Sep 02, 2026 Public Health Committee

AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE DO HAVE THE THRA SUMMARY, UH, OF THE REPORT THAT THEY CONDUCTED IN OUR BACKUP.

AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THE RESULTS FROM THE A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT THEY SURVEY BACK IN MAY.

UH, SO THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE.

HELLO.

GOOD MORNING, UH, COMMITTEE CHAIR FUENTES AND MEMBERS.

UM, MY NAME IS ALEXI LATIMER AND I'M A PROUD DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT AND A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OR MOST INVISIBLY DIRECTLY AND VIOLENTLY, VIOLENTLY IMPACTED BY THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND OBJECTIVES LAID OUT BY THE POWER VESTED IN THIS COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL.

AS OUR FOUNDER, UH, OF THRA JOY RUCKER RECENTLY SHARED WITH ME, WE MUST CONSIDER EVERY AUSTIN ICE HEALTH AS A MEASURE OF THE HEALTH OF OUR OVERALL COMMUNITY.

VIOLENCE OF SWEEPS MANDATORY AND VOLUNTARY TREATMENT AND DEFUNDING HARM REDUCTION DOES NOT LEAD TO IMPROVED OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTCOMES OR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THAT MATTER.

IN THE FACE OF A 10%, UH, MUNICIPAL SOCIAL SERVICES CUT BACK IN JANUARY AND AN ADDITIONAL, UM, OVER $50,000 CUT IN THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE'RE STILL HEARING IF A PH WILL REINSTATE, UM, IS, UH, IS, IS IS EXAMPLES OF THAT.

THESE AUSTERITY INDUCING CUTS COME AMIDST THE SIMULTANEOUS JUMP IN NEED FROM THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

WE TAKE PARTICULAR CARE TO WORK IN AN OUTREACH CAPACITY TO REACH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY SWEEPS IN A WAY THAT HSO MAY BE UNABLE TO DO THAT HAVE RESULTED THESE SWEEPS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN AN INCREASE OF BOTH MISSING PEOPLE AND OVERDOSE REVERSALS REPORTED TO US, UH, THROUGH OUR DISTRIBUTION OF LIFESAVING MEDICATION AND PEER SUPPORT STRAINING OUR SMALL TEAM THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO EXPAND FOR OUTREACH.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO CAREFULLY REITERATE THE FACT THAT A HARM REDUCTION APPROACH OF SEEING PEOPLE AS A TESTAMENT TO THEIR RESILIENCE WITHIN THE CONDITIONS THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN, RATHER THAN AS A PUBLIC BURDEN OR HAZARDS, LEADS TO DIGNIFYING AND COMPASSIONATE RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAKE VOLUNTARY HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND RECOVERY OUTCOMES INEVITABLE.

AND OVERALL, IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH SWEEPS COSTLY AND VIOLENT AS THEY ARE DIRECTLY REDUCE OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS EMPIRICALLY SUBSTANTIATED WORK, WHILE IN NO WAY SOLVING THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF OUR GREATER COMMUNITY.

UH, WE DIRECTLY AND WILL SHARE SOON, UM, TANGIBLE, EMPIRICAL DATA ON THE REDUCTION OF, UH, UH, OF, OR THE INCREASE OF CAPACITY THAT WE PROVIDE SPECIFICALLY MS THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE DO.

UH, AT THRA, WE ARE DIRECTLY IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY, INCREASED CAPACITY THAT STRAINED EMERGENCY SERVICES, UM, DIRECTLY NEED.

WE CALL ON A REEVALUATION OF HOW THE CITY SEEKS TO TRUST AND WORK ALONGSIDE ESSENTIAL DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGH RIGOROUSLY MAINTAINING OUR CAPACITY TO REACH THOSE MOST IN NEED.

MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE, UH, IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES.

THANK YOU, CLERK.

ARE THERE ANY MORE SPEAKERS? THERE'S TWO MORE.

PUMA BAA AND MAGGIE LUNA.

SEE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.

WE WILL NOW

[Approval of Minutes]

YES.

MOTION OR VICE CHAIR? THIS IS FOR THE MAY 6TH, 2026 MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL VELASQUEZ.

ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING THE MAY 6TH MEETING MINUTES.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DIRECTOR DAVID GRAY FOR A BRIEFING UPDATE ON THE AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS STRATEGIC PLAN AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

SEEING NONE, THOSE STAND APPROVED.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

[2. Briefing on Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations Office strategic plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. [David Gray, Director - Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations]]

WELCOME DAVID GRAY, THE DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS.

UH, AND I'M JOINED BY PATRICIA BARRERA, WHO OVERSEES OUR PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT UNIT.

UH, TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE'LL TOUCH ON TWO, UH, KEY ITEMS. FIRST WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

UH, AND A SECOND WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

UH, BUT BEFORE WE LAUNCH INTO THOSE THINGS, WE DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LAST MONTH WE CELEBRATED THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARSHALING YARD, UH, SHELTER.

UH, YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT THE MARSHALING YARD WAS OPENED, UH, TO BE A TEMPORARY FACILITY, AND WE STILL VIEW IT IN THAT WAY.

UH, BUT HERE WE ARE THREE YEARS LATER WITH MORE THAN 2300 PEOPLE SERVED.

[00:15:01]

UH, AND OF THOSE 2300 MORE THAN 470 MOVED INTO HOUSING, UH, WHICH IS ONE EVERY TWO TO THREE DAYS.

I KNOW IT'S A SUM THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY LOW BARRIER SHELTER, UH, WHERE WE ARE TAKING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, OFTENTIMES, WHO HAVE CHRONIC NEEDS, HEALTHCARE NEEDS, UH, EMPLOYMENT NEEDS, LONG HOUSING GAPS, MULTIPLE EVICTIONS, UH, AND THE TEAM IS WORKING TO GET FOLKS HOUSED.

UH, MULTIPLE PEOPLE HOUSED EVERY WEEK, UH, IS TRULY, UH, A REAL SUCCESS STORY.

UH, IN ADDITION, WE'RE ALSO MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS WITH OVER 350,000 MEALS PROVIDED, UH, SINCE WE OPENED, UH, AS WELL AS 5,600 ANNUAL SERVICE DELIVERIES, WHICH COULD BE CONNECTIONS TO WORKFORCE AND JOB TRAINING.

IT COULD BE RIDES TO A DOCTOR'S VISIT, UH, IT COULD BE REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

UH, AND SO THE, THE TEAM IS EX EXCITED.

WE HAD A GREAT CELEBRATION LAST MONTH TO COMMEMORATE THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

UH, AND THE, THE WORK CONTINUES AND TALKING ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR OUR POLICY AND PLANNING UNIT, UH, NATASHA PONZI SHOEMAKER WAS GONNA MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE TODAY TO DELIVER THIS PRESENTATION.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, SHE UNEXPECTEDLY HAD TO BE OUT THE OFFICE TODAY, SO I WILL DO MY BEST TO BE TASHA, UH, FOR THIS PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.

AND JUST TO START, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, UH, COUNCIL APPROVED THE HSO STRATEGIC PLAN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHICH FIVE KEY FOCUS AREAS IN WHICH WE HOPE TO MAKE PROGRESS.

UH, SYSTEM LEADERSHIP, IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS, CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE.

UH, TO DATE, WE ARE MAKING REAL PROGRESS ON THE PLAN ACROSS ALL FIVE OF OUR KEY AREAS.

UH, WE HAVE MOVEMENT AND WE HAVE VARIOUS ELEMENTS AND ITEMS IN PROGRESS.

UH, THINGS THAT HAVE NOT YET PROCEEDED TO THE IN PROGRESS STAGE OR, OR MOVING TO THE IN PROGRESS STAGE, UH, THIS QUARTER.

UH, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS FROM NOW TO GIVE YOU ALL AN ADDITIONAL UPDATE WHERE AT THAT POINT WE EXPECT TO HAVE ITEMS COMPLETED, UH, OR WITH, WITH MORE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAVE BEEN MADE.

JUST SOME KEY PROGRESS HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR AWARENESS.

ONE OF THE ITEMS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN CALLS FOR THE EXPANSION OF NEW NAVIGATION CENTERS, UH, ACROSS THE CITY.

THESE SERVE AS KEY ACCESS POINTS FOR FOLKS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BY HELPING THEM STABILIZE WHERE THEY'RE AT, UH, OR EXIT HOMELESSNESS BY HELPING THEM THROUGH THE, THE HOUSING NAVIGATION AND SEARCH PROCESS.

UH, AND SO SINCE WE'VE ADOPTED THIS PLAN, UH, WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THE HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTER IN SOUTH AUSTIN, UH, WHERE THE BUILDING HAS BEEN SECURED.

WE WRAPPED UP, UH, THE SOLICITATION ON THE LEASE AGREEMENT, AND WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING THAT ITEM TO COUNCIL FOR YOUR VOTE.

UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT TOO, SO THAT WHEN WE COME TO COUNCIL WITH THAT LEASE AGREEMENT ITEM FOR THE VOTE, UH, IT WILL HAVE FACTORED IN MORE COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE SOME MORE INPUT, AND SO WE ARE MAKING THAT, UH, AVAILABLE.

UH, WE HAVE ALSO THOUGH, INITIATED AN AGREEMENT WITH SUNRISE TO DO STREET-BASED OUTREACH IN THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE NEW NAVIGATION CENTER.

UH, AND SUNRISE WILL ALSO BE WORKING INSIDE OF OUR A ISD SCHOOLS AROUND THE NAVIGATION CENTER, HELPING FAMILIES IN THOSE SCHOOLS, UH, STABILIZE, UH, AND TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT FROM FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING ACCESS, WE ARE COORDINATING DEEPER THAN WE EVER HAD BEFORE WITH THE CITY'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

UH, HOUSING PROVIDES CAPITAL TO BUILD A LOT OF THE UNITS THAT WE PLACE PEOPLE IN, AND WE PROVIDE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DOLLARS TO SUSTAIN THOSE FOLKS HOUSING AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

UH, WE HAVE INITIATED SOME NEW PROGRAMS WITH HOUSING, ONE OF WHICH IS A CRIME FREE PREVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO DELIVER STRONG SAFETY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE RESIDING IN THESE PSH UNITS AS WELL AS THE STAFF AND THE GUESTS, WHILE ALSO PROTECTING THE TENANTS RIGHTS AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, LANDLORDS AREN'T PROCEEDING TO EVICTIONS, KNOWING THAT THIS IS A, A HIGH NEEDS POPULATION, AND THAT PSH IS REALLY THE INTERVENTION DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.

WE'RE ALSO BUILDING OUT OUR OWN RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS AND OUR PROVIDER COMMUNITY.

UH, MAKING SURE THAT LANDLORDS KNOW THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, UH, OR WHEN THEY WANT TO ACCESS OUR PROGRAMS AND TAP IN.

UH, I HAVE AN EMAIL TODAY FROM A LANDLORD WHO SAID THAT THEY HAVE PROPERTY, UH, THAT THEY'D LIKE TO RENT TO SOMEBODY WHO'S ON A, A VOUCHER.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THROUGH OUR POLICY AND PLANNING UNIT.

AND THEN LOOKING MORE INTERNALLY, WE CONTINUE TO

[00:20:01]

INVEST IN OUR TEAM AND IN OUR STAFF.

UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS OUR STAFF ARE DOING THEIR WORK ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE FILLING THEIR CUP.

WE'VE TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT OUR RECRUITMENT AND HIRING PROCESS, UH, AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STREET OUTREACH AND OUR PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT TEAMS. AS WE'RE GOING OUT INTO ENCAMPMENTS AND ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR STAFF HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF HAVE THAT SAME LIVED EXPERIENCE.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AUSTIN HUMAN RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY FLEXIBILITY WITHIN OUR HIRING PRACTICES SO THAT WE CAN HIRE MORE CANDIDATES WHO MIGHT FACE BARRIERS NAVIGATING THE TRADITIONAL CITY SYSTEM.

WE'VE ALSO BUILT OUT AN ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STAFF SO THAT WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY LEARN ABOUT OUR CULTURE AND THE WAY THAT WE DO THE WORK, THE VALUES OF THIS CITY AND OF OUR DEPARTMENT, AND HOW WE'RE GONNA LEAD WITH COMPASSION WHILE WE DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT WE DO.

UH, WE'RE WORKING ON JOB SPECIFIC TRAININGS AND PROGRAMS BOTH FOR OUR HSO STAFF AS WELL AS FOR OUR PEER DEPARTMENTS, OPENING UP MORE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS AND TOOLS FOR OUR TEAMS TO COORDINATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER.

AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WORKING WITH AUSTIN HUMAN RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE, AND HOW WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE SETTING OUR EMPLOYEES UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE FIELD, AND THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT ROLES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

ALSO, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT SPOKE TO RETURNING THE COUNCIL TO, WITH, UH, ESTABLISHING SOME NUMERICAL TARGETS FOR SHELTER AND HOUSING OUTCOMES IN THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN.

UH, WHAT I'M PRESENTING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS AN UPDATE ON THE NUMERICAL TARGETS AS THEY EXIST TODAY, AND WHERE WE EXPECT THOSE TARGETS TO GO AT THE END OF 2026, AND THEN TOWARDS 2027.

AND SO, AS YOU'LL SEE, KIND OF AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE ARE GROWING OUR HOMELESS SHELTER CAPACITY.

UH, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS TO HELP THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION ADD MORE CAPACITY AT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY.

UH, THE HUNDRED UNITS THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HAVE COME ONLINE, UH, AND WE HAVE STARTED PLACING PEOPLE IN THOSE UNITS.

UH, AND SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THE GROWTH IN THE SHELTER OUTCOMES.

HOWEVER, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE IS A DECLINE IN RAPID REHOUSING.

A LARGE PART OF THAT IS DUE TO CHANGES WITH FEDERAL FUNDING.

WITH RESPECT TO RAPID REHOUSING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISSUED A NEW, UH, NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING.

UH, AND A, A LARGE PART OF THAT NOFO SHIFTED FEDERAL FUNDING AWAY FROM RAPID REHOUSING AND AWAY FROM PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND TOWARDS OTHER THINGS THAT ALIGN WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION'S, UH, BELIEFS AROUND HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESS SERVICES.

UH, RECENTLY A COURT STEPPED IN AND ACTUALLY DECLARED THAT NOFO, UH, ILLEGAL ESSENTIALLY UNTIL NOW, THAT PROCESS IS PAUSED, UH, BECAUSE THAT PROCESS IS PAUSED.

OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHERS ACROSS THE NATION REALLY DON'T KNOW YET WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

UH, AND WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU NEXT MONTH AND TRY TO SET TARGETS.

BUT THAT EXERCISE IS, IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING WITHOUT US KNOWING THE OUTCOME OF THE NOFO AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT, UH, AS A COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE FINANCIALLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP US SUSTAIN SOME OF THESE INVESTMENTS.

UH, AND SO FOR THE TIME BEING, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MONITOR WHAT'S HAPPENING FEDERALLY.

UH, WE NEED, WE DO NEED TO WAIT THOUGH FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THAT FEDERAL PROCESS BEFORE US AND OUR FRIENDS AT ECHO CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR-EYED ON WHAT NUMERICAL TARGETS WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR OUR CONTINUUM.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING STOCK AND CAPACITY.

UH, JUST LAST WEEK, WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF SEABROOK SQUARE TWO, UH, WHICH WILL ADD 60 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT PROJECT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY INTEGRAL CARE.

AND SO YOU SEE THAT WE EXPECT AN INCREASE IN PSH UNITS BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, DUE TO THE SHIFT IN FEDERAL FUNDING, SOME OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED PSH UNITS, UH, MIGHT COME OFFLINE.

UH, BUT AGAIN, WE CREATED THIS TABLE BACK WHEN THAT NOFO WAS ACTIVE.

NOW THAT THE COURTS HAVE, UM, DECLARED THAT THAT PROCESS WAS NOT CONDUCTED APPROPRIATELY, AND THE FEDS HAVE RESCINDED THAT NOFO, WE AS, AS WELL AS CITIES AND AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE NATION, WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR HUD AND THE COURTS TO GIVE US SOME CLARITY ON WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS GONNA LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THAT TIMELINE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.

UH, AND ONCE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE TIMELINE WILL LOOK LIKE, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH OUR ESTIMATION ON, ON TARGETS,

[00:25:01]

UH, AND WHAT, WHAT WE SHOULD ASPIRE FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY DIRECTOR.

GREAT.

CAN I ASK MA'AM, HOW MUCH MA'AM, MUCH FUNDING, YOU KNOW, IS AT RISK WITH THIS KIND OF PAUSE ON THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY? SO, SYSTEMWIDE ACROSS AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE A TOTAL OF $14 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO HOMELESS SERVICES.

UH, ABOUT 8 MILLION OF THAT HAS SUSTAINED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND SO THOSE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT ARE REALLY AT RISK RIGHT NOW WITH THIS LEGAL PROCESS BEING TIED UP.

I SHOULD ALSO SAY JUST, JUST AS ANOTHER POINT THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH ECHO ON THE NEXT STATE OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM REPORT.

YOU MIGHT RECALL, UH, LAST YEAR, THERE WAS AN EVENT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AT THE MOODY CENTER, UH, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE HRS.

WE CELEBRATED THE FIRST DECLINE IN FIRST TIME HOMELESSNESS IN FIVE YEARS.

UH, WE SAW A DECLINE IN HOUSING WAIT TIMES BY 25%.

LOT OF GOOD SYSTEM METRICS.

SO ECHO PUBLISHES THAT REPORT ANNUALLY.

UH, WE ARE MEETING WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT THE REPORT AND THE DATA AND THE DATA ASSUMPTIONS WITHIN THE REPORT.

UH, AND SO THE, THAT DATA AND FROM THAT REPORT IS ALSO GONNA INFORM OUR THINKING AROUND THESE NUMERICAL TARGETS.

SO ONCE SOME OF THESE THINGS OUTSIDE OF HS O'S CONTROL BEGIN TO LAND THEMSELVES, AND WE GET SOME CLARITY ON WHERE FUNDING IS GONNA BE AT AND THE STATE OF OUR SYSTEM, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH SOME CLEAR TARGETS THAT WE CAN ATTACH TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO PATRICIA BARRERA, WHO'S TO, UH, MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT.

PATRICIA IS OUR DIVISION MANAGER FOR OUR PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT UNIT.

UH, AND SO SHE WILL TALK ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE REGARDING THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT UPDATE.

HELLO.

UM, MY NAME'S PATRICIA BADA, AND OF COURSE, I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU THE HE UP, HE UPDATE.

AND, UM, SO BRIEFLY, WE HAVE, UM, ACTUALLY THE SLIDES ARE DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF OUR BACKGROUND.

THERE'S A COUPLE SLIDES HERE BEFORE AND AFTERS OF, OF CLEANUPS.

AND, UH, THIS PROCESS, AS A REMINDER, EXISTS TO, TO ADDRESS THE INCONSISTENT ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP RESPONSES ACROSS THE CITY AND HELP REDUCE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS FOR THE HIGH PRIORITY SITES WHILE MAINTAINING OUR PUBLIC SPACES AND CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS WITH SERVICES.

NOW, AS A REMINDER, IT WAS CREATED TO COMPLY WITH THE PROPOSITION B AND THE TEXAS PENAL CODE 48.05, WHILE ENSURING CLEANUP RESPONSES ARE HUMAN-CENTRIC AND TRAUMA-INFORMED.

AND THIS IS OVERVIEW OF THE PEN PROCESS ITSELF.

UH, FIRST THINGS FIRST, WE GET LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE, UH, EITHER 3 0 1 SERVICE REQUESTS FROM STAFFERS, FROM, UM, OTHER, OTHER SOURCES.

AND SO ONCE WE GET THAT INFORMATION, WE'LL GET OUT THERE, WE'LL GET EYES ON IT, WE'LL ASSESS IT, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE TALK TO THE PEOPLE THERE AND, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS PLACE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A LOCATION WHERE THERE'S A CAMP.

UM, NEXT THING WE DO, AFTER THE, AFTER WE ASSESS, WE MAKE SURE TO PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING DEPENDING ON BALANCING THE RISK AND THE CAPACITY OF OUR TEAMS. AND ONCE THAT'S DONE, WE PROVIDE THE REFERRAL TO OUTREACH.

AND OUTREACH DOES THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS.

THIS IS THE POINT AND WHERE THEY'RE TALKING TO THE INDIVIDUALS, MAKING SURE THE INDIVIDUAL IS, UH, AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THAT THEY'RE AC THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SHELTER OR OTHER RESOURCES.

ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, WE DO NOTIFICATION.

MY TEAM GOES BACK OUT.

WE TALK TO THE FOLKS AGAIN.

WE LET THEM KNOW THERE IS GONNA BE ABOUT 72 HOUR NOTICE.

WE DO HAVE WRITTEN NOTICE.

IF THEY'RE NOT THERE, WE DO PROVIDE THAT.

AND ONCE THAT WRITTEN NOTICE IS THERE, WE DO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE IT'S 72 HOURS.

AND THEN ONCE THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE SCHEDULE FOR ABATEMENT.

AND THAT, OF COURSE INCLUDES ENFORCEMENT CLEANUP AND RESTORATION OF THE LOCATION.

NOW, UH, FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS, THESE ARE OUR OUTCOMES.

WE HAD ABOUT 456 VISITS, AND THIS INCLUDES REPEATED VISITS.

UM, WE HAD 127 UNIQUE SITES THAT WERE VISITED DURING THIS TIMEFRAME.

AND WE, WE REMOVED 303.62 TONS OF DEBRIS DURING THIS TIMEFRAME.

AND OF COURSE, UH, 35 FOLKS WERE CONNECTED INTO SHELTER, WHICH MEANS THEY WENT INTO SHELTER.

AND THESE FROM THERE ALSO, THOSE WHO DID NOT WANNA GO INTO SHELTER, WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, ANY REFERRALS TO SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR THEM, INCLUDING DIVERSION.

AND AFTER THAT, WE HAD ABOUT 50% OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE OFFERED SHELTER TO BE, TO BE CONNECTED TO THE SHELTER SERVICES.

AND, UH, AND DURING THIS TIMEFRAME, WE ONLY HAD FIVE, UH, CITATIONS ISSUED BY A PD ZERO ARRESTS.

AND IN TOTAL WE HAD ABOUT 852, UM, SERVICE REQUESTS FROM 3 1 1 THAT WE WERE ADDRESSING DURING THIS TIMEFRAME.

AND OUR RESPONSE TO THOSE 3 1 1 CALLS FOR, FROM THE FIRST, FROM THEY CALL, AND WHEN THEY, UH, GET THE, WHEN WE GET THE CALL RATHER, AND WHEN WE GET EYES

[00:30:01]

ON IT, IS ABOUT 4.9 DAYS.

NOW, UM, THERE WAS SOME REPEAT ACTIVITY OF RE ENCAMPMENT AT ABOUT 28% OF THE CAMPSITES WITHIN THOSE FIRST 30 DAYS.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING ANOTHER DATA, UH, UPLOAD DURING FOR, UH, THE REST OF THE DATA OF THIS, UH, FROM THE FIRST 30 DAYS TO TODAY.

AND THAT SHOULD BE SCHEDULED IN FALL OF THIS YEAR.

NOW, OF COURSE, THE FIRST 30 DAY COST DRIVERS, THE FIRST, UH, TOTAL HE INITIATIVE COST FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS WAS, UH, 707 719,316, WHICH WAS ABOUT A 1500, A LITTLE OVER 1500 FOR SITE VISIT.

NOW, THE GREATEST PROPORTION OF THE COSTS WERE THE STAFF SALARIES AND THE CONTRACTORS.

AND, AND THESE RESOURCES ARE ALREADY IN THE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS FOR CLEANUP AND ENFORCEMENT RELATED ACTIVITIES.

AND THESE RESOURCES CAN'T BE SHIFTED TO SOCIAL SERVICES OR HOUSING, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND SO HERE'S THE, THERE'S THE SUMMARY OF COURSE, BY DEPARTMENTS AND THEN OF COURSE, BY THE BY CATEGORY.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D WANNA ADD TO THAT? UM, I, I, I THINK ONE OF THE KEY POINTS THAT PATRICIA WAS MAKING HERE IS THAT A LOT OF THESE COSTS ARE COSTS THAT THE CITY WAS ALREADY INCURRING TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSITION B AS WELL AS THE STATE LAW WITH RESPECT TO ENCAMPMENT, CLEANUPS AND CLOSURES.

WHAT, WHAT WE'VE DONE THROUGH THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS IS BASICALLY WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO SAY, INSTEAD OF SPINNING THESE RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT REALLY WASN'T COORDINATED, DID NOT ALLOW US TO SUSTAIN PROGRESS, DID NOT GIVE PEOPLE ON THE STREET A, A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT, UH, EXPECTATION FOR WHAT THIS PROCESS SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

LET'S TAKE THESE DOLLARS AND PUT THEM IN A PROCESS THAT IS BETTER COORDINATED, BETTER ORGANIZED, AND ALLOWS US TO SUSTAIN PROGRESS AS WE PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THEN EVENTUALLY CLEAR AND CLOSE SITES.

UH, AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST DURING THE PROJECT PROCESS ITSELF TO LOOK AT THESE COSTS AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS LIKE HOUSING OR, OR MORE OUTREACH OR, UH, PREVENTION.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THESE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE TIED UP MOSTLY IN STAFF SALARIES.

UH, NOW I ALSO WANNA BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT OUR OFFICE IS STILL COMMITTED TO GROWING OUR SUPPORTIVE SERVICE ECOSYSTEM.

WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO THE OUTREACH PIECE.

UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF ADDING FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO OUR STREET OUTREACH TEAM.

AND IN THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE, COUNCIL MEMBER OF VE ALASKA HAS HAD AN AMENDMENT THAT ADDED THREE MORE POSITIONS THAT WE CAN USE FOR OUTREACH RELATED SERVICES, AS WELL AS PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT RELATED SERVICES.

SO WE WERE CONTINUING TO GROW OUR SUPPORTIVE SERVICE ECOSYSTEM AND OPPORTUNITY, UH, BUT WE REALLY FELT LIKE THIS WAS A WAY FOR US TO TAKE COSTS THAT THE CITY WAS ALREADY USING THAT WAS ALREADY TIED UP IN STAFFING AND SALARIES AND OTHER THINGS, UH, AND TRY TO PUT THOSE COSTS IN, IN A MORE FOCUSED WAY INTO A PROCESS THAT'S BETTER COORDINATED AND, AND HOPEFULLY PRODUCES BETTER OUTCOMES.

WITH THAT, PATRICIA, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO YOU.

SO AN EFFORT TO BE BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, WE, UH, HAVE LAUNCHED THE KEEP CLEAR MAP.

AND SO THIS, UH, QR CODE AS WELL AS THE, THE, UH, WEBSITE THERE, IT SHOULD LEAD YOU TO THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU'LL FIND OUR KEEP CLEAR MAP.

THE KEEP CLEAR MAP ITSELF SHOULD SHOW WHERE WE'VE ALREADY PROVIDED THE HEMP PROCESS AND COMPLETED THAT PROCESS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT FOLKS WILL, UM, BE ASKED TO KEEP THE AREA CLEAR.

AND WE'RE NOT, AS SOON AS THERE'S A TENT OR ANY SORT OF, UH, CAMP POTEN POTENTIALLY STARTING, WE'LL, WE ARE GOING OUT TO THOSE LOCATIONS AND CHECKING ON THOSE FOLKS AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THIS LOCATIONS KEEP CLEAR AND THAT WE WILL NEED TO, UM, UM, NOT ALLOW ANY CAMPING TO, TO START.

SO, MADAM CHAIR, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR FORMAL PRESENTATION.

I, I THINK I'LL JUST END BY SAYING THAT, UH, AND I KNOW THIS, THAT THE, UM, THE COMMUNITY SURVEY WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM.

AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO, UH, ADDRESS THAT IF I CAN.

UH, SO FIRST, OUR OFFICE DID RECEIVE A COPY OF THE SURVEY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE FOR GIVING US A COPY, UH, OF THE SURVEY AND FOR MEETING WITH US TO TALK ABOUT IT.

OFTENTIMES IN THIS WORK, UH, GROUPS WOULD, WOULD DO SURVEYS AND, AND THEY'LL COLLECT STORIES, AND THEY, THEY DON'T SHARE IT WITH US AT THE DEPARTMENT.

UH, AND THEN WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT THROUGH A COUNCIL OFFICE OR THROUGH A COMMUNITY POST OR, OR SOMEPLACE ELSE.

UH, SO I REALLY WANT TO GIVE THE, THE HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE TEAM AND THEIR, AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MAGGIE, UH, A LOT OF CREDIT FOR BEING WILLING TO MEET WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE SURVEY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO INVITED US TO THEIR OFFICE TO HAVE A TOWN HALL WITH THEIR MEMBERS, UH, AND WITH THE VOCAL TEXAS MEMBERSHIP TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT WORK AND WHAT'S

[00:35:01]

WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I I, I CAN'T SIT HERE AND SAY THAT, THAT WE RESOLVED ALL THE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO US.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY ASKED US TO DO THAT OPERATIONALLY WE CANNOT DO.

UH, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY ASKED US TO DO THAT I THINK WE REALLY STRIVED TO DO.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE PUBLISH NOW IN ADVANCE OF GOING OUT, UH, PATRICIA'S TEAM WILL PUBLISH THE LOCATION OF THE KEEP CLEAR SITES AS WELL AS WHERE WE INTEND TO BE AT THE FOLLOWING WEEK, UH, AND MAKE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO FOLKS.

UH, WE ALSO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH OTHER STREET OUTREACH PROVIDERS, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN GET OUT AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT A CERTAIN SITE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.

AND ALSO THAT THEY COULD TELL US IF THERE'S SOMEBODY IN AN ENCAMPMENT WHO THEY'RE WORKING WITH, WHO IS ON A PATHWAY TO HOUSING, OR MAYBE THEY'RE PREGNANT, OR MAYBE THEY HAVE SOME OTHER UNIQUE NEED THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER, UH, THEY COULD RELAY THAT TO US.

AND IN CASES, WE HAVE ACTUALLY PAUSED OUR PLAN BASED ON THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THAT FLOW CHART THAT YOU SAW THAT THOSE SIX STEPS ARE STILL VERY MUCH THE SAME.

BUT HOW WE OPERATIONALIZE THOSE SIX STEPS HAVE SHIFTED.

AND NOW THAT WE ARE A QUARTER INTO THIS WORK, UH, WE'RE OPEN TO MORE FEEDBACK FROM ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND WE TAKE THAT.

AND, AND SO I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR THAT WE'RE STRIVING TO DO BETTER.

UH, I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL SOME IMPROVEMENT THAT WE CAN DO, UH, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO, TO NOTE THAT, THAT THE, THE HARM REDUCTION TEAM INVITED US IN TO MEET WITH THEIR MEMBERSHIP.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SURVEY.

UH, WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEDITATE ON SOME OF THAT AND THEN TO MODIFY OUR PRACTICE BASED OFF OF SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WE HEARD.

SO, WITH THAT MADAM CHAIR, I APPRECIATE THE LITTLE EXTRA TIME AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

NO, THANK YOU.

UH, DIRECTOR, I CERTAINLY, THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT, WAS TO ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THRA.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE MADE MODIFICATIONS SINCE THE SURVEY HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND SHARED.

YES, MA'AM.

VERY GOOD.

AND ANYTHING THAT YOU WANNA COMMENT? 'CAUSE ONE THING THAT THEY NOTE IN THEIR SURVEY WAS THAT 80% REPORT IS SOMETHING CRITICAL BEING TAKEN OR DESTROYED.

ANY COMMENT ON THAT PIECE? ON BELONGINGS? YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE CAN, WE, WE TRY TO HELP PEOPLE, UH, GRAB THE IMPORTANT STUFF AND, AND FIND A PLACE, A SAFE PLACE TO STORE IT, UH, OPERATIONALLY, THERE, THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES, RIGHT? UH, I THINK IT'S VERY, UH, COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR VIOLET KEEPS SAFE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE CITY'S PRIMARY WAY TO PROVIDE STORAGE TO THE UNHOUSED, UH, THAT THAT PROGRAM IS OFTENTIMES FULL, UH, IN THAT CAPACITY.

UH, WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS YEAR, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATED SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO OUR COLLEAGUES AT COMMUNITY COURT TO HELP WITH THE EXPANSION OF THAT PROGRAM.

AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY COURT TO FIGURE OUT BETTER WAYS THAT, THAT WE COULD BE A PARTNER IN FACILITATING ACCESS TO STORAGE AND RESOURCES.

UH, AND I KNOW WHEN OUR OUTREACH STAFF ARE GOING OUT, OR EVEN WHEN PATRICIA'S STAFF IS GOING OUT, UH, THEY'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR VITAL DOCUMENTS AND VITAL RECORDS.

SOMETIMES AT SOME OF THESE SITES, IT IS VERY CHALLENGING FOR THE CLEANING CREWS TO SORT THROUGH THINGS AND, AND TRY TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT'S WHAT.

UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO INVITE YOU ALL OUT TO SOME OF THESE CLEANUP SITES IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME SEE THEM.

OFTENTIMES, IT'S, IT'S JUST A LOT OF STUFF.

AND TO, TO TRY TO HANDPICK THROUGH EVERYTHING IS NOT ALWAYS SAFE FOR OUR STAFF, NOR ALWAYS OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE.

UH, IF THINGS HAPPEN, IF THINGS GET TAKEN, WE DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, ONE, TO REACH OUT TO US AND LET US KNOW, AND THEN LET US USE OUR LEVERAGE AS A CITY DEPARTMENT TO HELP MAKE IT RIGHT.

WHETHER THAT'S WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO OBTAIN BIRTH CERTIFICATES, UH, OR WORKING THROUGH THE CITY'S VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICER TO, TO HELP VETERANS GET IDS.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE CERTAIN RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL TO HELP RIGHT OR WRONG, UH, BUT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.

AND SO, IN THE FEW TIMES THAT WE'VE HEARD, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, AND WE HAVE MM-HMM .

UH, SOME OF THE STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, WE HAVE NOT HEARD, WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN A COPY OF THE MOST OF WHATEVER WAS REFERENCED TODAY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, BUT WE WELCOME THAT FEEDBACK AND THAT DIALOGUE BECAUSE IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

AND IT ALSO GIVES US A CHANCE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CLEANING CREWS ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR, WHERE MISTAKES HAVE HAPPENED, UH, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PREVENT THOSE MISTAKES FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

AND HOW ABOUT THE OTHER, FINDING THAT 74% OF THE PEOPLE SURVEYED SHARE THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE CONNECTION TO SERVICES.

AND SO ANY, ANY COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I, I DON'T FULLY KNOW THAT THE SURVEY METHODOLOGY OR, OR WHERE THE SURVEYS WERE ADMINISTERED, OR TO WHOM, UH, I, I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK NECESSARILY TO THAT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE DISCUSSED WITH MAGGIE ABOUT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, PARTS OF THE SURVEY THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO VERIFY OURSELVES AND VALIDATE.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE SURVEY IS WRONG, IT'S JUST I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO VALIDATE THAT.

WHAT I CAN VALIDATE IS THE DATA THAT OUR TEAM IS COLLECTING, WHICH IS SHOWING THAT 50% OF THE PEOPLE ACCEPTED SHELTER OR SERVICES, AND 50%

[00:40:01]

DIDN'T.

NOW, THE INTERESTING THING WITH OUR DATA IS, IS THIS, UH, IF SOMEONE DECLINES A, A SERVICE OPPORTUNITY MULTIPLE TIMES, IT'S RECORDED AS A DECLINE, EVEN IF THEY SUBSEQUENTLY ACCEPT THE SERVICE OPPORTUNITY DOWN THE, THE ROAD.

SO WE, WE COULD HAVE MORE THAN 50% OF PEOPLE ACCEPTING SERVICES EVENTUALLY.

IT'S JUST OUR DATA COLLECTION DOESN'T ALLOW US TO, TO TRACK IT IN THAT PARTICULAR WAY.

WE, WE TRACK IT AS UNIQUE CONTACTS.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE WILLING TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE BE OFFERED A SERVICE, AND HOPEFULLY THEY, THEY ACCEPT IT.

THE PART THAT WE CAN CONTROL IS OFFERING THE SERVICE CONNECTION.

WE, WE CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE TO ACCEPT IT.

COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DIRECTOR GRAY.

I, I HAD A QUESTION ON SLIDE 12.

Y'ALL HAVE THAT, UH, ON SLIDE SLIDE 12, REFERENCING SLIDE 12, EXCUSE ME.

DO WE HAVE DATA ON HOW MANY IN, UH, TOTAL INDIVIDUALS, UH, THE TEAM HAS MADE CONTACT WITH? WE, WE HAVE THAT, UM, WE CAN KIND OF BACK INTO IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT 35 PEOPLE ACCEPTED SHELTER, AN ADDITIONAL NINE PEOPLE HAVE ACCEPTED SERVICES.

AND SO THAT, THAT GETS US TO 44 PEOPLE TOTAL.

UH, AND THAT REPRESENTS THE HALF THAT TOOK US UP ON A RESOURCE.

SO THAT'S 44 PEOPLE DIDN'T, SO IN TOTAL, IT'S 88 PEOPLE WHO THE TEAMS DIRECTLY CAME IN CONTACT WITH.

AND, AND, UH, BUT DOES THAT, THAT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE FOLKS AT A, AT A PARTICULAR SITE.

IT'S THE FOLKS WHO OUR TEAMS CAME IN CONTACT WITH.

UH, BUT YOU ARE CORRECT.

THERE COULD BE FOLKS WHO RESIDE AT A SITE WHO WE DON'T SEE DURING OUR VISIT.

THIS IS PRECISELY THE REASON WHY OUR TEAM DOES LEAVE BEHINDS, UH, WILL POST FLYERS OR WE'LL LEAVE BEHIND MATERIALS, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP AND, AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE.

WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING AS, AS OUR CONTINUAL EVOLUTION OF THIS WORK, UH, SHIFTING SOME OF OUR OUTREACH AND PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT HOURS SO THAT MAYBE TEAMS START A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE DAY, OR THE STAFF COME IN A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE DAY, BUT THAT MEANS THEY'RE STAYING A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE EVENING TOO, TO TRY TO CATCH MORE FOLKS DURING THE OFF HOURS.

AND, AND, UH, I SAW THAT Y'ALL HAD UNIQUE CITATIONS.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? 'CAUSE I, I, I, WHAT MY QUESTION WAS HOW MANY, OR MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY TOTAL CITATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT AND WHAT, WHAT HAVE THOSE BEEN PREDOMINANTLY FOR? UM, THE, MY, UH, THE A PD CITATIONS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? CORRECT.

UM, THOSE WERE FROM, FROM SLIDE 12 ALSO.

OH.

FROM SLIDE 12 AS WELL.

SO THOSE WERE FOR, UM, A PD ISSUED FIVE, UH, CITATIONS, AND THEY WERE FOR PUBLIC CAMPING.

AND WHAT IS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN UNIQUE AND JUST A CITATION? IT'S JUST INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE? YEAH, JUST INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, NOT ONE PER EACH PERSON GOT ONE TICKET.

WE, WE DO THINK IN THIS CASE, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS GOT ONE TICKET.

SO IT'S FIVE TOTAL CITATIONS, BUT ALSO TO FIVE UNIQUE PEOPLE.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ONE IS, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT YOU ARE COLLECTING THAT FEEDBACK? OR WHETHER IT'S FROM ADVOCACY GROUPS, WHETHER IT'S FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY HE, HOW ARE YOU, HOW ARE YOU ACTUALLY GETTING THAT FEEDBACK? AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY LIKE, HEY, I LOST MY STUFF, OR, HEY, YOU DIDN'T GET ME TO SHELTER THE SPECIFIC GAPS, ALSO LIKE, HOW ARE WE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, COLLECT THAT COLLECTIVE FEEDBACK? SO IN GENERAL, WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM THE OUTREACH TEAMS AND OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE SPEAKING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REPORTING THIS AS WELL AS SOMETIMES I'M CALLING DAVID PERSONALLY, .

UM, HOMELESS DO INPUT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV.

WELL, OUR GENERAL, UH, RESOURCE ACCOUNT IS, IS AN EMAIL ACCOUNT.

UH, BUT AS PATRICIA MENTIONED, OUR, OUR STAFF LEAVE THEIR CELL PHONE NUMBERS.

PEOPLE HAVE MY PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBER.

UH, AND, AND THEY DO CALL AND REACH OUT WHEN THEY HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

UH, BUT IN GENERAL, HOMICIDE INPUT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV IS HOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN REACH OUT TO US, OR THEY CAN REPORT IT THROUGH 3 1 1.

UH, AND THAT THREE ONE ONE CALL WILL GENERATE A SERVICE REQUEST, WHICH GETS REFERRED BACK TO OUR DEPARTMENT.

AND, AND WE DO GET THOSE, WHEN FOLKS SAY, HEY, I WAS AT AN ENCAMPMENT AND, AND YOU KNOW, I JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVE CALLED 3 1 1, WE'LL GET THAT SERVICE REQUEST AND WE'LL HAVE A MEMBER OF OUR OUTREACH TEAM REPLY.

SO, UH, A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT FOLKS ARE ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH US.

SO, UH, OUR OUTREACH STAFF, UH, HAVE GIVEN OUT THEIR CELL PHONE NUMBERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT STAFF.

AND IS THAT KIND OF REFLECTIVE OF THE REPORT THAT THRA HAD WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE MISSING VITAL STUFF, MEDICATION, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, WHATEVER ELSE? I MEAN, ARE THEY, ARE THEY ABLE TO REACH OUT TO YOU ON YOUR CELL ON THOSE CHANNELS THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING? IS THAT HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO TRY AND RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES? YEAH,

[00:45:01]

SO OFTENTIMES PEOPLE CALL, UH, I, I'LL SAY IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE MODE OF, OF CONTACT, RIGHT? SO FOR OUR OUTREACH STAFF, UH, OFTENTIMES IT IS CLIENTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED WHO ARE REACHING OUT WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

UH, TYPICALLY THROUGH THE EMAILS, UH, WE'RE HEARING THE, THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS THE HOMEOWNER WHO'S UPSET BECAUSE A BIKE OR PACKAGE GOT STOLEN, UM, OR WE'RE HEARING FROM A, A BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S UPSET BECAUSE SOMEONE DEFECATED ON THEIR DOORSTEP.

UH, SO IT, IT, IT VARIES.

UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE NOT SAT DOWN TO DO A, A, AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT SIDE WE HEAR FROM MORE.

WE, WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF IT AND, AND, AND OPEN TO ALL OF IT.

AND THERE'S TYPICALLY CAPACITY.

I WANTED TO SWITCH GEARS AND JUST TALK ABOUT, UH, SOMETHING THAT I THINK CAME UP EARLIER, WHICH IS, AS YOU'RE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SHELTER, UH, CAN YOU EXPAND ON THE NATURE OF THAT CONNECTION? IS THAT PSH, IS THAT EMERGENCY, IS THAT RAPID REHOUSING? WHAT SORT OF OPPORTUNITIES ARE YOU ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH? HOW LONG LASTING ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES? UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PERSON IN GENERAL, WE'RE, IF WE, IF IT'S GONNA BE IN THE SHELTER BED, LIKE IN MARSHALING YARD OR IN THE BRIDGE SHELTERS, NOW IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVERSION, THEN THEY'RE PURSUING THAT AS WELL.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE ALWAYS, TO MY RECOLLECTION SAID THAT THERE ALMOST ALWAYS IS.

BUT IS THERE TYPICALLY CAPACITY WHEN THERE IS A REQUEST FOR THAT KIND OF HELP? YES, SIR.

SO, SO TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT RUN OUT OF CAPACITY AT OUR SHELTERS.

UH, NOW WE, WE TRY TO DO IS MEET THE PERSON WHERE THEY'RE AT.

UH, MEANING WE COULD BE, UH, DOING WORK AT AN ENCAMPMENT IN NORTH AUSTIN, LET'S SAY OFF OF RUNDBERG.

UH, AND SOMEBODY IS IN THAT ENCAMPMENT, THEY'RE HOMELESS, BUT THEY'RE WORKING, UH, SO THEY WANT TO STAY ON THE NORTH SIDE.

WE COULD GET THEM INTO SHELTER THAT DAY, BUT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM INTO NORTHBRIDGE THAT DAY.

MM-HMM .

UH, AND SO IN THOSE CASES, IF A, IF A PERSON SAYS, I, I REALLY WANT THIS PARTICULAR SHELTER, OR I REALLY HAVE THIS PARTICULAR NEED, UH, THERE MIGHT BE CASES WHERE WE TELL THE PERSON, OKAY, WE'LL LET YOU STAY HERE UNTIL THE BED AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION OPENS UP.

AND THEN WE TRY TO MEET THEM AT THAT POINT OF NEED.

OR WE'LL SAY, HEY, ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE MARSHALLING YARD BED TODAY? AND THEN AS SOON AS THE NORTH BRIDGE BED OPENS, WE'LL JUST FACILITATE, UH, A TRANSFER OVER TO NORTH BRIDGE.

UH, BUT WE, TO DATE, OUR SHELTERS HAVE NOT BEEN AT A HUNDRED PERCENT CAPACITY.

I THINK LAST I CHECKED, WE, WE HOVER AT BETWEEN 85 AND 90% CAPACITY, UH, ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

STARTING TO WONDER ABOUT AS THE PROGRAM CONTINUES AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, AND PEOPLE ARE ADAPTING TO IT, WHETHER IT'S YOUR ADAPTATION OR WHETHER IT'S COMMUNITY ADAPTATION TO SAYING, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF ANOTHER SWEEP AT THE SAME PLACE.

I'M JUST CONFIRMING THAT HASN'T BEEN A CONSTRAINT OF THE PROGRAM.

UH, I WANNA SWITCH GEARS AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY YOU'VE PORTRAYED THIS INFORMATION IS THIS IS KIND OF OUR BASELINE DATA, RIGHT? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE CAPTURED THE WORK THAT HEM HAS DONE AND WHERE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GONNA GET ANOTHER UPDATE THIS FALL.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

SO, WE'LL, WE'LL FINALLY HAVE KIND OF A, A COMPARISON POINT TO UNDERSTAND AND, UH, ANY GUESSES YOU WANT TO MAKE OR, UM, UH, ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WHEN WE GET THAT NEXT DATA SET? IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE REFINING AND LEARNING FROM AND GETTING FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT IS AND ISN'T WORKING, AND THAT I WOULD IMAGINE THE THI THE FIRST 30 DAYS MIGHT'VE BEEN EVEN A LITTLE BIT CHAOTIC.

UM, SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT THIS FALL WHEN WE GET AN UPDATE? I, I, I'M ALWAYS NERVOUS ABOUT THE, THE HYPOTHETICALS 'CAUSE UH, I'M USUALLY WRONG.

THIS IS WHY I DON'T GO TO VEGAS OR, OR GAMBLE.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WE HAVE MADE A, A REAL EFFORT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH OUR PARTNERS ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE TO RELY ON THOSE PARTNERS TO HELP US GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO SHELTER OR TO HOUSING.

UH, THERE ARE, THERE WERE SOME VERY LARGE CAMPSITES THAT WE STARTED WORKING, UH, IN THAT FIRST 30 DAYS.

UM, THERE ARE STILL LARGE CAMPSITES ACROSS THE CITY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN OF THAT EXTENT.

UH, SO THERE MIGHT BE AN INCREASE IN, IN SITE VISITS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS, UH, A LOT MORE SMALLER SITES INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SPEND, YOU KNOW, A WEEK OR A WEEK AND A HALF AT ONE, AT ONE VERY LARGE SITE.

UH, BUT, BUT AGAIN, SIR, I, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT IS JUST ME GUESSING.

I, I THINK WE'RE JUST AS EXCITED, UH, AND EAGER TO SEE WHAT THIS NEXT DATA, UH, IS GONNA LOOK LIKE A AS YOU ARE.

UH, AND THEN THEY USE THAT TO INFORM HOW THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.

WELL, YOU ALLUDED TO SOME PLACES I WAS THINKING ABOUT, WHICH IS, THE WAY I'M READING THIS DATA IS YOU'RE DOING, BASICALLY, IF YOU'VE GOT 456 SITE VISITS AND 127 DISTINCT SITES, YOU'RE BASICALLY HITTING THE SAME SITE THREE TO FOUR TIMES ON AVERAGE IN THE FIRST MONTH.

AND I'M CURIOUS TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT'S GONNA HOLD TRUE OR PEOPLE GONNA RELOCATE ELSEWHERE, IF YOU'RE, UH, WHAT DID YOU CALL IT, YOUR KEEP CLEAR MAP IS GONNA EVOLVE OVER TIME, OR IF IT'S GONNA BE FAIRLY CONSISTENT, LIKE THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M

[00:50:01]

I'M GONNA GO MOVE ELSEWHERE.

UH, AND THEN THAT, THEN YOU'RE GONNA FOLLOW THOSE PEOPLE IN TIME, BUT THERE'LL PROBABLY BE A DELAYED EFFECT ON, ON TRAILING WHERE THE NEW CAMP MIGHT BE SET UP.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE SORT OF EXPECTATIONS I'M WONDERING ABOUT IF YOU ALREADY GOT SOME INSIGHT, BECAUSE THE FIRST 30 DAYS WERE WHEN BACK IN THE SPRING, I WOULD IMAGINE AT SOME POINT, RIGHT? EARLY.

YEAH, LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER, LATE SPRING.

SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF ACTUAL OPERATIONS OF HIM SINCE THEN.

SO I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE SOME INSIGHTS YOU CAN, YOU CAN DRAW IN THE INTERIM, HAVING THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF AT LEAST ANECDOTAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FIELD AS OPPOSED TO STRICTLY THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF DATA.

YEP.

AND SO I, I'LL SAY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I'LL ASK PATRICIA TO, TO CHIME IN WITH HER PERSPECTIVE, I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, WE, WE ARE SEEING MIGRATION HAPPENING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I THINK ALL OF US ANTICIPATED, UH, AND KNEW WAS GONNA HAPPEN AS WE RAMPED UP ENFORCEMENT.

I, I, I THINK ALSO WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING IS A CHANGE IN HOW HOMELESSNESS KIND OF LOOKS, UH, IN THAT, UH, MORE PEOPLE ARE ANTICIPATING TO THE CITY TO SHOW UP AT SOME POINT, UH, WITH A CLEANING CREW TO, TO CLEAN.

UH, AND SO THE NUMBER OF TENTS AND STRUCTURES THAT YOU SEE HAVE DECREASED.

WE'VE ESPECIALLY SEEN THAT IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS HOVERED AT AROUND 450 TO 500 PEOPLE, BUT THE NUMBER OF TENTS AND STRUCTURES IS DOWN 80, 85%, UH, SINCE A FEW YEARS AGO.

UH, THOSE SAME EMPLOYEES CHALLENGE ME AND MY LEADERSHIP TEAM IN OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES AND OUR PHILOSOPHIES AROUND THE WORK.

AND SO WE EXPECT SOME OF THOSE TREND LINES TO NOW, UH, EXTEND TO THE, THE REST OF THE CITY.

UH, PATRICIA, YOU HAVE ANY OTHER INSIGHTS YOU WANT TO WANNA SHARE? JUST WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE THE NEXT KIND OF MONTH OR SO TO LOOK LIKE? YEAH, THE, OF COURSE MIGRATION, WE'RE ALSO SEEING MIGRATION INTO PRIVATE PROPERTIES IN SOME OF THE WOODED AREAS.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH CODE AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH, UM, HOW WE CAN WORK BETTER AND COORDINATE WITH CODE AS WELL AS, UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT OUTREACH DOES GO WITH CODE.

UH, WE DO HAVE A, A PROCESS WITH CODE WHERE IF THEY'RE CALLED TO A LOCATION, IT TURNS OUT IT'S AN ENCAMPMENT, THEY DO NOTIFY US AND ASK FOR OUTREACH AND THEY WORK WITH THE HOMEOWNER OR THE PROPERTY OWNER TO, UH, ALLOW US TO GO ON, ON PROPERTY AND WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST INSIGHTS I'VE FOUND.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

LAST QUESTION IS, YOU MENTIONED YOU'D HAD THIS TOWN HALL, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT ISN'T WORKING WELL, HAVING DONE THIS NOW FOR THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, HAVING NOW HAD THIS TOWN HALL, UH, WHAT ARE THE PLA AND, AND HAVING THE T-T-H-R-A REPORT, WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S THE MOST WORK TO DO TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO? YEAH, YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THAT ONE? OKAY.

I, I, I'LL SAY AS A DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT THERE'S, THERE'S SOME SPACES WHERE WE CAN DO SOME MORE WORK.

UH, ONE IS INTERNALLY OUR STAFFING.

UH, AND AGAIN, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THREE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, SPECIFICALLY, UH, DOING SOME OF THE GROUND GAME WORK.

YOU KNOW, AS WE GROW OUR STAFF, IT ALLOWS US TO FLEX OUR HOURS MORE.

UH, AND SO TO, TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE IN SOME OF THESE SITES BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE SITE IN THE MORNING OR AFTER THEY RETURN TO THE SITE IN THE LATE EVENING, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO UNDER OUR EXISTING STAFFING FRAMEWORK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO MOVING FORWARD.

UH, I THINK ALSO INTERNALLY, SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS THAT WE USE TO COORDINATE THE WORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND TRACK THE WORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS HAS BEEN, UM, CHALLENGING A LITTLE BIT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THOSE SOLUTIONS.

UH, THAT BEING SAID, TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US TO ENHANCE THOSE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS.

UH, AND A LOT OF THAT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH THE, THE DASHBOARD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO KIND OF DAYLIGHT MORE OF THIS WORK AND MAKE MORE OF THIS WORK VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

THE LAST I THINK IS, IS TRUST.

UH, YOU KNOW, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WORK AND HOW WE ARE ASPIRING TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO INFORM THE WORK THAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO THE WORK.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR OUTREACH STAFF, OUR OUTREACH EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE THE GREATEST SUCCESS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS, LIVED EXPERIENCE, WITH SUBSTANCE USE, LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, NAVIGATING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO ENSURE THAT OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES AS THE PEOPLE WHO WE'RE ENGAGING WITH, TO BUILD TRUST AND HOPEFULLY CONVERT MORE OF THOSE NOS TO YESES.

BUT I'LL SAY THIS TO COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN WE HIRE THOSE FOLKS, IT ALSO SHIFTS OUR INTERNAL CULTURE.

[00:55:01]

UH, AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE THREE AREAS WHERE, WHERE WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IMPROVEMENTS.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS, UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE AND LOCAL TEXAS AND, AND SOME OF THE OTHER GROUPS WHO'VE REACHED OUT TO US WITH SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED.

NAVIGATION CENTER KINDA CITYWIDE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS.

I DO WANNA FOLLOW UP ON THE CITATIONS, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.

BUT I, I'VE JUST GOTTEN SOME DIFFERENT INFORMATION OR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT FROM, UH, THE FOLKS AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND JUDGE COFFEY.

SO, UM, I'D LOVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTERWARDS ABOUT SOME OF THAT.

THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I WANTED TO GO BACK TOWARDS WHERE Y'ALL STARTED.

UM, FIRST AS IT RELATES TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE, GOSH, TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO NOW, STARTED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS THE CITYWIDE GOAL, CITYWIDE VISION FOR NAVIGATION CENTERS, RECOGNIZING THAT ONE CENTER IS NEVER GOING TO BE SUITABLE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN STANDING UP.

ONE IS TAKING, SHOULD WE BE STARTING THE PROCESS FOR ANOTHER ONE, RECOGNIZING THAT THAT MIGHT BE A THREE OR FOUR YEAR PROCESS.

AND, AND I IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THIS, IN SOUTH AUSTIN, THE NATURAL NEXT SPOT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN NORTH AUSTIN.

'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HOPPING ON THE BUS COMING, UH, I KNOW TO THE CURRENT LOCATION.

SO I JUST WANNA GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU SEE THE FUTURE BEYOND THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO, AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN SPEAKS A LITTLE BIT TO THIS, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A NETWORK OF NAVIGATION CENTERS THAT'S GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED SO THAT NO ONE NAVIGATION CENTER HAS TO CARRY AN OUTSIDE LOAD IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND THAT NAVIGATION CENTER.

DOESN'T HAVE TO CARRY AN, AN OUTSIDE LOAD RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE CITY.

UH, WE WE'RE STILL PURSUING THAT GOAL.

I I THINK EVERY PROJECT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT WITH RESPECT TO OUR CURRENT PROJECT.

JUST IF I COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE TIMELINE SINCE YOU, SINCE YOU MENTIONED IT.

UH, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WAS A WORLD IN WHICH WE COULD HAVE EX TOOK THE BUILDING AS IS AND TRIED TO FORCE A NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS THAT HAPPENED IN THAT BUILDING IN ITS EXISTING FOOTPRINT.

LEGALLY, WE, WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT, BUT AS WE GOT INTO THE BUILDING AND WORKED WITH AUSTIN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TO LOOK AT THE BUILDING, UH, AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE REALLY WANT THE BUILDING TO FUNCTION AND OPERATE, THERE WERE SOME CLEAR, A DA CONCERNS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, WITH THAT BUILDING.

UH, SOME OF THE SLOPING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING IS NOT A DA COMPLIANT.

IT WOULD MAKE IT VERY CHALLENGING FOR FOLKS IN WHEELCHAIRS TO ACCESS THE SERVICES.

THERE'S ALSO NO ELEVATOR IN THE BUILDING.

SO IF WE OPEN IT TODAY AS IS, WE'D ONLY BE ABLE TO USE EITHER THE SECOND FLOOR OR THE FIRST FLOOR.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE BOTH.

NOT EVEN STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO, TO NAVIGATE, UH, ACROSS BOTH.

AND SO THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, CUT, UH, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE, THE BUILDING AND OUR SERVICES OFF.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE'RE OPENING UP A NAVIGATION CENTER, UH, AND WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS A SPACE WHERE ANYBODY WHO NEEDS HELP CAN GET IT, THAT WE DESIGN AND WE BUILD OFF THE SPACE SO THAT ANYBODY WHO NEEDS HELP CAN COME AND GET IT.

AND THAT INCLUDES OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

SO THE, THE PROCESS OF BUILDING AN ELEVATOR IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS LAST MONTH AND A HALF.

AND I HOPE NO ONE ELSE EVER HAS TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

BUT A LARGE PART OF THAT TIMELINE IS BEING DRIVEN BY THOSE A DA SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, SO THAT WHEN WE OPEN IT, WE COULD OPEN SOMETHING THAT WE ALL FEEL VERY PROUD OF.

AND IT REALLY REFLECTS OUR VALUES AS A, AS A CITY AND AS A COMMUNITY.

I THINK AS WE LOOK TO FUTURE NAVIGATION CENTERS, NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME, SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS ONE, UH, WE'RE TAKING THOSE LESSONS TO INFORM OUR THINKING ABOUT FUTURE ONES.

AND WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IS WORKING WITH GROUPS THAT CURRENTLY PROVIDE NAVIGATION SERVICES AND FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE HELP YOU, UH, ENHANCE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE DOING IT.

UH, OR IF THERE IS AN ACQUISITION OF A FUTURE SITE WHERE NOW WE KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR THAN WHAT WE KNEW, UH, GOING INTO THIS PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.

SO THE, THE VISION IS STILL TO HAVE A NETWORK OF NAVIGATION CENTERS.

UH, OF COURSE FUNDING IS TOP OF MIND FOR EVERYBODY.

AND, AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL HAS, UH, JUST GOTTEN THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS, AND SO I'M SORRY FOR MENTIONING, BUT WE HAVE SOME UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESSES THAT WE WILL HAVE TO NAVIGATE TOO AS A, AS A COMMUNITY.

AND SO, UH, BUT, BUT WE ARE NOT TAKING OUR FOOT OFF THE

[01:00:01]

GAS IN TERMS OF TALKING TO NAVIGATION CENTER PARTNERS AND FIGURING OUT WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN BASED ON WHERE WE WANT TO GO, WHAT DOES THAT RESOURCE AND STRATEGY NEED TO LOOK LIKE FOR US TO EXECUTE THAT PART OF OUR STRATEGIC VISION? OKAY.

WELL, WE'LL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

AND I THINK JUST FIGURING OUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE LEARNED LOTS OF LESSONS, BUT EVEN IF THINGS GO HOW WE WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD GO, RIGHT, LIKE WE STARTED THE PROCESS TODAY, WOULD THAT BE A THREE YEAR PROCESS TO OPENING THE NEXT ONE? AND IF SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO START, HAPPEN HAVING BECAUSE, UM, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T HAVE THE, THE LONG GAP IN BETWEEN.

UH, I THINK WE NEED TO, TO BRING THESE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

UH, I WANT TO TRANSITION TO THE, WELL, I I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOU.

YOU TOUCHED ON IT, ON THE DECLINE IN RAPID AND PSH AND I KNOW HOW THAT'S TIED TO THE NOFO.

DO YOU HAVE A GENERAL SENSE OF HOW MUCH OF OUR PSH IS CITY FUNDED VERSUS NOFO FUNDED? LIKE, IS THAT THE DECREASE IN THE 200 UNITS? IS THAT EXCLUSIVELY PRETTY MUCH ASSUMING THAT THE NOFO FUNDING GOES AWAY, BUT THAT MEAN THAT EIGHT HUNDRED'S, LIKE BASICALLY THE CITY FUNDED OPERATIONS, IS THAT A YEAH, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT IT, OUR CITY FUNDED PSH IS, IS STABLE AND SECURE.

UH, COUNCIL'S BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN NOT ONLY ALLOCATING THE DOLLARS, BUT ALLOWING US TO, UH, IN A SENSE PROTECT SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS.

KNOWING THAT THE SERVICE FUNDS IS, IS TIED TO, UH, CERTAIN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP THOSE BUILDINGS OPERATED IN, IN FUNCTIONAL, THE, THE, THE RISK IS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDED UNITS.

SO THE FEDERALLY FUNDED UNITS, UH, WE, WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL ADOPTING A BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT ALLOCATES A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES.

UH, I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AT TRAVIS COUNTY BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO HEARD OF SOME OF OUR, UM, PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS WHO ARE CONSIDERING PROPOSALS TO ALSO FUND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

AND SO I, I THINK AS THE DUST SETTLES IN THE NON-CITY FUNDED STUFF, UH, IN TERMS OF FUNDING, WE'LL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR EYE ON WHAT OUR TARGETS SHOULD BE AND, AND WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THOSE TARGETS BEING.

COMPLETELY GOING TO THE, THE HEM CONVERSATION, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE KEEP CLEAR SITES AND HOW IF, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE A TENT POP UP THAT THAT'S GONNA BE QUICKLY REMEDIATED.

JUST WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF, LIKE, IS SOMEONE DRIVING BY THERE EVERY DAY? OR LIKE, WHAT, WHAT IS THE DEGREE OF OVERSIGHT OR MONITORING OF THOSE SITES IN GENERAL? WE'RE GOING BACK WITHIN 30 DAYS TO SEE IF ANYBODY'S THERE, BUT WE ALSO ARE LISTENING TO OUR 3 1 1 SERVICE REQUEST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY, UH, RE ANY REPORTS OF FO OF FOLKS COMING BACK.

AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE HEEL SITES MADE IT ONTO THAT LIST OF HIM SITES.

MM-HMM.

UM, I GUESS REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY, WHEN PEOPLE ASK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID HEAL AND, AND STILL DO, WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT AREA WAS GONNA BE KEPT CLEAR WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING TO SOME OF THOSE SITES.

AND, AND A LOT OF THEM WERE AND SOME OF THEM WEREN'T.

UH, SO DID WE LEARN ANY LESSONS? LIKE WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN WHY THESE WILL BE BETTER KEPT CLEAR THAN THE OTHERS? THE FREQUENCY AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE FIVE TEAMS GOING OUT EVERY DAY, SIX TEAMS RATHER EVERY DAY.

AND PREVIOUSLY WE HAD TWO, UH, TWO AND A HALF DAYS IN ONE TEAM.

WELL I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION IN THE WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT.

AND SO THE NEXT ONE WILL COME, THE REPORT WILL COME SOMETIME THIS FALL, IS THAT RIGHT? SO, SO WE ANTICIPATE DOING THESE, UH, UPDATES ON HEAL QUARTERLY.

UH, AND SO THE NEXT UPDATE WILL INCLUDE THE STATISTICS FROM THE, THE LAST REPORT UP TILL THE END OF THIS MONTH.

UH, SO AS YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, WE'RE GOING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA IS ACCURATE AND THE REPORT IS, IS DIGESTIBLE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE AIMING TO HAVE THAT OUT, UH, AS SOON AS WE CAN BY THE END OF THE QUARTER.

BUT FOR NOW, YES, FALL IS OUR, IS OUR TIMELINE.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE'LL RETURN BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE, UH, TO DISCUSS THOSE RESULTS.

WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DR.

YOU PROBABLY SPEND ANOTHER 30 MINUTES DISCUSSING, UM, I KNOW I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON THE ING YARD THAT I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU OFFLINE.

UH, BUT I DO COLLEAGUES NEED TO MOVE US ALONG TO OUR NEXT BRIEFING.

WE DO HAVE TWO MORE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

UH, SO MOVING ON

[3. Connecting the Dots for Children's Mental Health: A Behavioral Health Strategic Plan for Austin and Travis County. [Dr. Desmar Walkes, Medical Director - Austin and Travis County; Stacy Spencer, LCW-S, Children’s Services Practice Administrator - Integral Care.]]

DESAR WALTZ, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND STACY SPENCER, CHILDREN'S SERVICES

[01:05:01]

PRACTICE ADMINISTRATOR WITH INTEGRAL CARE FOR A BRIEFING ON CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES CHAIR AND, UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

UM, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, UH, WORK THAT'S BEEN, UM, UNDERTAKEN BY INTEGRAL CARE, UM, AND MEMBERS OF KIDS LIVING WELL, UM, COLLABORATIVE OVER A TWO AND A HALF YEAR PERIOD.

UM, AND THIS REPORT, UM, WILL BE A SUMMATION OF THE FINDINGS THAT WE'VE GATHERED OVER THOSE TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO STACY TO GET US STARTED.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US COUNCIL MEMBERS ON OUR NEXT SLIDE.

LET'S SEE RIGHT HERE.

IT GETS ROUTED TO INTEGRAL CARE.

UM, THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, EVERY MONTH, UM, TO PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER.

WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A STELLAR GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE MEMBERS REPRESENT DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE PART OF, UM, CITY, COUNTY, THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND PARENTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, KIDS LIVING WELL AS A NETWORK OF HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHERS WORKING TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF TRAVIS COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

UM, KIDS LIVING WELL.

THIS GROUP WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS TRAVIS COUNTY CHILD AND YOUTH PLANNING PARTNERSHIP.

AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 30 YEARS.

IN 2016, KIDS LIVING, WELL ASSUME THE OVERSIGHT OF THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH PLANNING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THIS IS OUR THIRD FIVE YEAR PLAN.

WE DID NOT MAKE THIS PLAN ALONE.

WE ELICITED THE SUPPORT OF MANY PEOPLE.

WE DID, UM, A COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY.

WE REVIEWED, UM, LOCAL DATA AND WE DID A LOT OF FOCUS GROUPS.

IN OUR FOCUS GROUPS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GATHERED INFORMATION FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTICIPANTS.

NOT ONLY THOSE IN AUSTIN, BUT THOSE IN THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTY, INCLUDING DEW VALLEY, LAGO, VISTA, MAYNARD AND PFLUGERVILLE.

WE DID A FOCUS GROUP WITH PARENTS.

WE DID TWO FOCUS GROUPS WITH YOUTH, UM, THE MAYNARD ISD COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THE KIDS LIVING WELL MEMBERS.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE PLAN, I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF DATA.

AND THE REASON I'M SHARING SOME OF THIS DATA, AND A LOT OF THIS WILL BE STUFF I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, IS BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THIS WHAT WE FOUND, BUT IT ALSO CAME UP IN OUR FOCUS GROUPS AS WELL.

SO THE FIRST PIECE OF DATA WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SEE 'CAUSE IT'S LIKE A LITTLE TINY MAP, UM, BUT IT'S LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY LIVING 200% BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

AND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS MAP IS THAT IT, IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER MAPS OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE MAPS THAT IDENTIFY AREAS THAT HAVE LOW ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND ALSO A LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY.

SO THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

THAT MUCH OF THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ONE ZIP CODE OFTEN DETERMINES SOMEBODY'S HEALTH OUTCOMES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME UP IN OUR FOCUS GROUPS AND IN OUR SURVEYS THAT WE HOPE TO ADDRESS IN THIS PLAN.

IN ADDITION TO ZIP CODES THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE SURPRISING TO YOU, BUT, UM, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ALSO DETERMINE HEALTH OUTCOMES, UM, IS POVERTY.

AND POVERTY IS DISPROPORTIONATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD ABOUT 2,400 TRAVIS COUNTY CHILDREN.

SO THAT'S AGES 17 AND BELOW, AND 3,400 VISITS BY TRAVIS COUNTY YOUTH AGES 18 TO 24.

SO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS SUPER IMPORTANT IN OUR SYSTEM OF CARE AND WE NEED IT.

WE, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT THE FIRST PLACE THAT PEOPLE GO TO.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE OTHER RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT DOESN'T GET TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN.

THIS IS DATA ON MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS.

UM, I'M SURE YOU MAY KNOW THAT INTEGRAL CARE RESPONSE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS, WHEN PEOPLE CALL OUR HELPLINE, WHEN THEY CALL THE NINE EIGHT EIGHT NATIONAL SUICIDE LIFELINE,

[01:10:01]

AND IF THEY CALL 9 1 1 AND CHOOSE TO SELECT THE MENTAL HEALTH OPTION, UM, IN FY 25 25, UM, WE RECEIVED ALMOST 5,000 MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS FOR CHILDREN AND 5,300 FOR YOUTH, AGAIN, AGES LIKE 18 TO 24.

SO IT REALLY SPEAKS TO KIND OF THE MENTAL HEALTH NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO HAVE, UM, PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICES, INTEGRAL CARE.

IT'S AN KINDA URGENT CARE 24 7 LOCATION THAT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN CAN GO TO FOR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICES.

THEY PROVIDE EVALUATION, SAFETY PLANNING, LINKAGE TO MEDICATION IF NEEDED, AND FOLLOW UP.

A LOT OF FAMILIES ALSO UTILIZE OUR MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAMS. THIS IS A TEAM OF THERAPISTS.

YOU CAN GO TO THE HOME, TO THE SCHOOL, OR ANYWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CHILD IS AND COMPLETE AN EVALUATION.

THEY LINK 'EM TO SERVICES.

THEY CAN FOLLOW UP FOR 90 DAYS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE LINKED TO SERVICES AND AND DO SAFETY PLANNING.

SO AGAIN, THIS SPEAKS TO THE, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE ON THE GRAPH THE NUMBER, THE UTILIZATION OF THESE SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO DR. WATTS.

THANK YOU STACY.

UM, ON THIS SLIDE, UH, YOU SEE WHAT THE VISION AND GOALS THAT WE'RE, UM, UM, DEVELOPED BY THE TEAM.

UM, AND WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

AND WE HAVE, UH, FOUR GOALS LISTED HERE.

UM, AND WE'LL GO INTO EACH ONE SEPARATELY.

SO OUR FIRST GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES AND PARTICIPANTS, UM, THAT WE SPOKE WITH ALONG THE WAY DESCRIBED GROWING CHALLENGES RELATED TO HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY, HEALTH ACCESS, CHANGING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS TO, TO FUNDING CUTS, AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

AND THE RESEARCH, UH, OF COURSE SUPPORTS MANY OF THESE CONCERNS.

AND IN RESPONSE TO THOSE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS, TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO HELP FAMILIES MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, UM, TO TEACH PROSOCIAL LEARNING SKILLS SO CHILDREN CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR FEELINGS AND HOW TO REGULATE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

AND TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO HAVE A VOICE AND BE ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

UM, AND AS PART OF WHAT WE DID DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE GATHERING THIS DATA, WE ACTUALLY DID HAVE SOME FOCUS GROUPS WITH YOUTH AND HAD A SURVEY THAT THEY WERE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN.

AND THEN WE ALSO, UM, WANT TO, UM, REALLY SUPPORT YOUTH RECREATION LEADERSHIP AND JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.

IN OUR SECOND GOAL, WE, UM, OUTLINED ENSURING SERVICES THAT ARE FINANCIALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY AND CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE.

ACCESSIBLE, SORRY.

UM, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP THAT WAS SHOWN EARLIER, UM, THERE ARE, UH, DISTINCT GEOGRAPHIC, UM, AREAS WHERE THERE ARE, UM, DIFFERENCES IN ACCESS, UM, DIFFERENCES IN POVERTY.

AND, UM, WHEN WE WENT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY INTERVIEWING AND, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, UM, THOSE AREAS THAT HAD THOSE CHALLENGES WERE MOST OFTEN THE AREAS WHERE, UM, PARTICULARLY FINANCIAL AND GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS, UM, WAS IMPORTANT.

BUT OVERALL CULTURAL ACCESSIBILITY WAS ALSO RAISED AS WELL.

SO OUR PLAN INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS AND EXPAND TO OUTREACH AND EQUIP COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH TOOLS, UM, AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO INCREASE COLLABORATIVE CARE IN PRIMARY CARE CLINICS, EXPAND SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UM, UTILIZE MOBILE CLINICS AND EXPAND TELEHEALTH, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THOSE FARTHER, UM, REACHING AREAS OUT IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF OUR, OF OUR COUNTY.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND THE USE OF CERTIFIED FAMILY PARTNERS AND CHILDREN'S SYSTEM NAVIGATORS.

MANY PEOPLE, UM, EXPRESSED, UM, A REAL, UM, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO GET TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO GET TO.

AND THEN, UM, A BIG PROBLEM, UM, IS GETTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE SERVICES.

UM, AND SO

[01:15:01]

WE ALSO HAVE SPOKEN IN THIS PLAN OF WORKING WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE, UM, BODIES TO HELP TO EXPAND MEDICAID BILLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROVIDERS SO THAT, UM, IT MAKES IT, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THEIR PRACTICES AND CARE, UM, SCENARIOS.

UM, AND THEN WE WANTED TO ALSO, UH, LIFT UP THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE, UM, NOT BEING USED AS WELL AS, AS THEY MIGHT BE AND NOT AS WELL KNOWN.

UM, TA, WHICH IS, UH, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HEALTH ACCESS, UM, TELEMEDICINE, WHICH IS A, A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR, UM, PROVIDERS TO CONTACT, UH, A PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONAL TO GET SOME HELP WITH, UM, THE CHILD OR YOUTH THAT MIGHT BE SITTING IN FRONT OF THEM WHO NEEDS SOME HELP AND UTILIZING THAT INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY SENDING CHILDREN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOMS. UM, AND HAVING THOSE CHILDREN THEN BEING KEPT IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AT A TIME BEFORE A RESOURCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE ESTABLISHED AND, AND IDENTIFIED.

AND THEN CPAN, WHICH IS ANOTHER SERVICE THAT PROVIDES CARE FOR OR CONSULTATION SERVICES FOR PROVIDERS THAT NEED SOME ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY'RE FACED WITH ASSESSING THOSE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

AND OUR THIRD GOAL IS TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH COMPLEX NEEDS.

UM, IN MANY INSTANCES, CHILDREN WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES DO NOT JUST HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS.

THEY MAY HAVE, UM, ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSES, UM, RELATED TO LEARNING DISABILITIES, UH, ONGOING CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR NEURO ATYPICAL PRESENTATIONS, UM, THAT ARE, UH, COMORBIDITIES THAT, THAT EXIST IN THE FACE OF HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE.

AND PARENTS AND PROVIDERS AND, UM, TEACHERS, UM, ALL, UM, ARE FACED WITH, UM, NEGOTIATING THOSE INSTANCES WHEN THE MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES REQUIRES ASSISTANCE AND NEEDS THAT, UM, COLLABORATIVE CARE, UH, COORDINATION BETWEEN A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER AND OTHER ME, UH, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT MAY BE NEEDED AND THE, THE, FOR THE CHILD AND OR YOUTH TO BE, UM, ADEQUATELY SERVED.

AND SO, UM, WE LOOK IN THIS RECOMMENDATION TO FUND INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CRISIS SERVICES TO EXPAND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.

UM, AND AGAIN, LOOK TO GETTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE SERVICES THROUGH, UH, EXPANSION OF THE MEDICAID COVERAGE OF THOSE SERVICES.

UM, AND TO WORK WITH, UM, TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO EXPLORE WAYS TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES.

AND WE'VE MET WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND CONTINUE TO WORK TO, UM, WORK WITH COLLEAGUES AT THAT LEVEL TO, UM, DISCUSS WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND TO, UM, ALSO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR PLANS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILDREN GOING FORWARD.

AND, AND THIS PLAN DOES, UM, ALIGN WITH MUCH OF THE PLAN THAT THE STATE HAS AS WELL.

WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT SUBSTANCE USE IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT FOREIGN TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

AND TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IS NEEDED, AND EXPANSION OF THAT TREATMENT IS NEEDED.

AND THEN TO, WE NEED TO EXPAND TRAINING, UM, OF CHILD SERVING PROFESSIONALS AND LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN IN CRISIS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH, UM, ISSUES THAT HAVE COMPLEX, UM, MENTAL ME MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL, UM, NEEDS AS WELL.

AND OUR FOURTH GOAL, UM, WE AGAIN RAISE UP THE, THE, THE POINT THAT NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM AND FINDING THOSE AREAS AND PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP FOR YOUR CHILD OR YOUTH WHO IS IN CRISIS IS VERY DIFFICULT.

UM, AND SO WE, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ONLY PARENTS NEED TO KNOW, BUT UM, EDUCATIONAL PROVIDERS NEED TO KNOW AND MEDICAL

[01:20:01]

PROVIDERS NEED TO KNOW WHERE THOSE SERVICES ARE.

SO WE ENVISION CREATING A MENTAL HEALTH ROADMAP OF THE LOCAL SYSTEM OF CARE, UM, SHARING THAT RESOURCE WITH PARENTS, CAREGIVERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCAL RESOURCES OF T CCHA CPA AND THEN PROVIDING TRAINING TO UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN'S TWO ONE ONE CALL CENTER STAFF ON THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS THIS ON TO STACY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN, UM, GOAL TWO, WHICH WAS TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE FINANCIALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, AND CULTURALLY ACCESSIBLE.

UM, KNOWING THAT THIS WAS ONE OF OUR GOALS, INTEGRAL CARE AND TRAVIS COUNTY JOINTLY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A SAMHSA GRANT RECENTLY.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF KIND OF GETTING THAT APPROVED.

UM, BUT IT WAS GRANTED.

UM, AND THIS GRANT WILL SPECIFICALLY TARGET THE AREAS OF JONESTOWN LA VISTA AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY PORTIONS OF LEANDER.

SO THESE ARE KIND OF THE PORTIONS OF OUR COUNTY THAT HAVE REPORTED REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH CARE SINCE SO MANY OF IT IS CONCENTRATED MORE LOCALLY IN AUSTIN.

UM, THERE'S ALSO A PART OF THIS GRANT THAT IS SETTING UP A SINGLE POINT OF ACCESS, UM, WHICH WE PREVIOUSLY ENVISIONED.

UM, AND IT TALKS ABOUT IN ALSO GOAL FOUR A LITTLE BIT, IS KIND OF MAKING THIS REALLY ACCESSIBLE ROADMAP AND THEN FAMILIES CAN ACCESS ONE PLACE, WHETHER IT'S A PHONE CALL, A WEBSITE, OR WHATEVER, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT SERVICES ARE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILD.

UM, IT'S A TRICKY THING BECAUSE FUNDING ALWAYS CHANGES, SO PROGRAMS CHANGE A LOT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LIKE, MAKE SURE IT'S UPDATED AND CONTINUES TO STAY UPDATED.

UM, FOR GOAL THREE, UM, IT WAS TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH COMPLEX NEEDS.

UM, AND WE ALREADY HAVE A COMMITTEE WORKING ON A SUMMIT THAT WE'VE HAD ALREADY GOING FOR LIKE THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

SO OUR NEXT SUMMIT IS OCTOBER 23RD, AND IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

SO THAT'S BEEN A TRICKY THING BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE TWO AREAS OF SPECIALTY ARE SEPARATED AND IT'S BOTH, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BOTH.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROFESSIONALS ARE EQUIPPED.

UM, THE FOURTH GOAL IS TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE HOW TO ACCESS CARE.

UM, AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED A SYSTEM NAVIGATION TASK FORCE TO WORK ON DEVELOPING THAT ROADMAP AND TO WORK ON ENSURING THAT ALL PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE INFORMATION ON HOW TO LINK YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

SO OUR CALL TO ACTION, UM, I BELIEVE YOU'RE GONNA GET A COPY OF THE PLAN, READ IT, SHARE IT, PROMOTE IT.

UM, AS WE KNOW, FUNDING IS TIGHT.

FUNDING IS TIGHT.

UM, AND SO MUCH SO THAT WE REALLY NEED TO COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER.

WE DON'T WANT A COUNTY FILLED WITH A LOT OF LIKE, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE FRAGMENTED AND NOT COLLABORATING.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR SYSTEM IS WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT OUR NEEDS ARE, THAT WE'RE KIND OF STRIVING TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, NOT DUPLICATING AND NOT KIND OF LIKE OVER SERVICING ONE AREA, JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATELY FILLED FOR OUR PROGRAM.

UM, BUT WE HAVE A WEBSITE, KIDS LIVING WELL.ORG.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THE DATA ON THERE AND WE HAVE THIS PLAN ON THERE AS WELL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? VERY GOOD.

COUNCIL AS THEY DELIBERATE ON WHERE BEST TO APPLY THE RES THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT THE CITY MAY HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA.

UM, I HAVE ONE QUESTION ESPECIALLY, AND I LOVE THE CALL TO ACTION.

I SEE HERE YOU'VE, UM, MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULD REALLY USE THIS PLAN AS A FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE OUR POLICY DECISIONS AND FUNDING.

MM-HMM.

UH, WE KNOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS GOING THROUGH A SOCIAL SERVICE RESET PROCESS.

MM-HMM.

HOW DO YOU ENVISION KNOWING THAT OUR SOCIAL SERVICES ARE GONNA BE REALIGNED, UM, WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNED AND WITH DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL? HOW CAN WE BEST ENSURE THAT THE, THE PLAN THAT Y'ALL HAVE OUTLINED HERE FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH IS ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S KIND OF SOCIAL SERVICE RESEARCH RESET PROCESS? RIGHT? WHAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT FUNDING GOES TO STRATEGIC AREAS? I THINK, UM, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GROUP GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING ON OUR COLLABORATION WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING SERVICES AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THAT ROADMAP AND THE, UM, A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE, WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE, WILL BE REALLY INFORMATIVE TO

[01:25:01]

IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL SINCE YOU ARE DEVELOPING THIS TASK FORCE AND CREATING KIND OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE CONTINUUM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, IF YOU ALL COULD SHARE WITH US WHAT ARE THOSE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THAT NEED THE FUNDING, THAT NEEDS CITY SUPPORT IN A WAY THAT, UM, KNOWING THAT OUR THE CITY DOLLARS ARE LIMITED MM-HMM .

LIKE WHERE WOULD Y'ALL RECOMMEND TO BE THE AREAS IN WHICH THE CITY PROVIDES THAT SUPPORT? UH, UH, WE WILL TAKE THAT BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION OVER TO YOU.

COLLEAGUES.

QUESTIONS? YES, VICE CHAIR.

THANKS FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

UM, THE MAIN QUESTIONS I'VE GOT ON SLIDE SEVEN AND EIGHT, UNLESS I MISINTERPRETING IT, IT DOES LOOK LIKE A GOOD PORTION OF THE TARGET GROUP THAT NEEDS HELP ARE WHAT, WHAT I GUESS YOU'RE CALLING YOUTH, WHICH WOULD BE THE 18 TO 24 YEAR OLDS.

AND SPECIFICALLY IT LOOKS LIKE AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY NEED POTENTIALLY MORE HELP.

THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT.

IS THAT CONSISTENT WITH HOW YOU'RE SEEING THAT THOSE TWO SLIDES? I'M NOT SURE THAT WE CAN SAY IT'S, UM, JUST ABOUT THEIR AGE AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING OLDER AND THEY'RE NEEDING MORE HELP OR, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO GET TO IN MY QUESTION.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT LIKE, JUST DURING THE, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE GOT ONE MORE PRESENTATION, WHAT'S DRIVING THAT RIGHT? IS THERE, IS THERE A LOT OF, UH, UH, IS THAT POPULATION GROUP THAT NEEDS A LOT OF HELP IN THAT 18 TO 24, 20, 24 RANGE? IS THERE A LOT OF OVERLAP BETWEEN SAY, OUR UN UNHOUSED COMMUNITY OR IS THERE OTHER GROUPS THAT WE NEED BE MINDFUL OF AS, AS, UH, CHAIR FUENTES POINTED OUT THOUGH, AS WE START TO PLAN AHEAD FOR HOW WE TRY AND POTENTIALLY RESOURCE SOLUTIONS HERE, WHERE'S THE OVERLAP HAPPENING? CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO WHAT THAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT SPACE WHERE COMPARED TO YOUNGER KIDS WHO I DON'T WANT TO IN ANY WAY DISMISS THAT THEY ALSO DON'T NEED SUPPORT, THAT IT DOES SEEM LIKE A LOT OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU ALL ARE FOCUSING ATTENTION ON ARE IN THAT OLDER YOUTH CATEGORY.

I THINK YOU'VE, UM, IDENTIFIED ONE GROUP, THE UNHOUSED, THERE ARE ALSO, UM, A NUMBER OF L-G-B-T-Q AI YOUTH THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC AND SOCIAL ISOLATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT'S ALSO COMING INTO PLAY WITH THAT AS WELL.

UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, A GOOD CAUSAL, UM, RESPONSE FOR THAT, UH, AS YET, BUT, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT THERE, THERE IS A LOT OF NEED IN THAT AGE GROUP.

I MEAN, I'M JUST STRUGGLING WITH IT BECAUSE WHEN I, WHEN I WALKED INTO THIS, I'M THINKING WE'RE DEALING WITH CHILDREN, BUT WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH YOUNG ADULTS.

I MEAN THAT'S, THAT, THAT, THAT'S MY WORD, NOT Y'ALL'S, BUT THAT'S HOW I'M THINKING ABOUT 18 TO 24 YEAR OLDS INTERNALLY.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW, UM, YOU KNOW, IF IS THERE A SORT OF BIFURCATED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM THAT SORT OF HAS DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR DIFFERENT TARGET GROUPS OR DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS? UH, ARE WE SERVING DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS IN THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS? SO I THINK ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN PREPARE GOING FORWARD TO HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, AS THE, THE INFORMATION THE CHAIR REQUEST.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

THOSE GROUPS WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND KIND OF HOW WE ARE FOCUSING SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS ON SPECIFIC, UH, POPULATION GROUPS OR DEMOGRAPHICS OR, OR JUST SPECIFIC CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I MIGHT BE UNDERESTIMATING.

BUT ARE BEING REFLECTIVE IN YOUR DATA THAT SHOW THAT THAT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR US.

WE CAN GET THAT FOR YOU, SIR.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

PART OF THE PROJECT FATHERHOOD, I BELIEVE ARE ALSO IN DELL VALLEY, ISD AND INTEGRAL CARE HAS A PRETTY EXPANSIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THAT DISTRICT PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

I ALSO KNOW FROM INTEGRAL CARE'S POINT OF VIEW, THE LEAP FROM CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH TO ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS A PRETTY DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING AS IT'S SET OUT BY THE STATE.

AND WE'VE MADE A LOT OF EFFORTS TO HELP EASE THAT TRANSITION BECAUSE A YOUNG PERSON RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WITH INTEGRAL CARE WHO IS 17, WHEN THEY TURN 18, THE SERVICES PROVIDED THE WAY IT LOOKS.

ALL OF IT IS VERY, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT.

AND SO WE'VE TRIED TO HELP THAT GROUP TRANSITION TO ONGOING SERVICES.

AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD SPEAK TO GOING FORWARD ABOUT WHAT GAPS OR CHALLENGES THERE ARE IN THAT TRANSITION MM-HMM.

AS THEY'RE MOVING FROM CHILDREN TO YOUTH OR YOUNG ADULT OR WHATEVER THE NOMENCLATURE IS.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD HERE? ? I HAD, UH, MY QUESTION WAS WHAT DID THE COLLABORATION LOOK LIKE WITH, UH, DELL VALLEY, A ISD AND AUSTIN ISD TO DEVELOP THIS PLAN AND CONDUCT THESE SURVEYS? AND THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TO PRESENT.

YEAH, BOTH DELL VALLEY AND AUSTIN ISD ARE PART OF KIDS LIVING WELL.

SO THEY WERE PART OF THE KIDS LIVING WELL FOCUS GROUP.

UM, AND SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE

[01:30:01]

SO I KNOW THAT WE PROMOTED THE SURVEY TO A LOT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN THAT DISTRICT.

PERFECT.

I THINK IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GONNA SAY THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIR FOR THIS INFORMATION.

LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US GOING FORWARD AND ADDRESSING, UH, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE RAISED AND, UH, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS HERE.

AND INVITE OUR FOLKS FROM, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE, UH, I BELIEVE THE VIENT HEALTH UPDATE, OR SORRY, ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

[4. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, and Council Member Marc Duchen Briefing on Vivent Health’s HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and community health services in Austin. [Deondre Moore, Texas Community Empowerment Manager - Vivent Health]]

GOOD MORNING.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD.

THERE WE GO.

UH, THANK YOU TO THE, THE COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.

TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS, UM, HOUSING AND UNSTABLE POPULATIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

COUNCILOR DUCHEN, UH, PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION.

I WILL TRY TO KEEP THINGS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE, I PROMISE.

IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.

UH, MY NAME IS DEANDRE MOORE.

I HAVE BEEN WITH VIANT HEALTH FOR 14 MONTHS NOW.

UH, PREVIOUS BACKGROUND, UH, I SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HIV AND AIDS ADVISING, UM, THE HEALTH SECRETARY UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, CURRENTLY THE NEWEST APPOINTED MEMBER FOR THE AUSTIN, UM, UM, THE AUSTIN HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, BUT I'M NOT HERE IN EITHER OF THOSE CAPACITIES JUST HERE AS THE TEXAS COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT MANAGER FOR VIANT HEALTH AT AUSTIN.

AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF BRIEFING ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE AT VIANT.

UM, HI COUNCIL, UH, UH, CHAIRWOMAN , UM, AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN AUSTIN AND HOW WE HAVE AN IMPACTED AUSTIN AND WHAT WE, UM, THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL CAN ALSO DO TO CONTINUE ENSURING THAT WE DO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ACROSS, UM, OUR CITY AND IN THOSE THAT WE'RE SERVING.

AND SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE HIV PREVENTION TESTING TREATMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

SO WHY THIS STILL MATTERS AND WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

UM, WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW IT REMAINS A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY FOR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, AND HOW THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ENDING, THE HIV EPIDEMIC INITIATIVE.

AND FOR ANY OF YOU GUYS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT EHE IS, UM, JUST IN CASE, IT IS A FEDERAL FUNDED PROGRAM THAT HAS STARTED, UM, THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, UM, WITH THE FOCUS OF COURSE, AS IT SAYS TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN THE EHE PROGRAMS THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO, UM, REGIONS, STATES, AND, AND LOCAL LEVELS.

UM, BUT AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW, IS THAT A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT AND CONTINUES TO BE CUT, UM, AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

AND, AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.

UM, IT REFLECTS THE BURDEN OF THE DISEASE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL PURPOSE.

UM, IT DOES NOT AFFECT ALL COMMUNITY.

HIV DOES NOT AFFECT ALL COMMUNITIES EQUALLY.

AND WE SEE THAT, UM, CERTAIN FACTORS INCLUDING INCOME HOUSING INSTABILITY, INSURANCE STATUS STIGMA, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE DRIVE PERSISTENT DISPARITIES.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE NATIONAL PICTURE FIRST, UM, 51 OF DIAGNOSIS OCCURRED IN THE SOUTH WHERE WE ARE 65% MALE TO MALE CONTACT.

UM, 39% DIAGNOSIS AMONG BLACK AMERICANS FOR EXCEEDING THEIR SHARE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION HERE.

UM, A QUICK SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH, AND I'LL SHARE WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IN A FEW, IS AROUND U EQUALS U.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THAT MEANS THAT A PERSON WHO IS LIVING WITH HIV AND ON EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, UM, AND HAS UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD, CANNOT SEXUALLY TRANSMIT HIV.

AND THAT IS A FORM OF PREVENTION.

THAT IS WHAT WE LOOK AT.

WE HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM ALIVE WHILE LIVING WITH HIV.

BUT THAT TAKES A LOT OF, UM, DIFFERENT SOCIAL SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TREAT THEM AND GIVE THEM ADEQUATE CARE.

AND THAT HELPS TO PREVENT HIV THAT IS THE ONLY TOOL THAT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT EFFECTIVE WHEN WE CONSIDER PREVENTING HIV TRANSMISSION IS TREATING THOSE PERSONS.

SO JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN AUSTIN AND TRAVERSE COUNTY.

UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE COME FROM THE 2024 INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, OF 48,000 PLUS INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV.

UM, WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 250, UM, NEW HIV DIAGNOSIS A YEAR ACROSS TRAVERSE COUNTY.

UM, WE'RE SEEING PERCH 100,000 RESIDENTS.

UM, 22 NEW DIAGNOSIS, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

87% OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THEIR STATUS.

WE SEEING ABOUT 80% THAT ARE LINKED TO CARE AND ONLY 65% THAT ARE VIRALLY SUPPRESSED.

AND AGAIN, THAT COULD BE TO A NUMBER OF REASONS, WHETHER IT BE, UM, HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITIES, ACCESS TO, TO, TO CARE, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, AND SO MUCH MORE.

SO THINKING ABOUT WHO IS MOST IMPACTED, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN AUSTIN, UM, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF THOSE IMPACTED HERE ARE GONNA BE OUR HISPANIC AND LATINX COMMUNITIES AT 34% BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN AT 29 NON-HISPANIC WHITES AT 26 AND OTHER ETHNICITIES AND RACES AT 11%.

UM, WE'RE SEEING THAT THE, THAT THE LARGEST IMPACT IS AMONGST GAY BISEXUAL OR MSM COMMUNITIES, BLACK AND LATINOS

[01:35:01]

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATIONS AND, AND THE FOCUS AROUND HOUSING HEARING THAT TODAY.

UM, BUT THAT ALSO PLAYS A ROLE AND, AND, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH OR MOST VULNERABLE TO HIV AND THE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED FOLKS TOO AS WELL.

SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY, UM, UM, HISTORY ABOUT VI HEALTH, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.

UM, USED TO BE AIDS SERVICE OF AUSTIN, UM, AND WE STARTED OFF WITH AIDS SERVICE OF AUSTINS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED OVER 40 YEARS AGO.

UM, WELL NEXT YEAR ACTUALLY MAKES OUR 40TH YEAR AND WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THAT BEING HERE IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND BECAME, UM, WAS AID SERVICE ORGANIZATION, THEN AID SERVICE OF AUSTIN.

AND NOW WE ARE VIT HEALTH, UM, OVER DECADES.

IT HAS EVOLVED, UH, FROM DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT IT HAS BEEN THE SAME MISSION TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS.

VIT HEALTH CAME INTO PLAY.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, AS AS THINGS MOVE AND THINGS CHANGE, FUNDING'S CHANGED.

VIT HAS A HISTORY OF COMING INTO SPACES OR GOING INTO COMMUNITIES TO HELP ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, UM, TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN AND, AND WE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP KEEP THE DOORS OPEN, UM, OF AGE SERVICE OF AUSTIN.

AND SO CAME IN KIND OF, UM, TOOK ON SOME OF THAT DEBT THAT WAS HAPPENING THAT WE WERE SEEING, UM, TO TRY TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN AND BEING ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH EXPANSION AND SO ON.

SINCE THEN.

SO THINKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND HIV AND PREVENTION AND TESTING AND FOLKS KNOWING THEIR STATUS.

UM, EVERY HIV TEST IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT HIV AND SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WHEN YOU GET, WHEN A PERSON RECEIVES A NEGATIVE TEST AT VI HEALTH AND AT MANY PLACES TOO, UM, IN, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

WHEN YOU GET THAT TEST, YOU GET A NEGATIVE TEST, YOU'RE OFFERED, UM, LINKED TO PREP SERVICES.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS, THAT IS A ONCE A DAY REGIMEN TO HELP PREVENT HIV FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE OR AT RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV, OR TO IMMEDIATELY TRY TO CONNECT SOMEONE TO LIFESAVING TREATMENTS AND WHICH IS GETTING THEM INTO CARE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET FOLKS INTO CARE.

BACK IN THE DAY, YEARS AGO, SOMETIMES WE WOULD'VE TO WAIT UNTIL A PERSON GOT A VIRAL LOAD TEST TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE.

SOME MIGHT WAIT MONTHS BEFORE WE HAVING TO PUT THEM ON TREATMENT.

WHEN WE GET A VIRAL LOAD, WHEN WE GET A PERSON LIVING WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED RECENTLY WITH HIV, WE TRY TO CONNECT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE CARE YOU WANNA TRY TO CATCH THEM.

UM, EARLY DETECTION MATTERS AND HAVING THEM ENGAGE IN CARE EARLY MATTERS AS WELL.

UM, ALL OF OUR SCREENINGS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND WE'RE OFFERED IN A CLINIC, A CLINIC, OR THROUGH OUTREACH COMMUNITY, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR MOBILE TESTING UNITS.

SO LOOKING AT THINGS FROM DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT AND THEN TO VIRAL SUPPRESSION.

AND WHAT THIS MEANS, UM, ACHIEVING A VIRAL SUPPRESSION IS BOTH AN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH OUTCOME AND COMMUNITY LEVEL HIV PREVENTION STRATEGY.

AS I SAID, HAVING A PERSON REACH VIRAL SUPPRESSION OR THAT UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD HELPS NOT ONLY JUST THE PERSON, BUT IT ALSO IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

WHEN A PERSON IS UNDETECTABLE, THEY CANNOT SEXUALLY TRANSMIT HIV.

AND I SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE THE WEBINAR IS OVER.

COOL.

WHEN ELIGIBLE AND AVAILABLE.

UM, VIANT HAIR CARE MODEL SUPPORTS EVERY STEP OF THE JOURNEY.

SO FROM TESTING TO DIAGNOSIS, LINKAGE AND OR TREATMENT.

AND SO, LIKE I SAID, UM, WHEN THAT TEST HAPPENS, WE IMMEDIATELY TRY TO KEEP THAT PERSON THERE ENGAGED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION.

UM, WE LOOK AT THINGS, UH, WE OFFER MEDICAL AND SPECIALTY CARE, SO HIV, UH, PRIMARY CARE TROVE TREATMENT, LAB MONITORING, AND WE ALSO OFFER DENTAL CARE AND OUR DENTAL SERVICES, WHICH I'M PROUD TO SAY THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON ONLY THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH HIV.

SO THIS IS A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH HIV THAT COME INTO OUR CLINIC AND ALSO ACCESS OUR DENTAL CLINIC AS WELL.

YOU CAN GET, UM, UM, SCREENING, CLEANINGS, ORAL SURGERIES, WHATEVER YOU ARE NEEDED YOU.

BUT ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE, UM, THE REQUIREMENTS IS YOU HAVE TO BE A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT, BUT IT PROVIDES THAT SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THIS SPACE.

UM, AND WE THINK ABOUT OUR WRAPAROUND SUPPORT FROM CASE MANAGEMENT, MEDICAL ADHERENCE SUPPORT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PHARMACY COORDINATION.

WE ALSO HAVE A PHARMACY ON SITE.

AND SO, UH, WE, LIKE I SAID, WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING IN IN HOUSE SO THAT WAY A PERSON DOESN'T HAVE TO GO ALL OVER THE CITY.

WE KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU COME IN SURVIVING HEALTH, YOU GET EVERYTHING.

AND I, I HATE TO SAY THIS, IT'S A ONE-STOP SHOP.

PRETTY MUCH.

YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED RIGHT HERE IN HOUSE BEFORE YOU WALK BACK OUT OF THOSE DOORS.

AND WE THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM RETENTION.

WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED AND IN CARE.

AND SO ACTIVE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER TO CONTINUE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE.

IF WE GET A NOTIFICATION THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU OR HEARD FROM YOU IN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, SOMEONE IS GONNA BE CONTACTING YOU TO SEE IF YOU'VE MOVED WHERE YOU ARE AND CHECKING UP ON YOU TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET YOU BACK INTO THOSE DOORS.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY AREN'T JUST A NUMBER, THEY'RE HUMANIZING.

WE'RE PUTTING THE HUMAN BACK IN, IN HIV, UM, MORE THAN MEDICINE AND CARE.

SO WE'RE ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH TOO HERE.

UM, WE THINK ABOUT HOUSING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

AND SO THAT'S HOW OUR, UM, CASE MANAGEMENT COMES IN AT TWO, IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

[01:40:01]

AS YOU ALL KNOW, FUNDS ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE ALL THE TIME.

UH, FUNDS DO RUN OUT, BUT WHEN THEY'RE REPLENISHED, WE ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THINGS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO COME BACK.

AND THIS IS A PART OF THE HOPPER PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE HOUSING SERVICES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY JUST FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR FOOD PANTRY AND NUTRITION, UM, WE HAVE OUR ONSITE FOOD PANTRY, REGISTERED DIETICIAN SERVICES THAT ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITIES.

UM, FOLKS WHO, WHO MIGHT BE NEW TO HAVING THEIR OWN SPACE WANNA LEARN HOW TO COOK.

WE OFFER THOSE SERVICES TOO TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO COOK WHAT THEY NEED AND A REALLY NICE FOOD PANTRY, IF I MUST SAY SO MYSELF.

UM, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PARTNERS IS HEB THAT PROVIDES US WITH GROCERIES AND THINGS.

UM, SO FOLKS CAN COME IN AND YOU SHOP FOR YOURSELF.

WE DON'T PUT THINGS TOGETHER FOR YOU.

THE PERSON GETS TO COME IN THERE WITH A SHOPPING CART DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INSIDE OF THEIR HOMES.

THEY SHOP FOR THEM FOR THEMSELVES, AND THAT GIVES THE POWER BACK TO THE PERSON TO GET WHAT THEY LIKE OR WHAT THEY NEED.

WE ALSO THINK ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT INTEGRATED IN THE HIV CARE MODEL, WHICH REDUCES BARRIER TO ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION.

SO GIVING THAT PERSON THAT AUTONOMY TO, TO SEEK THOSE SERVICES AND HAVE THEM AVAILABLE ON SITE AS WELL.

AND THEN THE Q AUSTIN, OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR PART OF OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM, THAT GOES OUT INTO COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN LGBTQ PLUS SPACES.

SO YOU MIGHT SEE THE Q VAN, UM, OUT AND ABOUT DOWN ON FOURTH STREET OR DIFFERENT PLACES ACROSS THE CITY.

UM, ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY AND OFFERING THOSE SERVICES, UM, OR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEST PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

SO THINKING ABOUT OUR PHARMACY, UM, WE HAVE A FULL PHARMA, FULL SERVICE, HIV PHARMACY HERE IN AUSTIN, UM, ON SITE AT OUR CLINIC, UM, THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AT RISK FOR HIV.

SO EVEN THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HIV NEGATIVE, BUT ON PREP SERVICES, UM, AND SEEKING PREVENTION SERVICES.

UM, UNLIKE A GENERAL RETAIL PHARMACY, VITAMINS PHARMACY IS FULLY EMBEDDED WITH THE, WITHIN THE HIV CARE MODEL, MEANING THAT THESE PHARMACISTS WORK ALONGSIDE THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS THAT ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR TREATMENT PLANS.

SO THERE'S A QUESTION RIGHT AWAY.

USUALLY OUR PHARMACISTS CAN CONTACT THE PROVIDER THAT'S ON SITE, GO BACK AND FORTH, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE PATIENT'S GETTING EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.

WE ALSO HAVE THOSE ACTIVE ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING ASSISTANCE, UH, AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS. SO THAT INCLUDES, UM, AAP AGE DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS, UM, THMP HERE.

UM, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HELP ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS TO COST FOR MEDICATION OR FOR PREVENTIONS PREVENTION, UH, MEDICINES HERE THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PERSONS AND ADHERENCE SUPPORT.

SO WE ALWAYS ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH THESE, THESE PATIENTS, UH, REFILL COORDINATION, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE READY TO GO BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY RUN OUT.

AND THE PATIENT EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT MEDICATION AND USE, REQUIRED FOR VIRAL SUPPRESSION.

SO ENSURING THAT PATIENTS KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE OR MAINTAIN THAT VIRAL SUPPRESSION RATE.

SO THINKING ABOUT THE COST OF THIS, WHEN A PERSON GETS DIAGNOSED WITH HIV, THE TYPICAL LIFETIME COST IS ABOUT $1.2 MILLION, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR WHAT IT COSTS TO TREAT A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV ROUGHLY.

UM, AND THESE NUMBERS COME FROM THE CDC AND NIH.

UM, AND THAT OF COURSE CAN FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON LIFE EXPECTANCY AND WHERE WE'RE SEEING WITH PEOPLE.

UM, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS WE HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT LIVING WITH HIV.

SO LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE BEST WAY TO HELP ENSURE THAT WE'RE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF NEW DIAGNOSIS, TREAT THOSE THAT WE HAVE TO TREAT, GET THEM VIRALLY SUPPRESSED, AND WE'LL SEE THAT WE DON'T SEE ANY MORE NEW PERSONS OR LESS PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH HIV BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION IS LOWERED.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE INVESTMENT'S COMING IN HIV TESTING AND PREP TO HELP CONTINUE TO REDUCE AND CATCH EARLY DETECTIONS.

UM, EARLY DIAGNOSIS, RAPID LINKAGE RETENTION, AND THE VIRAL SUPPRESSION.

LIKE I SAID, CONTINUOUS CARE PREVENTS COSTLY GAPS AND HOUSING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES.

UM, STABLE HOUSING AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES REDUCE DISRUPTION INTO CARE, LOWERING LONG-TERM COSTS, UH, LONG-TERM SYSTEM COSTS.

SO LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT HERE FROM OUR FISCAL YEAR, FROM 2024 TO 2025, UH, DENTAL PROCEDURES WE'VE SEEN ABOUT, WE'VE DEVELOPED, WE'VE DELIVERED IN 2024 TO 2025, 4,370 DENTAL PROCEDURES TO OVER 1072 PATIENTS.

WE'VE HAD 3060 PATIENTS IN HIV MEDICAL CARE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV ACTIVELY RECEIVING PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY HIV MEDICAL CARE.

UM, 94% VIRALLY SUPPRESSED.

THAT IS WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 60%.

UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THIS WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH WHAT THEY NEED.

IF WE CAN DO IT HERE IN VI THE QUESTION BECOMES WHY CAN'T EVERYBODY DO IT? WELL, IT'S ABOUT A MATTER OF FUNDING AND CAPACITY AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT OTHER ENTITIES HAVE THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED AND THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED, WHICH GOES BACK TO THAT FUNDING TOO.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO HELP OVER 322 PATIENTS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE HOUSING SERVICES, WHICH HAS PROTECTED THEM FROM HOMELESSNESS.

AND OVER 11,500 GROCERY ORDERS FILLED, UH, FOR OVER 1,130 FOOD PANTRY VISITS.

THIS INCLUDES, LIKE, THESE ARE THOSE FAMILIES, LIKE ACTUAL FULL FAMILIES, SOME FAMILIES UP TO FOUR TO SIX, UM, PEOPLE IN A HOUSEHOLD HAVE BEEN

[01:45:01]

ABLE TO GET GROCERIES, UM, FILLED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

UM, JUST BECAUSE OF OUR FOOD PANTRY SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE HERE IN AUSTIN, SOMETHING'S NOT.

COOL.

SO, LOOKING FORWARD AND CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING TOWARDS OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN OUR CALL TO ACTION.

SO WE WANNA ENSURE THAT WE PROTECT AUSTIN'S PROGRESS ON HIV, BUT IT REQUIRES SUSTAINED INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT.

AND THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES REPRESENT OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO DEEPEN ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH VIANT AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE.

SO PREVENTION AND TESTING.

WE WANNA ENSURE THAT WE'RE THE SOCIAL SERVICE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME CUTS OR SOME, SOME REALLOCATION THAT ARE HAPPENING, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STILL KEEP THOSE SERVICES INVESTED AROUND PREVENTION AND TESTING.

AND SO HAVING SUSTAINABLE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY-BASED HIV TESTING AND EXPRESS EXPANDED PREP AWARENESS, UM, CURE AND SUPPRESSION, STRENGTHENING RAPID LINKAGE TO CARE AFTER A DIAGNOSIS AND EQUITY ACCESS, UM, ADDRESSING RACIAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISPARITIES.

SO MAKING SURE WE'RE GOING TO WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE.

IF THAT MEANS HAVING TO GO INTO SOME OF THESE CAMPSITES OR INVESTING IN MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE INTO THOSE CAMPSITES, THAT'S WHERE WE GOTTA GO.

'CAUSE THOSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COME ALL THE WAY TO VI OR, OR MAYBE EVEN GO TO, TO, TO ANYWHERE TO GO AND SEEK CARE OR TO EVEN GET TESTED.

BUT IF WE CAN HAVE SUPPORT SERVICES AND THOSE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO WHERE THEY ARE, WE WILL, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE AS WELL.

UM, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS HOUSING INSTABILITY AS A HEALTH INTERVENTION AND STRENGTHEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT.

UM, AND LASTLY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE PARTNERSHIPS AND SYSTEMS. SO SENTENCE, UH, CITY, COUNTY AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND PRESERVE SAFETY NET SERVICES AMID STATE FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING CHALLENGES AND CHANGES.

AND SO ENDING HIV AND ALSO REQUIRES MORE THAN MEDICINE.

IT REQUIRES PREVENTION, EARLY DIAGNOSIS, ACCESSIBLE TREATMENT, STABLE HOUSING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

UH, YEP.

FOUR ONE TIME.

LET'S SEE, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE IT.

IS THAT MY THANK YOU.

THAT MIGHT BE THE END OF MY PRESENTATION FOR YOU GUYS.

VERY GOOD.

YES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? PERFECT, .

SO I WILL, UH, OPEN IT UP TO OUR VICE CHAIR.

I KNOW HE REQUESTED THIS, UH, BRIEFING TO THE COMMITTEE, SO WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU CHAIR.

UM, SO, UH, FIRST APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, AND THE DATA.

I REALLY WANTED TO, TO START BY COMPARING, UH, THE TWO DATA-DRIVEN SLIDES.

ONE WAS THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY SNAPSHOT, WHICH I THINK IS SLIDE THREE.

AND THEN THAT COMPARES TO THE SLIDE THAT YOU JUST PRESENTED, WHICH IS THE VIVANT SLIDE.

UM, AND I NOTICED I, IT SOUNDS LIKE BASED ON WHAT YOU SHARED, THE ONE OF THE KEY DISTINCTIONS IS FOR AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, ABOUT 65 OR TWO THIRDS OF PEOPLE ARE VIRALLY SUPPRESSED.

FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING, IT'S CLOSER TO 95% MM-HMM .

UH, AND THEN OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT LIKE, WHAT, UM, ROUGHLY 3000 PEOPLE IN MEDICAL CARE VERSUS AN ESTIMATE OF POPULATION ABOUT 4,800.

US ALSO TOO, LOOKING AT OUR NUMBERS, WE ALSO SEE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF TRAVIS COUNTY TOO.

AND AUS, TRAVIS COUNTY.

THAT'S, YEAH.

SO YOU'VE JUST MENTIONED OF ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION, WHICH IS MAYBE TRYING TO COORDINATE WITH THE HSO AND THE, THE HEM PROCESS AND SEE IF WE CAN'T CONNECT PEOPLE THAT WAY.

BUT WHERE, WHERE ARE THE GAPS? LIKE IF YOU HAD TO JUST SORT OF SUMMARIZE TO THIS COUNCIL OR THIS COMMITTEE, WHERE ARE, HOW DO WE CLOSE THAT GAP BETWEEN 65% AND 94%? YEAH.

WHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU START? I WOULD START WITH RETENTION AND ENGAGEMENT.

SO ENGAGING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND FIGURING OUT WHERE THEY ARE.

AGAIN, REMEMBER IN THE, IN THE EARLIER SLIDES WE POINTED OUT THAT ONLY ABOUT 87%, OR 80 TO 87% OF PEOPLE LIVING WHERE THEY HIV ARE AWARE OF THEIR STATUS.

SO THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS AN ESTIMATE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THEIR STATUS AND ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF CARE FOR SOME REASON.

AND THAT COULD BE HOUSING AGAIN, UM, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND SO ON.

AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS FOR ME IS, ONE, ADDRESSING THAT HOUSING ISSUE.

SEEING WHERE PEOPLE ARE, IF I DON'T HAVE A HOUSE OR ROOF OVER MY HEAD, I'M REALLY NOT WORRIED ABOUT MEDICATION.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT GOING TO THE DOCTOR.

I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT OR A SAFE PLACE TO STORE MY MEDICATION EITHER.

RIGHT? AND SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND HAVING A SAFE SPACE TO STORE THESE THINGS.

UM, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND JUST ENSURING THAT WHEN WE DO GET A NEW DIAGNOSIS, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE PERSON WHERE THEY ARE AND TRY TO GET THEM IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT'S WHEN TRANSPORTATION ALSO BECOMES AN ISSUE, RIGHT? WE, WE DON'T OFFER SERVICES WHERE WE CAN GO OUT AND TREAT YOU WHERE YOU ARE YET, BUT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN GET YOU TO THE, TO THE APPOINTMENTS WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER TOO, IS WHAT DOES MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION CARE LOOK LIKE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT LIKE NON-EMERGENCIES TO GET PEOPLE TO APPOINTMENTS AND WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

UM, AND SO HAVING THAT, UM, AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE TOO TO KIND OF HELP ENGAGE THEM AND REENGAGE THEM INTO CARE.

SO LINKAGE AND REENGAGEMENT IS THE BIGGEST THING.

CATCHING THEM AND ENSURING THAT THERE IS FOLLOW UP.

BUT AGAIN, IF WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING NEW DIAGNOSIS, PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED HOMELESS, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A CELL PHONE.

HOW CAN I FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TOO? SO THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

THOSE ARE A PART OF THAT.

UM, FOR

[01:50:01]

SO JUST FOR CLARITY, AND JUST, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW TOO, WE SEE FOLKS IN OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE SURROUNDING, UM, HERE, UM, HILL COUNTRY PEOPLE DRIVE OVER.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME DOWN TWO, THREE HOURS OUTSIDE OF THEIR, THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN SMALL COMMUNITIES.

AND IF SOMEBODY SEES THEM WALKING INTO THE CLINIC, THEY'RE CAUGHT.

AND STIGMA IS A HUGE BARRIER TOO, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CARE AND ACCESS.

SO PEOPLE WILL LITERALLY DRIVE TWO TO THREE HOURS JUST TO COME TO SERVICES IN AUSTIN OR TO COME TO VI JUST SO THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT SEEN GOING INTO THEIR LOCAL CLINICS, AND THEY'RE NOT FOUND OUT ABOUT, UH, LIVING WITH HIV, WHICH IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE.

AND I JUST FY I'M A PERSON WHO'S BEEN LIVING WITH HIV FOR 12 YEARS.

I'M SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN OPEN ABOUT THAT.

UM, BUT THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY'S STORY.

AND EVERYBODY HASN'T HAD THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND FAMILY SUPPORT THAT I HAVE.

I'M A BIG MAMA'S BOY.

MY MAMA HAS BEEN THERE WITH ME SINCE MY DIAGNOSIS AT A COLLEGE FRESHMAN.

SHE STILL CHECKS ON ME.

SHE'S WAITING ON ME TO CALL HER TO TELL HER HOW THIS WENT .

UM, BUT THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST ME.

EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT.

AND I WISH WE DID.

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER THING TOO, IS HAVING SUPPORT AND PEOPLE KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THAT HUMAN BACK IN ALL OF THIS, THAT, THAT WE CARE AND THAT CITY COUNCIL CARES.

AND AT THIS LEVEL, THIS, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US TOO.

WELL, I'M JUST GONNA, I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING SHORT OF TIME HERE.

YES.

AND THERE MAY BE OTHER QUESTIONS OKAY.

THAT OTHERS HAVE, BUT I'LL JUST SAY IT WOULD BE INTERESTING FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW, I MEAN, I, IRA, I HEARD FOUR PROBLEMS. I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY'RE PRIORITIZED BY OKAY.

PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE.

YEP.

I HEARD, UH, PEOPLE CAN'T ACCESS HOUSING OR TRANSIT.

I HEARD STIGMA AND I HEARD A LACK OF HUMAN DRIVEN SUPPORT.

YOU.

AND SO I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE BUILDING OR IN CONVERSATIONS LIKE WITH HSO, WITH CAT METRO OR SOME OTHER ENTITY TO TRY AND BUILD OUT A PLAN OR AN UNDERSTANDING FOR HOW TO ADDRESS EACH OF THOSE FOUR ITEMS, IF THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF DRIVING THE GAP RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, I I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU WOULD FIGURE OUT, BUT YOU WOULD'VE, YOU WOULD'VE A MUCH BETTER SENSE THAN I WOULD DO.

ABSOLUTELY.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACH PEOPLE THAT ARE A TARGET GROUP BUT ARE UNAWARE? YEAH, I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THAT, BUT, UH, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD, IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE THAT, THAT YOU CAN SHARE OR I DON'T ALREADY HAVE THAT INVESTIGATED, THAT MIGHT BE A PLACE TO GO.

I THINK THAT THAT IS A REALLY GREAT RECOMMENDATION.

I WOULD LOVE TO, WE'LL GET TOGETHER AFTER THIS, UM, AND DISCUSS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TOO AND, AND BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

BUT I, IT STARTS WITH CONVERSATIONS AND BEING ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE AND HAVE, AND MEET THE POWERS TO BE THAT HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

AND SO, UM, THIS IS PART OF THAT RIGHT HERE AND THEN GOING ON NEXT.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE JUST OUTLINED AND NAMED, THOSE ARE PART OF MY NEXT STEPS TOO, AFTER WE DO THIS TO, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE CHANGES INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND TALKING ABOUT IT NOW IT'S ABOUT EXECUTE EXECUTION AND ACTION.

SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

OKAY, COLLEAGUES, SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL FINISH THE BRIEFING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO OUR CLINIC.

THANK YOU FOR COUNCILMAN CHEN FOR COMING BY.

UH, SEE YOU ALL LATER.