHICH WILL BE, MOST OF THE PROJECTS ACTUALLY, UM, WILL BE IN TIER TWO.
AND THE, SO THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT KIND OF COME INTO PLAY.
ONE IS THE COLLABORATIVE APPLICATION SCORE, SO OUR COC AS A WHOLE, OUR SCORE, AND THEN THE, THE SCORE OF THE MERIT REVIEW OF THE TIER TWO PROJECT APPLICA APPLICATIONS.
SO YOU COULD HAVE TWO COCS AND ONE GETS A HIGHER SCORE AND ONE COC GETS A LOWER SCORE.
UM, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE TWO TIER TWOS.
[01:40:01]
LIKE LET'S SAY YOU HAVE TWO, TWO PROJECTS IN TIER TWO AND ONE SCORED LOWER THAN THE OTHER.BUT IF THEY'RE IN THE COC THAT'S HAD A HIGHER SCORE, THE LOWER TIER TWO SCORE MIGHT GET SCORED FIRST.
SO BASICALLY HUD CUD GOES THROUGH TIER ONES AND THEY COVER MM-HMM
THEY FUND THE TIER ONES AND THEY START GOING THROUGH THE TIER TWOS, AND THEN THEY START FUNDING FROM THERE.
SO IF YOUR COC HAS A HIGHER SCORE, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET MORE OF YOUR TIER TWO PROJECTS FUNDED.
WHERE HAVE WE TRADITIONALLY BEEN AS FAR AS COM COMPARABLE COCS? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, SO, UH, ABOVE AVERAGE, I WOULD SAY WE'RE NOT THE HIGHEST PERFORMING.
THERE'S VERY, THERE'S A HIGH PERFORMING, UM, COC DESIGNATION.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS THAT.
TECHNICALLY THE, NO, NO ONE IN THE NATION HAS THAT.
UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE KIND OF THE BOX PLOTS, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT, WE COULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU GUYS, BUT IT SHOWS, UM, IT SHOWS WHERE WE'RE PERFORMING.
SO MOST OF THEM ARE ABOVE AVERAGE, UM, ON MOST OF THE MEASURES THAT WE, THAT WE GOT KNOWLEDGE OF.
SO HUD DOESN'T ALWAYS PROVIDE ALL THE SCORES BACK.
AND I THINK YEAH, THAT'S, BUT WE, BUT I THINK, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO PROVIDE THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW APPLICABLE IT'LL BE THIS YEAR.
IT'S DIFFERENT 'CAUSE THEY'RE MEASURING DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT BE, MIGHT BE USEFUL TO UNDERSTAND THAT AT LEAST HISTORICALLY, WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE MM-HMM
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT'S GUIDING YOU TO SOME DEGREE ABOUT WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR WHAT YOU EXPECT TO RECEIVE IN THAT COMPETITIVE PROCESS, OR IS IT A COMPLETE UNKNOWN BASED ON CHANGING THE CRITERIA THIS TIME? IT FEELS A LITTLE UNKNOWN TO, YEAH.
TO US RIGHT NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN DIVING SO MUCH INTO THE PRO HELPING THE PROJECTS AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOW GONNA START DIVING INTO IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO, LIKE POLICY WISE AS A SYSTEM TO HELP BE MORE COMPETITIVE? UM, IT'S, IT'S UNLIKELY A LOT OF IT IS IS JUST SORT OF PREDETERMINED, UM, STUFF THAT IS THEY MEASURE US ON.
AND A LOT OF IT IS, IS THE SYSTEM WIDE MM-HMM
SO LIKE, IT'S, IT'S NOT ALL UNDER, LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH CONTINUUM OF CARE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT EVERYBODY IN THE HMIS SYSTEM AND HOW THEY'RE, AND HOW THEY'RE FUNCTIONING.
SO ARE WE IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT INCOME? ARE WE REDUCING RETURNS TO HOMELESSNESS? YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR WHOLE SYSTEM AND THEY WANT US SEE COMMUNITIES MAKING IMPROVEMENT HISTORICALLY.
AND SOME OF THAT IS CONTINUING ON INTO THIS NOFO AND SOME OF IT ISN'T.
THE OTHER THING THEY DO IS THEY, THEY KIND OF DO ALL OR NOTHING SCORES, ESPECIALLY ON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT ARE, THAT ARE THE, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, NOT JUST COC FUNDED PROJECTS.
SO, UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, OUR PIT COUNT, I THINK IT WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER.
IF YOU REDUCED, YOU KNOW, HOME RETURNS TO HOMELESSNESS OR BY SO MUCH, UM, IT'S ZERO OR FIVE, WE, I THINK OUR NUMBER WENT UP SO WE WOULD GET ZERO.
SO WE ALREADY KNOW SOME OF THE SCORING.
UM, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO WIGGLE ROOM IN THAT.
WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT AND MM-HMM
IF YOU THINK THERE'S VALUE IN SHARING HISTORICALS, I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT.
UH, THE OTHER QUESTION I'VE GOT JUST BECAUSE YOU HELPED COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WITH HIS QUESTION ON DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE, UH, RAPID VERSUS TRANSITIONAL, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN, SOMEBODY CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, BRIDGER SHELTER, BRIDGE SHELTER AND UH, I GUESS REGULAR SHELTER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WAS PART OF THE, THE, UM, THE PROTOCOL FOR THE ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A SHELTER BED AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE IS NEEDED OR WHAT THE DISTINCTION IS BETWEEN THOSE BEDS.
I COULD DESCRIBE KIND OF BRIDGE SHELTER IN, IN THE AUSTIN CONTEXT AND ALL THE ECHO TO TALK ABOUT IT WITHIN KIND OF THE HUD CONTEXT.
SO FOR US, OUR BRIDGE SHELTERS ARE NORTH BRIDGE AND SOUTH BRIDGE.
WE CONSIDER THOSE AS THE, THE LINK FOR THE HEAL INITIATIVES WHEN WE DO THE, THE COMPLETE ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES.
THOSE ARE THE SHELTERS WHERE WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE IN AS A COMMUNITY AND THEN BRIDGING THEM INTO, UH, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
THOSE ARE DIFFERENT THAN ARCH H STREET MARSHLAND YARD, WHICH ARE JUST MORE LOW BARRIER SHELTERS.
I WILL SAY TO THAT POINT THOUGH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH ECHO AND WITH OUR PSH OPERATORS ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THE BRIDGE SHELTER BEDS AND USING THEM AS BRIDGE SHELTERS AS I THINK IS DEFINED DIFFERENTLY WITH HUD, WHICH IS, THIS IS LIKE YOUR TEMPORARY STAY ON YOUR PATH TO HOUSING, MEANING YOU, YOU'RE NEXT UP ON THE WAIT LIST OR YOU HAVE A CONFIRMED HOUSING DESTINATION, IT'S JUST NOT READY FOR YOU YET.
YOU NEED A TEMPORARY PLACE TO BE TO FINISH YOUR RENTAL PAPERWORK AND GET READY FOR MOVE IN.
BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MOVE IN.
AND SO THIS IS TRULY THE BRIDGE FROM THE STREET INTO THE HOUSING.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF SORTING THROUGH WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S A PROGRAMMATIC SHIFT, UH, WE SHOULD MAKE FOR NORTH BRIDGE AND SOUTH BRIDGE,
[01:45:01]
AND WE HAVE NOT MADE THAT DECISION YET.KATE, I'LL KICK IT OVER TO YOU.
UM, SO I THINK ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, A TRANSITION IN OUR DATABASE SYSTEMS. UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT IN A SYSTEM TO MANAGE THE WAIT LISTS AND THE, THE PLACEMENTS AT SHELTERS.
AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT DAVID'S TALKING ABOUT, WHERE YOU COULD CREATE A SET ASIDE AT ONE OF THE SHELTERS AND UM, AND SAY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN LINE FOR PSH OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE THAT WERE IDENTIFYING FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM OR PEOPLE THAT ARE READY TO GO INTO RECOVERY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP TONIGHT.
SO YOU'RE ABLE TO, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THOSE OPTIONS MORE.
BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY LIKE WHAT, I MEAN, BRIDGE ISN'T HOUSING, BRIDGE SHELTER ISN'T AN OFFICIAL HUD TERM, BUT THAT'S WHAT I THINK OF WHEN I THINK OF BRIDGE SHELTER VERSUS EMERGENCY SHELTER, WHICH IS SOMEBODY SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOORSTEP THAT NIGHT AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY.
UM, THAT'S THEIR EMERGENCY PLACEMENT.
THAT HELPS ME OUT WITH, UH, DISTINGUISHING THE TERMINOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING HERE.
ONE QUESTION, WHERE WOULD LIKE THE WAYFINDER PROGRAM, WOULD THAT BE A NEW TYPE OF PROJECT THAT'S ELIGIBLE OR, YEAH, I MEAN IT SOUNDS, IT SEEMS SUPPORTIVE SERVICE, LIKE, OR EVEN GETTING PEOPLE TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
SO IT PROVIDES, IF I REM IF I KNOW, UNDERSTAND THIS PROGRAM CORRECTLY, IT PROVIDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE CORRECT.
SO NO, UM, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED PERMANENT HOUSING, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, MEAN THEY'LL PROVIDE, LET'S SAY SECURITY DEPOSIT OR I THINK SECURITY DEPOSITS MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE.
AND SO THE SERVICES, WHILE THE, WHILE THE HOUSEHOLD, IT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE SERVICES WHILE THE HOUSEHOLD IS HOMELESS, IS ELIGIBLE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S UM, SOMETHING IN THE NOFO THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SERVE A HOUSEHOLD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THEY TRANSITION.
SO THAT'S A, SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO.
WELL THAT'S PRETTY DEPRESSING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US, UM, TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE CHANGES IN HOW THIS FEDERAL FUNDING IS AWARDED, THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DEFINITIONS BEING UPDATED AND AS WELL AS ALL OF THE GUIDELINES THAT COME THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION REALLY IS FOR DIRECTOR GRAY, ANY INSIGHT OR THOUGHTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US ON HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR, THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE EFFORTS? YES, MA'AM.
PER I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
UH, IT DEFINITELY COMPLICATES OUR EFFORTS QUITE A BIT.
I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN DEDICATING LOCAL FUNDS FOR OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A, A LAYER OF COVER THAT SOME COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE LOCAL FUNDING IN THEIR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM HAVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, TO KATE'S POINT, UH, YOU SAW ON THE SLIDE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTEGRAL CARE PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THEIR SUPPORT SERVICES.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF INTEGRAL CARE PSH PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVE CITY DOLLARS, THAT COVER A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THOSE SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND WE HAVE A PSH TO PSH TRANSFER POLICY IN OUR CONTINUUM THAT ALLOWS US TO MOVE CLIENTS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
SO IF YOU HAD A CLIENT WHO'S IN A FEDERALLY FUNDED PSH INTEGRAL CARE PROPERTY, UH, ON THE BASIS OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH STATUS, AND THAT PERSON WILL NO LONGER QUALIFY UNDER THE NEW FED DEF FED FEDERAL DEFINITION, WELL, THEY STILL QUALIFY UNDER OUR LOCAL DEFINITION SO WE CAN POTENTIALLY TRANSFER THOSE FOLKS.
SO THE WORK FOR US RIGHT NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ECHO IS, AND THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, IS FIRST REALLY GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE GONNA APPLY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, WHO'S GONNA PROPOSE CHANGING THEIR PROJECT TYPE, ARE MODIFYING THEIR PROGRAM TO ALIGN WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND WHO'S NOT.
AND I THINK ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, THEN OUR COMMITMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FROM THE ONSET THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT OUR HSO FUNDING AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT AND OPERATE AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE FILL THE GAPS.
UH, SO THE ULTIMATE GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY RETURNS TO THE STREETS.
I THINK THE LAST DATA I SAW FROM KATE WAS WE HAVE ABOUT 650 UNITS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL COC DOLLARS AND ABOUT 575 PEOPLE IN THOSE UNITS.
OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE NONE OF THOSE FOLKS RETURN TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO IT, IT DEFINITELY COMPLICATES AND, AND FRUSTRATES OUR LOCAL EFFORTS, BUT, UH, I, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR TEAM AND THEIR RESILIENCY AND, AND THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY, GRATEFUL TO HAVE PARTNERS THAT APPROACH THESE CHALLENGES WITH A CAN-DO ATTITUDE.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA COME OUT OKAY.
UH, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES WHO, WHO DON'T HAVE LOCAL FUNDING PROPPING UP
[01:50:01]
THEIR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEMS. GOOD DEAL.UH, COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION? VERY GOOD.
[Future Items]
GONNA MOVE TO FUTURE ITEMS. COLLEAGUES.WANTED TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION FOR 2026 THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE COMMITTEE TO, JUST TO CONSIDER.
I KNOW FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY HEALTH OR COMMUNITY-WIDE HEALTH ASSESSMENT THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND A NUMBER OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND PARTNERS.
UH, THEY'VE JUST RELEASED THAT REPORT THIS WEEK, AND SO IT'D BE GREAT FOR US TO HAVE THAT AS ONE OF OUR FIRST UPDATES WHEN WE RECONVENE IN FEBRUARY.
UH, AND ALSO A SECOND TOPIC I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE IS WE KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS DOING A SOCIAL SERVICE RESET.
AND, UM, WE'VE ALREADY, WITH THE BUDGET THAT WE ADOPTED A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE SAW A 10% CUT TO OUR SOCIAL SERVICES ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR US AS A COMMITTEE TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT IMPACT, BUT ALSO TO PREVIEW, UH, WHAT MANAGEMENT HAS IN MIND FOR THE RESTRUCTURING YES IDEA.
UM, ALSO AT THE CLIMATE WATER ENVIRONMENT PARKS COMMITTEE, WE ARE GONNA BE REVIEWING SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES WITHIN THE, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN THAT FALL WITHIN OUR PURVIEW THINKING SIMILAR STORY HERE, WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS RELATED, PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED, LOOKING AT THOSE METRICS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO GUIDE BUDGET, UH, CRAFTING AND HOW JUST DEPARTMENTS PRIORITIZE, UH, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE VARIOUS METRICS, AND I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
WELL THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, I WILL ADJOURN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING AT 2:53 PM THANK YOU.