COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-016: Improve Transit Safety and Equity for Historically Underserved Older Adults WHEREAS, The Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study found that residents aged 50 and older reported only moderate transportation satisfaction citywide, with safety identified as a significant concern and only 58% reporting favorable safety conditions;1 and WHEREAS, geographic disparities in transportation satisfaction exist, with Southeast Austin—including City Council District 2 and portions of Districts 3 and 5—experiencing lower transportation safety and access conditions compared to other areas of the city;2 and WHEREAS, the study identified disparities in transportation satisfaction among Latino or Hispanic older adults and Black or African American older adults, demonstrating inequitable transportation conditions affecting historically marginalized racial and ethnic populations3; and WHEREAS, the study intentionally included and identified transportation barriers affecting diverse populations including Asian American older adults, Black or African American older adults, Latina/o/x/e or Hispanic older adults, LGBTQIA+ older adults, older adults with disabilities, older adults living on limited incomes, socially isolated older adults, and older adults residing in all City Council district;4 and WHEREAS, improving transportation safety supports older adults’ ability to age in place, remain independent, and participate fully in community life, which strengthens public health, economic stability, and social connectedness across the city5; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s comprehensive plan, Imagine Austin, serves as a 30-year roadmap guiding equitable growth, mobility, and livability, and explicitly directs the City to advance safe, accessible, and equitable transportation systems that serve residents of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds6; and 1 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 2 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 3 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 4 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 5 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 6 Austin Planning | AustinTexas.gov Page 1 of 2 WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and related City planning efforts emphasize equitable mobility, inclusive community engagement, and ensuring all residents can safely access services, employment, and community life regardless of geography, income, age, race, disability, or background; and WHEREAS, improving transportation safety through prioritization, coordination, and community- informed planning can be accomplished through more effective use of existing resources, planning processes, and service adjustments without requiring additional funding. NOW, THEREFORE, BE …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260326-017: Addressing Digital Divide for Older Adults WHEREAS, reliable broadband internet access and digital literacy are increasingly necessary for residents to access healthcare and telehealth services, government programs, transportation systems, employment opportunities, civic participation, emergency communications, and social connection; and WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Austin City Council in 2012, calls for a city that is inclusive and connected and emphasizes expanding access to information and communication technologies so residents can connect to services and opportunities1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Strategic Direction 2023 Update identifies 'Government That Works for All' as a core outcome and highlights the importance of accessible communication and services so that all residents can participate fully in civic life2; and WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan Update (2021) identifies accessible communication and information as key factors enabling older adults to remain connected to services, health resources, and community engagement3; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan highlights the importance of accessible communication technologies and real-time information systems that enable residents to navigate transportation options and services4; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan recognizes that equitable access to information and communication systems is essential for ensuring all residents receive emergency alerts, climate preparedness information, and critical public safety communications5; and WHEREAS, the 1928 City of Austin Comprehensive Plan directed Black residents to relocate east of East Avenue—now Interstate 35—establishing patterns of segregation that shaped the distribution of public infrastructure and investment and continue to influence disparities in access to services today6; and 1 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, June 15, 2012 2 Citywide Strategic Plan FY 2026 Overview 3 Age-Friendly Austin Progress Report 2021 4 Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Amended February 15, 2024 5 Austin Climate Equity Plan Full Document FINAL.pdf 6 1928 Austin City Plan Page 1 of 4 WHEREAS, research conducted as part of the City’s Residential Technology Study and Digital Inclusion initiatives has noted that historic patterns of infrastructure investment along the Interstate 35 corridor are reflected in disparities in broadband infrastructure and technology access in some Austin neighborhoods7; and WHEREAS, research on technology access in Austin estimated that approximately 50,000 Austin residents do not use the internet, with non-users more likely to be older adults, individuals with lower incomes, and residents of historically marginalized communities8; and WHEREAS, a Broadband and Digital Equity Needs Assessment conducted for Austin and Travis County …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-018: Increasing In-Language Communications WHEREAS, federal civil rights guidance under Title VI requires recipients of federal financial assistance to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency, underscoring that language access is a foundational equity practice for publicly funded services1; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights provides guidance and resources regarding limited English proficiency (LEP) obligations and language assistance as a means of ensuring equal access to services2; and WHEREAS, Texas Health and Human Services policy guidance addresses nondiscrimination and limited English proficiency, reflecting statewide expectations that programs ensure access for LEP individuals3; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Language Access Policy establishes that City departments must provide meaningful access to City programs, services, and information through translation and interpretation so residents can communicate with the City in the language in which they are most comfortable4; and WHEREAS, the City’s Language Access Plan (2025) describes a coordinated, citywide approach to language access services and expectations for departments’ implementation and ongoing improvement5; and WHEREAS, the City Auditor’s Language Access Follow-Up highlights the importance of consistent, effective execution of language access services across City operations to ensure equitable access for residents with limited English proficiency6; and 1 Federal Register :: Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons, April 18, 2002 2 Limited English Proficiency (LEP) | HHS.gov Civil Rights 3 3400, Nondiscrimination and Limited English Proficiency | Texas Health and Human Services, October 29, 2025 4 Language Access Policy | AustinTexas.gov 5 Austin Language Access Plan 2025 6 City of Austin, Office of the City Auditor Language Access Follow-Up May 2023 Page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, the City’s iSpeak Austin resources provide residents information about language access services and how to request them, reinforcing the City’s commitment to in-language access7; and WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2012) emphasizes inclusive civic participation and engagement, which depends on communications that are accessible to Austin’s diverse communities8; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council has recently reaffirmed its commitment to improving outcomes for older adults through Age-Friendly Austin efforts, which necessarily require effective outreach and communications to older adults across communities9; and WHEREAS, a recent City of Austin Older Adults Quality of Life study found that Asian American older adults represented approximately 20% …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-019: Older Adult Outreach WHEREAS, the World Health Organization’s age-friendly guidance on Communication and Information notes that many older adults receive information through traditional print and broadcast media and through direct personal contact (including telephone and service centers), underscoring the importance of multi-channel, accessible communications1; and WHEREAS, the National Institute on Aging provides a Social Isolation and Loneliness Outreach Toolkit intended to be shared with older adults and caregivers, reflecting the importance of proactive outreach and practical, ready-to-use materials to reduce isolation and connect people with supports2; and WHEREAS, federal caregiver-support guidance through the Administration for Community Living’s Lifespan Respite Care Program explicitly includes outreach as a core activity—educating family caregivers about respite services and how to access those services—highlighting outreach as a best practice for improving awareness and enrollment3; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council adopted Strategic Direction 2023, which calls for the City to “engage community members…in ways that are timely, convenient, meaningful, and honor their communication preferences,” including strengthening staff capacity to engage “vulnerable and historically marginalized communities”; and further calls for the City to improve communication, engagement, and participation through clear, consistent communications;4 and WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan—adopted in June 2012—serves as Austin’s long-range policy framework, and achieving City goals depends on residents being able to learn about and access City and community services and resources5; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Health’s October 14, 2025 memorandum updating Council on Resolution No. 20250605-084 (Age-Friendly Austin) describes ongoing City actions to improve communication and engagement with older adults, including “Listen and Learn” sessions for City departments, 1 WHO Age-friendly World, Communication and Information 2 National Institute on Aging, Social Isolation and Loneliness Outreach Toolkit 3 ACL Administration for Community Living, Lifespan Respite Care Program 4 Austin Strategic Direction 2023 5 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Adopted June 15, 2012 Page 1 of 3 centralized guidance for communication for older adults, and a central “Senior Services Hub” intended to make City services more accessible6; and WHEREAS, nearly one-quarter (22.9%) of older adults struggled to afford utilities in the past year, with stark disparities among vulnerable groups. Utility insecurity affects 44.8% of people with disabilities, 40.2% of Native American/Indigenous seniors, and 34.5% of Asian American seniors— roughly three times the rate of White seniors (13.0%). Lower-income older adults earning under $20,000 face nearly 40% insecurity7; and WHEREAS, the 2025 Quality-of-Life study found that caregiver/provider …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-020: Food Insecurity and Meals for Older Adults WHEREAS, nationwide, approximately one in four older adults (≧65 years of age) is considered malnourished or at risk of malnutrition1; and WHEREAS, according to the 2025 report from Feeding America, 15.9% of Travis County residents are food insecure2 and of Austin residents aged 50 and older, 38% live alone, 26% are functionally disabled, and 58% fall below 60% of Austin MFI3 4 5; and WHEREAS, 25% of Austin's population (251,519 people) are 50 years or older6 with residents 65+ being the fastest-growing age group and by 2035, adults 65+ will outnumber children under 18 nationally7; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin adopted the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, which states that Austin should strive to be a community where all residents have access to healthy food and where public policies support health, equity, and well-being across the lifespan8; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin and Travis County adopted the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, which identifies food access and food insecurity as critical public health and equity issues and calls for coordinated strategies to ensure residents—particularly vulnerable populations—have reliable access to nutritious food9; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan recognizes that older adults and residents with disabilities face structural barriers to accessing healthy food and recommends expanding partnerships 1 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Prevention and Treatment of Malnutrition in Older Adults Living in Long- Term Care or the Community July 15, 2024 2 Hunger & Poverty in Travis County, Texas | Map the Meal Gap 3 2025 Quality of Life Study, Austin Disabled Older Adults At-A-Glance, page 20 4 2025 Quality of Life Study, Austin Disabled Older Adults At-A-Glance, page 34 5 Ibid. 6 Austin Demographics 7 The Graying of America: More Older Adults Than Kids by 2035 8 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan June 15, 2012 9 Austin/Travis County Food Plan Page 1 of 3 and programs that deliver food directly to residents who cannot easily access grocery stores or food distribution sites10; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Strategic Direction 2023 identifies access to healthy food and reduction of disparities in health outcomes as key components of the City’s goals related to health, equity, and community well-being11; and WHEREAS, approximately 113,850 Austin residents are age 65 and over12 and approximately 486,450 Austin residents earn low-moderate income13; and WHEREAS, food insecure older adults have significantly …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-021: Adult Day Health Centers (Day Activity Health Services) WHEREAS, Day Activity Health Services provide supervised daytime care, health monitoring, therapeutic activities, meals, and social engagement for older adults and adults with disabilities, helping individuals remain in their homes and communities rather than entering institutional care1; and WHEREAS, Day Activity Health Services provide critical respite for family caregivers by offering structured daytime supervision and care, allowing caregivers time to work, attend to personal needs, and maintain their own physical and mental health2; and WHEREAS, research demonstrates that adult day services can reduce caregiver stress and delay nursing home placement for older adults receiving care in community settings3; and WHEREAS, family caregivers play a critical role in the long-term care system, and caregiving responsibilities can significantly affect workforce participation as many caregivers reduce work hours or leave employment to provide care4; and WHEREAS, there are only two Day Activity Health Service Programs in the City, and only one with a Medicaid license; and WHEREAS, adult day health services are a recognized component of Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services designed to help older adults and people with disabilities remain in community settings rather than more costly institutional care5; and WHEREAS, national Medicaid data demonstrate that spending for institutional long-term care is significantly higher than spending for home- and community-based services6; and 1 National Council on Aging, What Is Respite Care for Caregivers? January 2025 2 What Is Respite Care? | National Institute on Aging 3 The effect of adult day care services on time to nursing home placement in older adults with Alzheimer's disease - PubMed, December 2005 4 Caregiving’s Toll on Work Happens Quickly – Center for Retirement Research, July 19, 2022 5 https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/index.html 6 10 Things About Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) | KFF, July 8, 2024 Page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, family caregivers provide billions of dollars in unpaid care annually in Texas, representing a substantial but often invisible component of the health and long-term care system7; and WHEREAS, Austin’s population of residents aged 65 and older continues to grow rapidly, increasing demand for community-based services that support aging in place and family caregivers8; and WHEREAS, the Capital Area Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging serves older adults and caregivers across a ten-county Central Texas region—including Travis County—and works to promote independence and support aging in place for adults age 60 …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Subject: Budget Recommendation to the City Council Regarding Far Southeast Library Branch Site Selection WHEREAS, the current Southeast Branch Library is undersized for community demand. The need for a full-service Far Southeast Branch Library is grounded first and foremost in (1) long-standing neighborhood need, (2) obligations to historically underserved residents, and (3) the necessity of accessible, community-serving infrastructure where families already live; WHEREAS, for people with disabilities, libraries are essential access infrastructure— providing assistive technology, inclusive programming, safe indoor space, and digital connectivity. A Far Southeast Branch must be planned with accessibility from the beginning, which requires immediate investment in site selection and predevelopment; and WHEREAS, funding site selection and predevelopment is needed so the community can begin shared investment and fundraising; WHEREAS, the new library should have digital accessibility and assistive technology including computers with screen readers; accessible printers and adaptive equipment; and free internet access for households without reliable service; WHEREAS, the new library should be a safe, climate-controlled public space that can serve as a cooling center; provide a safe daytime space; and serve as a refuge for medically vulnerable residents; WHEREAS, the new library should have inclusive learning and programming including sensory-friendly story times; accessible teen spaces; adult literacy and lifelong learning; and community classes without cost barriers; WHEREAS, the new library should encourage employment and independence through job applications and workforce training; benefits navigation; and quiet, inclusive workspaces; WHEREAS, the new library should encourage social connection and community belonging. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council allocate $500,000 for site selection and predevelopment of the Far Southeast Branch Library. The $500,000 should include digital access and assistive technology; safe, climate-controlled public space; inclusive learning and programming; and social connection and community belonging.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-29]: FY 2026-2027 Expanding Digital Literacy and Technology Career Pathways Date of Approval: Recommendation The City of Austin has a long-standing commitment to economic mobility, workforce development, and equitable access to opportunity for all residents. As technology continues to play a significant role in the regional economy, expanding access to digital skills training and workforce readiness opportunities is increasingly important to ensure that more residents can participate in the technology sector and access career opportunities. However, many low-income residents and communities of color continue to face barriers to entering and advancing within the technology workforce. Community-based organizations in Austin work to address these barriers by providing digital literacy training, workforce readiness programming, and exposure to technology career pathways. Expanding access to these types of programs can help ensure that more residents can participate in Austin’s technology economy and access higher-wage career opportunities. Description of Recommendation to Council ● Provide $2 million annually to support community-based digital literacy and technology workforce development programming. Rationale Austin’s technology sector plays a significant role in the regional economy and continues to create economic opportunities. However, many residents, particularly those from low-income households, communities of color, and historically underrepresented groups, lack access to the resources, training, and professional networks necessary to enter the technology workforce. Universal Tech Movement (UTM) is one example of a community-based organization providing programming that introduces participants to digital skills and technology career pathways. Through community-centered programming, the organization helps address barriers to entering the technology workforce. To date, UTM has served more than 1,000 participants across Texas, representing 111 unique zip codes, and has built partnerships with employers, community organizations, and local institutions to expand access to careers in the technology sector. Many participants in UTM programs come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Approximately 60% of participants live below the poverty line, and a majority report annual incomes of less than $13K, highlighting the need for accessible workforce development opportunities that can lead to stable, higher-wage employment. Programs such as UTM’s Community Catalyst Program and similar initiatives help participants develop foundational digital literacy and workforce readiness skills while introducing them to career opportunities within the technology sector. Funding would support the expansion of programming that: ● Provides digital literacy and technology training to residents who face barriers to entering the technology workforce ● Supports workforce readiness programs that prepare participants for employment in …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-030: FY 2026-2027 Budget for Supporting Maternal Health Services Date of Approval: Recommendation Maintain full funding for Mama Sana Vibrant Woman at FY26 levels ($900,000), including maternal health and perinatal housing stabilization services. Restore rental assistance support to at least prior-year levels to prevent further erosion of critical maternal health infrastructure serving Austin families. Description of Recommendation to Council Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW) has partnered with the City of Austin since 2016, providing culturally responsive maternal health services to Black and Latinx families during pregnancy and the first two years postpartum. Despite growing need and rising housing costs in Central Texas: ● MSVW’s maternal health contract was reduced by 10% in FY26 ● Rental assistance for perinatal families was fully eliminated The Commission urges the Austin City Council to restore and maintain prior funding levels of $900,000 ($500,000 for housing stabilization and rental assistance; $400,000 for maternal health). This request is a stabilization measure, not a program expansion, aimed at preventing family displacement, maternal health deterioration, and downstream public costs. 2025 Program Impact: MSVW services helped families remain stable during pregnancy and postpartum recovery by preventing eviction and reducing housing-related stress. ● 218 households served ● 477 children supported ● $666,759 distributed in rental assistance Rationale ● Housing Stability Is Health Care: Research shows that housing instability during pregnancy increases risks of low birth weight, preterm delivery, maternal mental health challenges, and NICU admissions. Stable housing is a key factor in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. ● Equity-Focused Intervention: Black and Latinx mothers in Austin experience disproportionate maternal morbidity and housing insecurity. Programs provided by Mama Sana Vibrant Woman directly address these disparities through culturally responsive care and support. ● Preventing Critical Service Gaps: Without restored funding, service reductions could result in longer waitlists for maternal health services, reduced rental assistance support, decreased capacity for follow-up and care coordination, more families experiencing instability during pregnancy and postpartum recovery ● Proven Partnership with the City: Since 2016, MSVW has demonstrated a strong track record of responsibly administering City funds, collaborating with partner organizations, and responding to community needs. ● Preserving Citywide Maternal Health Infrastructure: MSVW’s housing stabilization funding supports several maternal health organizations across Austin. Maintaining these resources helps preserve a coordinated network of services supporting pregnant and postpartum families. Alignment with Commission Mission The work of Mama Sana Vibrant Woman …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-031] FY 2026-27 Budget for Supporting Mental Health Services in Schools Subject: Recommendation to allocate an additional $2 million to the Integrated Student Supports and Youth Services and Mental Health and Wellness grants for comprehensive integrated student support services and trauma-informed mental health services, early campus-based interventions for organizations such as Communities in Schools WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to ensuring that race no longer predicts a person's quality of life outcomes; and the 2025 Austin Travis County Community Health Assessment identifies increasing access to mental healthcare as a critical goal WHEREAS, there is a continued need for increased investment to support the growing mental health challenges faced by students in Austin area schools; WHEREAS, the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Initiative identifies food, housing and mental health services as primary pillars for community success; and WHEREAS, students in the Austin area continue to face significant barriers to, including high rates of poverty and lack of access to culturally competent intensive mental health services; and WHEREAS, House Bill 6 (89th) seeks to increase access to mental health services in public schools while also placing new implications for student discipline in the classroom, focused on proactive approaches to addressing student needs; and WHEREAS, other recent legislative changes have placed new considerations on services offered to students through school systems when providing mental health services and supports; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas provides critical "safety net" services through multiple programs, including our campus-based Integrated Student Supports, Care Coordination and wraparound services, and intensive mental health & wellness services for students; and WHEREAS, evidence-based services such as intensive mental health counseling provided by clinicians and social workers ensure students' unmet mental health needs are addressed through direct service to students and their families, with a family-centered, trauma-informed approach to connect students and their families to community resources; and . WHEREAS, these mental health services have shown decreases in clinical scales of depression and/or anxiety for student symptoms and improved scores in post-test evaluation assessments; and WHEREAS, Results from a recently released Harvard-Cornell Study from Opportunity Insights and EdRedesign Lab showed that three years of involvement in Communities In Schools of Central Texas leads to significantly higher income earnings over a student’s lifetime, increased yearly tax contributions, less reliance on public assistance and significantly reduced involvement or prevention of involvement in …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-032]: FY 2026-2027 Budget for Legal Services Date of Approval: Recommendation: WHEREAS, the City of Austin has a long-standing commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse community that values all of its residents, regardless of immigration status; and WHEREAS, immigrants contribute significantly to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of Austin, but despite these contributions, many immigrants face significant barriers to accessing legal services; and WHEREAS, Congress passed a budget that increased ICE's annual budget and dramatically expanded immigration detention capacity, intensifying enforcement in communities across the country, including Central Texas; and WHEREAS, it is essential that immigrant communities obtain accurate advice and assistance, and the absence of reliable legal information has led some immigrants to cancel travel plans, avoid applying for citizenship, and miss court hearings, outcomes that compound harm to families and the broader community; and WHEREAS, we continue to hear from the community that legal services funding is crucial, and local service providers report that new client intake has surged since 2025, with current demand outpacing available resources; and WHEREAS, the people most impacted by the rapidly changing immigration policy landscape and the erosion of federal legal aid are low-income immigrants, who have the fewest resources to navigate an increasingly complex and high-stakes system; and WHEREAS, many immigrants in Austin who need access to counsel cannot afford attorneys, especially those facing removal proceedings; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin funds legal services for low-income immigrants who are Austin residents, and there continues to be a significant unmet need; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends funding immigrant legal services at $750,000 total.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-033]: FY 2026-2027 Budget for the Family Stabilization Program Date of Approval: Recommendation: Affordability remains one of the most pressing concerns expressed by Austin residents. The Family Stabilization Grant Program offers flexible access to housing support, accords greater choice and dignity, reduces discrimination, and provides more efficient and cost-effective housing assistance. The program has consistently served people of color, including Hispanic or Latino/a/x families, with over half of participants identifying as African American or Latina women. The Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission has expressed strong support to expand program funding. Despite this, the FY 2025–2026 budget allocated only $1.3 million for the Family Stabilization Grant. The funding was subsequently eliminated after Austin voters rejected the Proposition Q tax rate increase in November 2025. The revised budget that followed cut the $1.3 million for Family Stabilization Program grants entirely. At the Joint Inclusion Committee FY27 Budget Input Session, residents made clear that the elimination of the Family Stabilization Grant Program from the FY26 base budget was a significant setback for Austin families. Community support for the program has only grown stronger in its absence. Description of Recommendation to Council ● Provide $3 million ongoing funding for the Family Stabilization Grants Rationale Housing affordability is one of the defining challenges facing Austin families. Federal housing programs have limited reach, and even residents who receive federal housing assistance continue to struggle. Approximately 40% of households nationally that receive a voucher never successfully lease a unit. In Austin, most voucher holders have only been able to move to less desirable housing on the outskirts of the city, compounding burdens related to transportation, food access, healthcare, and employment. Other forms of affordable housing assistance similarly fall short: units are only required to maintain affordability for a set period, rents are calibrated to Area Median Income levels that do not reflect the deep affordability residents actually need, and participants remain responsible for full rent even during periods of job insecurity. Research from the Urban Institute confirms that strategically applied cash relief can offer renters facing housing shocks more flexible support, accord more dignity and choice to renters in need, reduce exposure to voucher discrimination, provide housing access to excluded workers, and deliver more efficient and cost-effective help to those in urgent need. Austin's own experience bears this out. Roughly 60% of the money went toward housing, …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-034]: FY 2026-2027 Budget for AISD Parent Support Specialists Date of Approval: Recommendation: Affordability and access remain among the most highly rated concerns expressed by Austin residents, and the families served by AISD Parent Support Specialists (PSSs) are among those most vulnerable to rising costs and economic instability. PSSs are a proven, community-rooted workforce that connects Title I families to the City and County resources they need. Description of Recommendation to Council ● Maintain funding for AISD Parent Support Specialists. Background and Rationale: The City of Austin has an interlocal agreement with Austin Independent School District for the provision of resources connecting parents and families to family-centered and other social services. AISD Parent Support Specialists (PSSs), funded 50% by the City of Austin, are placed in Title I schools. PSSs identify, develop, and engage parents in their children's education by providing parent and family support, conducting communications and outreach, and creating parent leadership opportunities. AISD relies on PSSs to educate and refer students and their families to City and County resources, and to collaborate with social services community partners to alleviate stressors. Their work helps improve maternal, child, and adolescent health outcomes. Parent Support Specialists are rooted in the community and maintain meaningful relationships with the families they serve. Many are bilingual, communicating with families in their preferred language. These skills and relationships are especially vital during times of crisis. PSSs have provided critical community support during the pandemic, Winter Storm Uri, and other emergencies. Despite the essential nature of this work, PSS positions continue to go unfilled due to inadequate compensation. The PSS salary remains among the lowest for the demanding scope of the role. The City of Austin's own living wage is currently $22.05 per hour, and yet PSS positions have historically been posted near or below that threshold, leaving workers unable to keep pace with Austin's cost of living. The median home price in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan area was approximately $439,000 as of late 2025. A PSS earning near the minimum wage cannot reasonably afford to live in the community they serve. Additionally, the Skills Requirements on the PSS job description indicate that some schools require the employee to be bilingual. If an employee must be bilingual to perform the job, they should receive a bilingual stipend. AISD already provides a $7,000 annual stipend for certified bilingual …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-035]: FY 2026-2027 Budget for Early Childhood Education and Development Funding Date of Approval: Recommendation: At a moment when federal and state support for early childhood education is eroding, local governments must step up to invest in and protect this essential workforce. Childcare is not a private expense; it is public infrastructure, and it is foundational to Austin's economic health and the wellbeing of its families. Description of Recommendation to Council ● Maintain all current investments, contracts, and maintenance agreements in early childhood programs and infrastructure, including but not limited to: ○ Maintain funding for contracts related to services for families and children within Austin Public Health and Austin Economic Development, especially funding for multi-generational bilingual programs; ○ Maintain funding for public service child care service contracts funded through Federal HUD-CDBG funds that support parenting teens and Early Head Start; and ○ Maintain funding for current city programs related to childcare and children’s services. Rationale In the City of Austin, 30% of children under age 6 live in households with low income, and 94% of those children are children of color. In the broader Austin area, there are 63,000 children living in households below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Ready Families Collaborative (RFC) directly addresses this need through a network of nonprofit partners providing home-visiting, parent education, case management, and wraparound support. Current collaborative partners include AVANCE-Austin, which creates pathways to economic mobility for predominantly Latino families through high-quality, culturally responsive, two-generation programming that ensures school readiness for young children and opportunities for parents to build social and economic capital; the Communities in Schools ASPIRE Family Literacy Program, which provides free ESL and Adult Basic Education classes, as well as early childhood and parenting education for families with children ages 0–6 in South and Southeast Austin; the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, which breaks the cycle of intergenerational poverty through contextualized literacy services; and Austin PBS Play to Learn, a research-based school readiness program in which adults and children participate together in learning activities spanning school readiness themes. The RFC does not stand alone. There are additional investments including Todos Juntos early childhood education program and Austin Child Guidance Center Infant & Early Childhood Services. Every $1 invested in early childhood programs results in a $7 return on investment, and a child who begins kindergarten ready to succeed is set …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-36]: FY 2026-2027 Budget for Mini Grants Date of Approval: Recommendation: The City of Austin's Equity Office Mini Grant program is one of the most direct, community-rooted investments the City makes in the residents most harmed by systemic inequity. At a moment when federal funding is being cut, displacement is accelerating, immigration enforcement is intensifying, and homelessness continues to grow, the need for flexible, low-barrier funding for grassroots organizations has never been greater. The City must maintain and increase funding for this program. Description of Recommendation to Council ● Provide ongoing funding of $400,000 for the Equity Office Mini Grant Fund, maintaining the current funding level and preserving the program's three-tier grant structure of $10,000, $20,000, and $30,000 awards, with priority focus areas of immigrant inclusion, solidarity with unhoused people, and anti-displacement and displacement prevention. Rationale The Equity Mini Grant Fund has been offered annually since 2018, created in response to a City Council ordinance directing the Equity Office to develop a funding framework for equity initiatives, beginning with an initial allocation of $75,000. Since then the program has grown substantially in both funding and scope, and has become a vital lifeline for the grassroots organizations doing the most essential work in Austin's most vulnerable communities. What makes this program distinct is its design philosophy. The Equity Office explicitly recognizes the problematic operations of traditional community funding and seeks to foster alternative ways to support and respect the vision of individuals and organizations working alongside communities most affected by historical inequities. The Equity Office facilitates access for those who have not historically been able to participate in City programs like this, and highlights community-led solutions. Recipients are expected to understand the root causes of disparities and share the goal of community liberation rather than creating dependencies. Applications are accepted in English and Spanish, and priority is given to grassroots organizations and community-driven initiatives with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less, the organizations that traditional grantmaking most often leaves behind. The three priority areas the program has focused on reflect Austin's most urgent and intersecting challenges. Each of these areas has grown more critical in the current climate. Austin faces escalating federal immigration enforcement, a homelessness crisis that affects thousands of residents on any given night, and displacement pressures that are pushing low-income residents further from the city's core. The grassroots organizations …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-037]: Supporting the Latino Artist Access Program (LAAP) Date of Approval: Recommendation: Recommend that Austin City Council approve an additional $515,000 annual investment in the Latino Artist Access Program (LAAP) at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) to strengthen its role as a civic launchpad for Latino performing arts and address longstanding inequities in cultural funding and infrastructure. Description of Recommendation to Council: ● Allocate $515,000 in additional annual funding to LAAP to support: o Dedicated technical support and staffing capacity o Marketing, audience development, and revenue strategy support o Essential lighting and sound infrastructure upgrades o Expanded cohort size and structured incubation programming ● Transition LAAP from a space-access model to a full incubation model, enabling: Integrated production and promotion support o o Skill-building in contracts, revenue diversification, and organizational development o Long-term sustainability planning for participating artists ● Establish LAAP as a coordinated civic anchor within a broader Latino theatre ecosystem by: o Strengthening partnerships across venues and institutions o Supporting storytelling, visibility, and documentation of Latino arts o Advancing language equity through dedicated Spanish-language outreach and evaluation criteria ● Ensure language and cultural equity by: o Allocating a meaningful percentage of resources to Spanish-language programming o Supporting bilingual marketing and audience engagement o Recognizing linguistic and cultural context in evaluation and funding decisions Rationale: Austin’s Latino community represents approximately 33% of the population but receives only 9% of cultural funding, reflecting a significant structural inequity in access to resources, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability. While LAAP has successfully expanded access to MACC facilities and supported artists in securing contracts, funding, and partnerships, it currently operates as a space-access model with limited, inconsistent support, resulting in uneven outcomes and limited long-term sustainability for artists. Key gaps include: Inconsistent technical and production support ● ● Limited staffing capacity to support artists across cohorts ● Lack of structured pathways for revenue diversification and audience development ● Insufficient infrastructure to meet professional production standards The proposed investment would enable LAAP to evolve into a true incubation model, addressing three critical elements simultaneously: 1. People (staffing and technical expertise) 2. Infrastructure (lighting, sound, and production capacity) 3. Program capacity (expanded cohorts and structured curriculum) This approach ensures that artists leave not only with a production, but with: ● A sustainability roadmap ● Diversified revenue strategies ● Increased digital and audience visibility Additionally, …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-005]: Support and Funding of American Gateways in the FY2026-2027 Budget. Date of Approval: March 25th, 2026 Recommendation: Fund American Gateways at their Full Year 2026 request of $750,000 total ($570,000 core + $150,000 supplemental). Description of Recommendation to Council: We recommend the City Council maintain American Gateways’ funding at current levels. A cut could result in the loss of a staff member and significantly reduce capacity to meet the community’s growing need for immigration legal services. Currently, American Gateways receives more than 100 requests per week from individuals and families seeking legal guidance, support, and advocacy. American Gateways is one of the only organizations in the region providing immigration legal services grounded in a pro se (self-help) model, with additional support including "Know Your Rights" sessions and family planning services. They deliver critical legal and educational support that ensures immigrants, particularly those most at risk, including Black immigrants, can safely navigate the immigration system. Rationale: • Crucial, Irreplaceable Services: American Gateways is one of the only providers in Austin offering free and low-cost immigration legal services to vulnerable populations. • High Demand: Weekly requests for help exceed 100, showing the overwhelming demand for legal advocacy and information. • Disproportionate Impact on Black Immigrants: Black immigrants face compounded barriers due to racial and immigration enforcement systems. Funding American Gateways helps mitigate these harms. • Proactive, Scalable Approach: Their hybrid model—offering both direct services and legal education—maximizes reach and efficiency. Alignment with JIC Mission/Vision/Values: This funding directly supports JIC’s mission to advance, increase, and sustain racial equity in Austin by preserving essential services for immigrant communities, particularly Black immigrants. American Gateways provides culturally responsive, community-driven legal support that aligns with JIC’s vision of justice, empowerment, and sustained local oversight. Defunding would compromise immigrant safety and contradict our shared values of equity, access, and accountability. Motioned By: Seconded By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: __________________________________
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-006] : Support and Funding of the Career, Research, Learning and Development Institute (CARLDI) in the FY 2026-2027 budget Date of Approval: Recommendation: Fund CARDLI full year ask of $190,000 Description of Recommendation to Council: The Joint Inclusion Committee strongly urges the Austin City Council to include new, dedicated funding in the FY 2026–2027 budget to fully support the annual operating expenses of Career, Research, Learning and Development Institute (CARLDI). This sustained investment is essential to advancing equity for African Immigrant seniors in Austin. Without reliable funding, critical services that reduce social isolation, improve physical and mental health outcomes, and address longstanding economic disparities are placed at risk. CARLDI provides more than programming; it fosters belonging, dignity, and intergenerational connection. Investing in this organization ensures that seniors will unlock the skills needed to actively integrate, their lived experiences are recognized as community assets and will strengthen families and neighborhoods across Austin. This funding represents a tangible commitment to health equity, cultural preservation, and the well-being of a newly elderly population of our city. Rationale: • ESL and Citizenship Education o Understand and navigate U.S. systems. Improve English language use, financial literacy and digital skills. • Health Education o Access health care and public benefits such as CAN, CPR, etc • Employment Opportunities o Re-enter the workforce or contribute through mentoring and community leadership. • Mental and Physical Wellbeing o Build social connections that reduce isolation and improve well-being. Alignment with JIC Mission/Vision/Values: This funding directly supports the JIC’s mission to advance racial equity across numerous quality of life commissions in Austin by preserving essential services for immigrant communities, particularly Black immigrants. CARLDI’s work directly advances JIC’s advisory priorities of equitable aging and economic inclusion by expanding access to culturally responsive programs and services for Austin’s rapidly growing Black immigrant community. Motioned By: Seconded By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: __________________________________
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-007]: Social Services Funding Date of Approval: March 25th, 2026 Recommendation: Maintain current funding levels for social service contracts in the upcoming fiscal year (FY26) and avoid further reductions. General ask to maintain funding for organizations like: • Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas • African-American Men's Health Clinic • Austin Urban Technology Movement (AutmHQ) Description of Recommendation to Council: We recommend the City Council maintain funding for city social service contracts at current levels and avoid any additional cuts. Many of these organizations that currently hold city contracts deliver crucial services to some of our most vulnerable populations. As the commission charged with advising the city council on matters related to the quality of life of Austin’s African American residents, it is imperative that we continue to fund the resources these organizations need to sustain the impact they are making in our community. Additional cuts will most certainly result in a significant reduction of capacity to meet the community’s growing needs. Preserving these investments is essential to sustaining core community services, preventing cost escalation in other public systems, and protecting vulnerable populations during continued economic uncertainty. Rationale: • Social service contracts are cost-avoidance tools, not discretionary spending These contracts reduce demand on higher-cost public systems such as emergency medical care, law enforcement, child welfare, and homelessness response. Cuts to preventive and stabilization services often result in greater downstream expenditures that exceed any short-term budget savings. • Contract stability protects service continuity and workforce retention Maintaining funding ensures continuity of care for clients and reduces turnover among trained service professionals. Workforce instability leads to service disruptions, increased onboarding costs, and reduced program effectiveness. • Demand for services remains elevated Economic pressures, housing instability, public health impacts, and demographic shifts continue to drive demand for social services. Reducing funding at this time would widen service gaps and increase unmet needs in the community. Alignment with JIC Mission/Vision/Values: This 10% reduction is impacting numerous organizations that provide services for Austin’s most vulnerable communities to Austin’s most vulnerable communities, thereby directly affecting the quality of life. Ensuring funding for them directly supports JIC’s mission to advance, increase, and sustain racial equity in Austin by preserving essential services. Whether it's workforce training programs through Austin Economic Development or preventative health care screenings from Austin Public Health, any additional cuts to social service contracts would …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-008] : Support and Funding of an Austin Multicultural STEM Symposium in the FY 2026-2027 Budget. Date of Approval: March 25th, 2026 Recommendation: Maintain full funding for Mama Sana Vibrant Woman at FY26 levels ($900,000), including maternal health and perinatal housing stabilization services. Restore rental assistance support to at least prior-year levels to prevent further erosion of critical care infrastructure. Description of Recommendation to Council: Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW) has been a long-standing partner with the City of Austin since 2016, providing culturally responsive maternal health care to Black and Latinx communities. Despite the growing need and the rising cost of living in Central Texas, funding for MSVW’s maternal health services was reduced by 10% in FY26, and their rental assistance support was fully eliminated. We urge the City Council to restore and maintain prior funding levels—$900,000 total ($500,000 for housing stabilization and $400,000 for maternal health). This is not a request for expansion; it is a stabilization measure aimed at preventing family displacement, maternal health deterioration, and downstream public costs. In 2025 alone, MSVW: • Served 218 households • Supported 477 children • Distributed $666,759 in rental assistance, directly preventing eviction and promoting safe postpartum recovery. Rationale: • Housing Stability Is Health Care: Research confirms that housing instability during pregnancy increases rates of low birth weight, preterm delivery, maternal mental health issues, and NICU admissions. The data is clear: stable housing improves health outcomes. • Equity-Focused Intervention: Black and Latinx mothers in Austin experience disproportionate maternal morbidity and housing insecurity. MSVW’s services directly counteract those disparities. • Preventing Crisis-Level Gaps: Without restored funding, service reductions will lead to longer waitlists, decreased rental support, reduced follow-up, and more families falling through the cracks at a vulnerable life stage. • Proven Partnership with the City: MSVW has a strong track record of responsibly administering City funds, effectively collaborating with sister organizations, and responding quickly to emerging community needs. • Preserving Multi-Organizational Capacity: MSVW’s housing stabilization program also supports six other maternal health organizations. Without restored funding, citywide perinatal care infrastructure will fragment. Alignment with JIC Mission/Vision/Values: MSVW’s work directly furthers JIC’s goals of racial equity, family support, and displacement prevention as expressed through the mission of several Quality of Life Commissions (AARAC, HQoL, Women, ECC). Their programs help keep Black and Latinx mothers housed, healthy, and connected to culturally competent care, ensuring …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-009] : Recommendation on the FY 2027 Budget related to Austin Multicultural STEM Symposium Date of Approval: March 25th, 2026 Description of Recommendation to Council: Subject: Recommendation on the FY 2027 Budget related to Austin Multicultural STEM Symposium Recommendation To Council: WHEREAS, the City of Austin has experienced sustained economic growth driven in part by the expansion of the technology sector, supported through public incentives, tax benefits, and partnerships intended to strengthen the local economy and workforce; and WHEREAS, this growth has coincided with significant gentrification pressures that have disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, particularly Black residents, resulting in displacement and migration to the outer edges of the city; and WHEREAS, Black residents in Austin remain underrepresented in the technology workforce relative to the City’s overall population and continue to face historic barriers to STEM education access, workforce pipelines, and capital investment; and WHEREAS, while economic development efforts have focused on attracting and retaining technology companies, many communities lack early exposure, culturally relevant engagement, and structured pathways into STEM and technology related careers; and WHEREAS, early, age appropriate exposure to STEM learning and diverse career role models is a critical factor in building long term educational, economic, and workforce equity; and WHEREAS, Mayor Kirk Watson’s Gen ATX initiative prioritizes making Austin the best place to be a kid, with pillars centered on healthy kids, safe kids, and happy and successful kids, including fostering a sense of belonging and access to opportunity; and WHEREAS, inclusive, community rooted STEM programming directly supports these goals by connecting youth and families to educational resources, career pathways, and local employers in trusted and accessible environments; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Austin allocate $250,000 in the FY 2027 budget directly to the Office of Equity and Inclusion for the sole purpose of planning, convening, and executing the inaugural Austin Multicultural STEM Symposium as a city sponsored, publicly accessible initiative advancing equitable access to STEM pathways; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Office of Equity and Inclusion establish and lead a cross departmental working group responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of the Austin Multicultural STEM Symposium, including program design, nonprofit coordination, corporate engagement, logistics, outreach, community engagement, and evaluation, to ensure clear accountability and measurable impact; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Office of Equity and Inclusion formally partner with Universal Tech Movement, …
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: (20260325-004): Expansion and Empowerment of the Community Liaison Office WHEREAS, the City of Austin has committed to equity-centered public safety strategies that prioritize trust-building, accessibility, accountability, and culturally competent engagement with historically marginalized and minoritized communities; and WHEREAS, the Joint Inclusion Committee, in coordination with the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Commission, the Asian American Quality of Life Commission, the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission, the African American Quality of Life Commission, the Commission for Women, and other advisory bodies, has received consistent feedback from community members regarding gaps in communication, transparency, responsiveness, and trust in interactions with law enforcement; and WHEREAS, immigrant communities and other vulnerable populations have identified fear of retaliation, deportation consequences, language access barriers, and lack of anonymity as significant obstacles to engaging with law enforcement; and WHEREAS, strengthening and elevating the Community Liaison function from a primarily public information role to a core accountability and community engagement division within the Austin Police Department is necessary to ensure sustained trust-building, transparency, and culturally competent public safety practices; and WHEREAS, the proposal recommends structural elevation of the Community Liaison Office to report directly to the Chief of Police or a designated Assistant Chief, or alternatively to explore housing the function under the Office of Equity and Inclusion to ensure independence and public trust; and WHEREAS, the proposal further recommends assigning both a civilian liaison and a sworn officer liaison for each major minoritized community, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Women, thereby providing residents the option to engage with either a civilian or sworn representative; and WHEREAS, formalizing liaison responsibilities within official job duties, performance evaluations, training structures, and reporting systems is necessary to ensure consistency, sustainability, and accountability; and WHEREAS, the establishment of dedicated public communication pathways, anonymous reporting options, language access services, and culturally appropriate outreach materials is essential to building durable community trust; and WHEREAS, meaningful reform requires measurable performance metrics, structured engagement with City Commissions and the Joint Inclusion Committee, and a formal feedback mechanism requiring written responses from APD leadership to commission-issued policy memos; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager to allocate one-time implementation funding in the amount of $80,000 to support the expansion and elevation of the Community Liaison Office consistent with …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-006] : Support and Funding of the Career, Research, Learning and Development Institute (CARLDI) in the FY 2026-2027 budget Date of Approval: Recommendation: Fund CARDLI full year ask of $190,000 Description of Recommendation to Council: The Joint Inclusion Committee strongly urges the Austin City Council to include new, dedicated funding in the FY 2026–2027 budget to fully support the annual operating expenses of Career, Research, Learning and Development Institute (CARLDI). This sustained investment is essential to advancing equity for African Immigrant seniors in Austin. Without reliable funding, critical services that reduce social isolation, improve physical and mental health outcomes, and address longstanding economic disparities are placed at risk. CARLDI provides more than programming; it fosters belonging, dignity, and intergenerational connection. Investing in this organization ensures that seniors will unlock the skills needed to actively integrate, their lived experiences are recognized as community assets and will strengthen families and neighborhoods across Austin. This funding represents a tangible commitment to health equity, cultural preservation, and the well-being of a newly elderly population of our city. Rationale: • ESL and Citizenship Education o Understand and navigate U.S. systems. Improve English language use, financial literacy and digital skills. • Health Education o Access health care and public benefits such as CAN, CPR, etc • Employment Opportunities o Re-enter the workforce or contribute through mentoring and community leadership. • Mental and Physical Wellbeing o Build social connections that reduce isolation and improve well-being. Alignment with JIC Mission/Vision/Values: This funding directly supports the JIC’s mission to advance racial equity across numerous quality of life commissions in Austin by preserving essential services for immigrant communities, particularly Black immigrants. CARLDI’s work directly advances JIC’s advisory priorities of equitable aging and economic inclusion by expanding access to culturally responsive programs and services for Austin’s rapidly growing Black immigrant community. Date of Approval: March 25, 2026 Motioned By: Commissioner Thakkar Seconded By: Commissioner Parsons Vote: 9-0 For: Vice Chair Bondi, Commissioners Alvizo, Benson, Castaneda, Chang, Laake-Stanfield, Oliva- Martínez, Parsons, Thakkar Against: None Abstain: Commissioner Kanawati Recuse: None Off the dais: None Absent: Chair Afifi, Commissioners Bullard, McNary, Melendez Attest: _____________________________________________ (Ryan Sperling, Staff Liaison)
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: [20260325-008] : Support and Funding of an Austin Multicultural STEM Symposium in the FY 2026-2027 Budget. Date of Approval: March 25th, 2026 Recommendation: Maintain full funding for Mama Sana Vibrant Woman at FY26 levels ($900,000), including maternal health and perinatal housing stabilization services. Restore rental assistance support to at least prior-year levels to prevent further erosion of critical care infrastructure. Description of Recommendation to Council: Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW) has been a long-standing partner with the City of Austin since 2016, providing culturally responsive maternal health care to Black and Latinx communities. Despite the growing need and the rising cost of living in Central Texas, funding for MSVW’s maternal health services was reduced by 10% in FY26, and their rental assistance support was fully eliminated. We urge the City Council to restore and maintain prior funding levels—$900,000 total ($500,000 for housing stabilization and $400,000 for maternal health). This is not a request for expansion; it is a stabilization measure aimed at preventing family displacement, maternal health deterioration, and downstream public costs. In 2025 alone, MSVW: • Served 218 households • Supported 477 children • Distributed $666,759 in rental assistance, directly preventing eviction and promoting safe postpartum recovery. Rationale: • Housing Stability Is Health Care: Research confirms that housing instability during pregnancy increases rates of low birth weight, preterm delivery, maternal mental health issues, and NICU admissions. The data is clear: stable housing improves health outcomes. • • • • Equity-Focused Intervention: Black and Latinx mothers in Austin experience disproportionate maternal morbidity and housing insecurity. MSVW’s services directly counteract those disparities. Preventing Crisis-Level Gaps: Without restored funding, service reductions will lead to longer waitlists, decreased rental support, reduced follow-up, and more families falling through the cracks at a vulnerable life stage. Proven Partnership with the City: MSVW has a strong track record of responsibly administering City funds, effectively collaborating with sister organizations, and responding quickly to emerging community needs. Preserving Multi-Organizational Capacity: MSVW’s housing stabilization program also supports six other maternal health organizations. Without restored funding, citywide perinatal care infrastructure will fragment. Alignment with JIC Mission/Vision/Values: MSVW’s work directly furthers JIC’s goals of racial equity, family support, and displacement prevention as expressed through the mission of several Quality of Life Commissions (AARAC, HQoL, Women, ECC). Their programs help keep Black and Latinx mothers housed, healthy, and connected to culturally competent care, ensuring …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE Recommendation Number: [20260325-011]: Recommendation on the FY 2026-2027 Budget related to APH Social Services Budget Recommendation: Restoration of the 10% funding cuts for social services Description of Recommendation to Council: The Commission recommends that the City of Austin exercise expediency in the contracting process to ensure organizations providing the contracted Community Health Navigator (CHN) services have contracts for ongoing funding. Currently, a delay in new contracts has put funding for these services in a precarious situation with unknown timelines for extensions and when requests for proposals will occur. The Commission recommends that the City of Austin dedicate a 10% percentage of each contract to language accessibility. The commission also recommends that overall funding be increased to expand Community Health Navigator (CHN) services for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) communities within the Asian American population. This funding will support navigation services for highly needed language-specific groups, such as Pashto, Farsi, Tagalog, Urdu, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), and Nepali, who currently do not receive consistent language access due to funding cuts. Rationale: The Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the City restore the 10% funding for Austin Public Health with an emphasis on Community Health Navigator (CHN) services to address the growing needs of Austin's diverse Asian community. The Commission recommends that the City restore the 10% cut to social services to ensure that the rapidly increasing Asian population continues to receive necessary services. According to the City Demographers office, Asians are the fastest growing subgroup in the Austin area. It is perilous to decrease health services at a time when they are needed more than ever. Without funding, the City of Austin endangers the access to competent and knowledgeable healthcare to many individuals. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Since the pandemic, demand for CHNs has surged, and one-time grant funding several years ago had allowed for services in several Asian languages, including Arabic, Burmese, Chin Tedim, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Nepali, Hindi, and Vietnamese. But now, organizations such as Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI) can now only service Korean, Vietnamese, and Burmese communities leaving numerous communities without equitable language access to their healthcare. If this funding expires as planned for September 2026, essential services for more vulnerable populations will go unfunded, creating an even larger gap in care. For example, in 2025, AACHI supported 325 clients and sat beside Austin clients in 950 medical appointments. Our clients, …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE Recommendation Number: [20260325-012]: Recommendation on the FY 2026-27 Budget for an Additional FTE (Division Manager) within Austin ACME (Arts, Culture, Music, & Education) to oversee cultural programs. Recommendation: The Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the City of Austin fund and establish one full-time equivalent (FTE) Division Manager position within the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) for cultural programs. Description of Recommendation to Council: This position would provide dedicated leadership and oversight for ACME’s cultural facilities and programs, align authority and compensation with the scope of responsibility currently being carried through acting roles, and address inequities in program management and staffing structure when compared to similarly titled Division Manager roles across the City. Rationale: In 2025, the City of Austin established the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) to consolidate cultural facilities, programming, and creative-sector initiatives that were previously distributed across multiple City departments. The creation of ACME was intended to improve coordination, visibility, and strategic leadership for Austin’s cultural infrastructure while ensuring equitable access to arts, culture, and heritage programming across communities. ACME now oversees the City’s major cultural institutions and community-centered programming sites, including the Asian American Resource Center (AARC), Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), George Washington Carver Museum, the African American Cultural Heritage Facility, and the newly acquired Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex. Many of these facilities operate as active community hubs, offering daily public programming, intergenerational services, extended hours, rentals, festivals, and citywide initiatives. Despite the scope and complexity of this portfolio, ACME currently does not have a permanently appointed, full-time Division Manager dedicated to overseeing its cultural facilities and programs. Instead, leadership responsibilities have been assumed by existing cultural center managers — most notably the managers of the AARC and MACC — who have been serving in acting leadership capacities over multiple large cultural institutions in addition to their primary site responsibilities. Their acting roles have included the hiring and onboarding of several new leadership staff within ACME. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL These acting roles significantly expand the scope of responsibility and require oversight of facilities with distinct missions, staffing needs, and operational demands, including newly onboarded assets. However, acting pay does not compensate at the same level as a permanently classified Division Manager position, resulting in staff performing sustained, higher-level leadership functions without commensurate compensation, authority, or long-term structural support. This …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE Recommendation Number: [20260325-015]: Recommendation on the FY 2026-27 Budget AARC (Asian American Resource Center) Unmet Needs Recommendation: The Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the City of Austin allocate additional funding in the FY 2026–27 budget to address critical unmet needs at the Asian American Resource Center (AARC), including staffing, temporary workforce support, and senior nutrition services. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Asian American Resource Center has experienced significant growth in programming, facility use, and community demand since its opening in 2013. To sustain and expand its impact, targeted investments are needed in the following areas: ● Pavilion Staffing: Funding for additional full-time staff to support the activation and ongoing operations of the AARC Pavilion, enabling expanded cultural, educational, and community programming. ● Temporary Staffing Budget Increase: Increased funding for temporary staff to support programming and operations. Current temporary staffing allocations are not aligned with the level of programming and service delivery provided at AARC compared to cultural centers across the division and department. ● Meals on Wheels Support: Increased funding to support senior nutrition services, including Meals on Wheels, to meet the needs of a rapidly growing senior population served by AARC. Senior transport administered by the Parks department is dependent on seniors being registered for the meal program as well. Rationale: The Asian American Resource Center is already operating at a scale comparable to larger City facilities—without equivalent staffing and operational resources. Since its establishment, the Asian American Resource Center has grown into a vital cultural and community hub serving one of Austin’s fastest-growing populations. Data from the FY 2024 Annual Report demonstrates both the scale and continued growth of its programming and services. In FY24 alone, AARC: ● Served over 38,800 visitors to the center ● Hosted 154 rental events and facilitated 258 community room reservations ● Supported 178 artists and presented 9 new exhibits ● Engaged 753 volunteers across programs and events BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AARC’s senior programming has experienced particularly significant growth. This year, the Congregate Meals program serves 80 meals daily and is estimated to reach 16,000 meals by the end of the fiscal year, a 60% increase from FY24. Within 2 months of the current fiscal year, the Senior meal program hit its Meals on Wheels contract cap of $38,000. This amount and overages were covered post-pandemic with American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-016: Improve Transit Safety and Equity for Historically Underserved Older Adults WHEREAS, The Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study found that residents aged 50 and older reported only moderate transportation satisfaction citywide, with safety identified as a significant concern and only 58% reporting favorable safety conditions;1 and WHEREAS, geographic disparities in transportation satisfaction exist, with Southeast Austin— including City Council District 2 and portions of Districts 3 and 5—experiencing lower transportation safety and access conditions compared to other areas of the city;2 and WHEREAS, the study identified disparities in transportation satisfaction among Latino or Hispanic older adults and Black or African American older adults, demonstrating inequitable transportation conditions affecting historically marginalized racial and ethnic populations3; and WHEREAS, the study intentionally included and identified transportation barriers affecting diverse populations including Asian American older adults, Black or African American older adults, Latina/o/x/e or Hispanic older adults, LGBTQIA+ older adults, older adults with disabilities, older adults living on limited incomes, socially isolated older adults, and older adults residing in all City Council district;4 and WHEREAS, improving transportation safety supports older adults’ ability to age in place, remain independent, and participate fully in community life, which strengthens public health, economic stability, and social connectedness across the city5; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s comprehensive plan, Imagine Austin, serves as a 30-year roadmap guiding equitable growth, mobility, and livability, and explicitly directs the City to advance safe, accessible, and equitable transportation systems that serve residents of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds6; and 1 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 2 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 3 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 4 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 5 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp. 6, 90-93 6 Austin Planning | AustinTexas.gov Page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and related City planning efforts emphasize equitable mobility, inclusive community engagement, and ensuring all residents can safely access services, employment, and community life regardless of geography, income, age, race, disability, or background; and WHEREAS, improving transportation safety through prioritization, coordination, and community- informed planning can be accomplished through more effective use of existing resources, planning processes, and service adjustments without requiring additional funding. NOW, THEREFORE, …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-017: Addressing Digital Divide for Older Adults WHEREAS, reliable broadband internet access and digital literacy are increasingly necessary for residents to access healthcare and telehealth services, government programs, transportation systems, employment opportunities, civic participation, emergency communications, and social connection; and WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Austin City Council in 2012, calls for a city that is inclusive and connected and emphasizes expanding access to information and communication technologies so residents can connect to services and opportunities1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Strategic Direction 2023 Update identifies 'Government That Works for All' as a core outcome and highlights the importance of accessible communication and services so that all residents can participate fully in civic life2; and WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan Update (2021) identifies accessible communication and information as key factors enabling older adults to remain connected to services, health resources, and community engagement3; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan highlights the importance of accessible communication technologies and real-time information systems that enable residents to navigate transportation options and services4; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan recognizes that equitable access to information and communication systems is essential for ensuring all residents receive emergency alerts, climate preparedness information, and critical public safety communications5; and WHEREAS, the 1928 City of Austin Comprehensive Plan directed Black residents to relocate east of East Avenue—now Interstate 35—establishing patterns of segregation that shaped the distribution of public infrastructure and investment and continue to influence disparities in access to services today6; and 1 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, June 15, 2012 2 Citywide Strategic Plan FY 2026 Overview 3 Age-Friendly Austin Progress Report 2021 4 Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Amended February 15, 2024 5 Austin Climate Equity Plan Full Document FINAL.pdf 6 1928 Austin City Plan Page 1 of 4 WHEREAS, research conducted as part of the City’s Residential Technology Study and Digital Inclusion initiatives has noted that historic patterns of infrastructure investment along the Interstate 35 corridor are reflected in disparities in broadband infrastructure and technology access in some Austin neighborhoods7; and WHEREAS, research on technology access in Austin estimated that approximately 50,000 Austin residents do not use the internet, with non-users more likely to be older adults, individuals with lower incomes, and residents of historically marginalized communities8; and WHEREAS, a Broadband and Digital Equity Needs Assessment conducted for Austin and Travis County …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-019: Older Adult Outreach WHEREAS, the World Health Organization’s age-friendly guidance on Communication and Information notes that many older adults receive information through traditional print and broadcast media and through direct personal contact (including telephone and service centers), underscoring the importance of multi-channel, accessible communications1; and WHEREAS, the National Institute on Aging provides a Social Isolation and Loneliness Outreach Toolkit intended to be shared with older adults and caregivers, reflecting the importance of proactive outreach and practical, ready-to-use materials to reduce isolation and connect people with supports2; and WHEREAS, federal caregiver-support guidance through the Administration for Community Living’s Lifespan Respite Care Program explicitly includes outreach as a core activity—educating family caregivers about respite services and how to access those services—highlighting outreach as a best practice for improving awareness and enrollment3; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council adopted Strategic Direction 2023, which calls for the City to “engage community members…in ways that are timely, convenient, meaningful, and honor their communication preferences,” including strengthening staff capacity to engage “vulnerable and historically marginalized communities”; and further calls for the City to improve communication, engagement, and participation through clear, consistent communications;4 and WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan—adopted in June 2012—serves as Austin’s long-range policy framework, and achieving City goals depends on residents being able to learn about and access City and community services and resources5; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Health’s October 14, 2025 memorandum updating Council on Resolution No. 20250605-084 (Age-Friendly Austin) describes ongoing City actions to improve communication and engagement with older adults, including “Listen and Learn” sessions for City departments, 1 WHO Age-friendly World, Communication and Information 2 National Institute on Aging, Social Isolation and Loneliness Outreach Toolkit 3 ACL Administration for Community Living, Lifespan Respite Care Program 4 Austin Strategic Direction 2023 5 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Adopted June 15, 2012 Page 1 of 3 centralized guidance for communication for older adults, and a central “Senior Services Hub” intended to make City services more accessible6; and WHEREAS, nearly one-quarter (22.9%) of older adults struggled to afford utilities in the past year, with stark disparities among vulnerable groups. Utility insecurity affects 44.8% of people with disabilities, 40.2% of Native American/Indigenous seniors, and 34.5% of Asian American seniors— roughly three times the rate of White seniors (13.0%). Lower-income older adults earning under $20,000 face nearly 40% insecurity7; and WHEREAS, the 2025 Quality-of-Life study found that caregiver/provider …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-021: Adult Day Health Centers (Day Activity Health Services) WHEREAS, Day Activity Health Services provide supervised daytime care, health monitoring, therapeutic activities, meals, and social engagement for older adults and adults with disabilities, helping individuals remain in their homes and communities rather than entering institutional care1; and WHEREAS, Day Activity Health Services provide critical respite for family caregivers by offering structured daytime supervision and care, allowing caregivers time to work, attend to personal needs, and maintain their own physical and mental health2; and WHEREAS, research demonstrates that adult day services can reduce caregiver stress and delay nursing home placement for older adults receiving care in community settings3; and WHEREAS, family caregivers play a critical role in the long-term care system, and caregiving responsibilities can significantly affect workforce participation as many caregivers reduce work hours or leave employment to provide care4; and WHEREAS, there are only two Day Activity Health Service Programs in the City, and only one with a Medicaid license; and WHEREAS, adult day health services are a recognized component of Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services designed to help older adults and people with disabilities remain in community settings rather than more costly institutional care5; and WHEREAS, national Medicaid data demonstrate that spending for institutional long-term care is significantly higher than spending for home- and community-based services6; and 1 National Council on Aging, What Is Respite Care for Caregivers? January 2025 2 What Is Respite Care? | National Institute on Aging 3 The effect of adult day care services on time to nursing home placement in older adults with Alzheimer's disease - PubMed, December 2005 4 Caregiving’s Toll on Work Happens Quickly – Center for Retirement Research, July 19, 2022 5 https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/index.html 6 10 Things About Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) | KFF, July 8, 2024 Page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, family caregivers provide billions of dollars in unpaid care annually in Texas, representing a substantial but often invisible component of the health and long-term care system7; and WHEREAS, Austin’s population of residents aged 65 and older continues to grow rapidly, increasing demand for community-based services that support aging in place and family caregivers8; and WHEREAS, the Capital Area Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging serves older adults and caregivers across a ten-county Central Texas region—including Travis County—and works to promote independence and support aging in place for adults age 60 …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number 20260325-022: Budget Proposal for Increased Funding for Austin Economic Development’s Family Child Care Educator Network Motioned by: Seconded by: WHEREAS, Access to affordable, high-quality child care is a foundational economic and social need for Austin families, particularly for low-income households and communities of color; and WHEREAS, Families in Austin choose home-based child care because providers share their culture and speak their home language, offer the most affordable care option, provide care during non-traditional hours including evenings, overnight, and weekends, and are trusted members of the community—making home-based providers an irreplaceable part of the child care landscape for many Austin families; and WHEREAS, the average cost of childcare in Austin is the highest in Texas at $26,000 annually for two children. WHEREAS, 85% of early childhood educators in Texas earn less than a living wage, with a median wage of $12.00 per hour; and WHEREAS, Early childhood educators employed by child care programs that accept subsidies earn less than their counterparts at programs that do not accept subsidies, creating a systemic penalty for providers who serve the City's most economically vulnerable children; and WHEREAS, Hispanic early childhood educators in Texas earn significantly less than White early childhood educators regardless of education, experience, or location, reflecting persistent racial wage inequities within the field; and WHEREAS, 7 in 10 full-time early childhood educators do not receive employer-provided health insurance, and half lack access to paid sick leave, leaving a workforce that cares for the City's youngest residents without basic economic protections; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin, through Austin Economic Development, currently administers a Family Child Care Educator Network (FCCE Network) that supports home-based childcare providers. Which focuses on child care provider well-being, economic sustainability, child care quality, and the well-being of children and families; and WHEREAS, the current operating budget of $150,000, includes $75K in funding from a Home Grown grant which will expire in FY2026-27 and $75,000 in City of Austin match funding which expires at the end of FY2025-2026 and funds critical network activities including a Network Coordinator position, financial relief grants to providers, peer mentorship, professional development, a home-based provider conference, and essential interpretation and translation services; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED The Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council consider the following actions: ● Increase funding for the Family Child Care Educator Network from $75,000 to its current …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-023 Budget Recommendation for Immigration and Legal Assistance Funding Motioned by: Seconded by: WHEREAS, under Section 2-1-148 of the Austin City Code, the Human Rights Commission is charged to secure for all individuals in the City freedom from discrimination based on national origin. Without access to legal counsel, immigrants face detention and deportation stripped of the constitutional protections of due process and the right to representation guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments; WHEREAS, 55 percent of people facing deportation in immigration court lack legal counsel; arrests of immigrants with no criminal record surged 2,450 percent in 2025; and interior deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased more than four and a half times compared to 2024, without a court hearing or right to appeal under the expanded expedited removal policy; and, WHEREAS, deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody reached a two-decade high in 2025, with more people dying in ICE detention than in the prior four years combined, due to medical neglect, denial of care, and conditions that constitute both a public safety and human rights crisis; and, WHEREAS, when immigrants cannot access legal counsel, they are less likely to report crimes and cooperate with local law enforcement, undermining public safety for all Austin residents; and, WHEREAS, American Gateways, Austin's largest nonprofit immigration legal services provider, receives approximately 100 calls per week from immigrants seeking legal assistance and serves low-income clients across 23 Central Texas counties at no or low cost, yet relies on insufficient and inconsistent public funding to meet this demand. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Joint Inclusion Committee urges the Austin City Council to allocate $750,000 per fiscal year from the General Fund to American Gateways as a designated recurring annual appropriation. Date of Approval: _____________________________________________ Record of the vote: _____________________________________________ Attest: _____________________________________________
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-024 Budget Proposal for Small Business Support: Advancing Human Rights Through Economic Opportunity Motioned by: Seconded by: WHEREAS, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes every person's right to free choice of employment, protection against unemployment, and remuneration sufficient to ensure an existence worthy of human dignity — rights that extend to the sustainability of small business ownership as a livelihood; and, (UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 23) WHEREAS, the Austin City Code charges the Human Rights Commission to promote equal treatment and opportunity for all residents, which includes equitable access to economic resources and protection from conditions that threaten the financial stability and dignity of Austin business owners and their employees; and, (Austin City Code § 2-1-148) WHEREAS, small businesses in the Austin metro area account for 48.1 percent of local employment, represent 99.8 percent of all businesses in Texas, and accounted for 84 percent of the state's annual job growth in 2024, making their economic resilience a matter of direct public and human rights concern; and, WHEREAS, job growth in the Austin-Round Rock area slowed to just 0.7 percent in 2025, the slowest pace of all major Texas cities, while rising commercial rents have forced the City to modify its Business Expansion Program to address accelerating small business displacement across Austin neighborhoods. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Joint Inclusion Committee urges the Austin City Council to allocate $25,000 to the City's Small Business Division to establish an economic impact fund providing grants and forgivable loans to Austin small businesses facing economic hardship. Date of Approval: _____________________________________________ Record of the vote: _____________________________________________ Attest: _____________________________________________
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-025: Budget Proposal for Increased Emergency Housing Assistance WHEREAS, the City of Austin is still facing a housing affordability crisis as data reports show that the overall median rent is now $1,624.00, with the median rent for a one bedroom at $1,405.00. Both of these figures, though a decrease from previous years and a trend in the right direction, are the second highest for any city in the state of Texas. WHEREAS, even though median rent has fallen in the past year, rental prices are still unsustainable; especially given that the cost of living for Austinites has continued to vastly increase due to national trends such as soaring healthcare costs, grocery bills, increases at the gas pump, and child and dependent care. WHEREAS, Eviction filings in Austin JP Courts reached a record high of 15,253 filings in a single year in 2025, an increase of 13% from 2024, and the State Legislature codified a bill in the last legislative session that has already weakened what little rights tenants already possess in the state of Texas. WHEREAS, per the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, eviction filings in Austin have soared to over 32% higher than the pre-pandemic average rate, with communities of color drastically more at risk of eviction in a state with some of the country’s weakest protections for renters. WHEREAS, a record 2.1 million renters, more than half of the state’s renter households, are “cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities per a recent Harvard University study. WHEREAS, the State of Texas shuttered its statewide rent relief program in the summer of 2023 leaving it up to municipalities to act on the growing rental crisis. Austin has stepped up to the plate, most recently in last year’s budget cycle with a renewal of the $8 million rental assistance and eviction support program through the City of Austin Housing Department’s “I Belong in Austin” program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee encourages the Austin City Council to allocate at least another $8 million dollars in rental relief funds and explore all available means in order to create short, medium, and long term solutions for individuals at risk of eviction in Austin. Date of Approval: _____________________________________________ Record of the vote: _____________________________________________ Attest: _____________________________________________
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-003: Priorities, Focus Areas, Safeguards, Controls & Community Engagement for Social Services Funding WHEREAS, the Austin City Manager announced on December 17, 2025 a 10% retroactive cut to social service contracts1; and WHEREAS, these cuts impact social services, social service contracts and social service grants2; and WHEREAS, Kerri Lang, Director, Austin Budget & Organizational Excellence and Daniel Culotta, Assistant Director, Austin Budget & Organizational Excellence presented at the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting on February 26, 2026 asking for JIC’s input on prioritizing cuts and funding3; and WHEREAS, the following JIC member commissions had representatives in attendance at the February 26, 2026 meeting: • African American Resource Advisory Commission • Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission • Commission on Aging • Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission • Human Rights Commission • • Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities; and LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission WHEREAS, six of those seven member commissions met since then (all but the African American Resource Advisory Commission); and WHEREAS, the deadline for all commissions to submit budget recommendations is March 31, 2026 and member commissions have been focused on this effort which had already strained the resources of the JIC member commissions; and WHEREAS, reducing the amount of City funding already published and awarded: • Erodes the public confidence in the City’s ability to budget, • Puts the jobs of non-profit employees at risk, 1 Social Services Funding Update, December 17, 2025 2 Social Services Framework, Austin Budget & Organizational Excellence, page 5 3 Agenda Joint Inclusion Committee, Special Called Meeting, February 26, 2026 Page 1 of 3 • • • Jeopardizes the future of Austin’s non-profit organizations, Increases competition for non-City grants and philanthropic funding, Leaves Austin’s most vulnerable populations even more vulnerable; and WHEREAS, with the decrease in federal funding and increase in government persecution of marginalized communities, the numbers in the at-risk communities across all demographics are growing; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager, to direct the Austin Budget & Organizational Excellence to focus on the following Service Categories for funding social services: • Basic Needs - Food Access, Utility & Rent Assistance, Survivor Support, • Health Equity - Services prioritizing marginalized communities to address health disparities, • Community Planning - Stigma Index, Regional Planning contracts. …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-038: LGBTQ Legal Navigation and Community Safety Coordination WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ residents in Texas increasingly face confusion and risk due to evolving state policies and administrative requirements related to identity documents, civil rights protections, and access to services; and WHEREAS, timely access to accurate education, navigation support, and trusted referrals can prevent avoidable crises that may lead to housing instability, employment disruption, and disconnection from essential services; and WHEREAS, community stakeholders have identified a need for practical assistance including support with name and gender marker changes, tenant and workplace rights navigation, and connections to trusted nonprofit service providers; and WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors continue to report concerns about safety, harassment, and accessibility in public spaces, particularly during major community events and peak nightlife hours; and WHEREAS, community-based, non-enforcement safety strategies such as de-escalation training, bystander intervention, and coordinated safe-walk partnerships can reduce harm and strengthen community confidence; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Equity Office and Human Rights Division are positioned to coordinate civil rights education, community navigation, and harm-prevention programming across City departments and community partners; and WHEREAS, the Joint Inclusion Committee has identified coordinated legal navigation and community safety infrastructure as one of its highest priorities for the year; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager to establish a pilot LGBTQ Legal Navigation and Community Safety Coordination Program. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends the creation of one full-time employee (FTE) LGBTQ Program Administrator or Manager position to lead, coordinate, and implement this program, and that this role be housed within the City’s Equity Office for cross-departmental coordination and community alignment. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this FTE would be the direct point of contact at the City of Austin for the LGBTQIA+ community, including responsibilities coordinating City services, supporting community education, facilitating navigation and referral pathways, and working with nonprofit and community-based organizations that provide related services. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that program activities may include: • Know-your-rights education and informational materials • Legal navigation and referral support, including assistance related to name and gender marker changes • Tenant, employment, and civil rights navigation resources • De-escalation and bystander intervention training • Coordination of community-based safety efforts such as safe-walk partnerships during major events and peak activity periods BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: 20260325-039: Expansion of Mpox, STI, and Vaccination Programs WHEREAS, the City of Austin has recognized the importance of integrated vaccination and prevention programs, including Hepatitis and Flu outreach, as essential components of LGBTQIA+ public health efforts; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has sustained the loss of $800,000 in funding for HIV, STI, and Mpox through 2025–2026 fiscal planning, and a failed city Tax Rate Election has further resulted in a loss of funding; and WHEREAS, community partners have reached out to the Joint Inclusion Committee expressing grave concern regarding the loss of federal, state, and city funding, which impacts vital health partners such as the KIND Clinic and other community providers that have relied on this city funding in previous years; and WHEREAS, Austin health departments and community health centers serving LGBTQIA+ residents, including community-based clinics and nonprofit providers, have demonstrated strong capacity and effectiveness in delivering culturally competent vaccination and prevention services; and WHEREAS, MPox continues to present an ongoing public health concern, particularly for LGBTQIA+ communities, and requires sustained vaccination, education, and outreach efforts rather than one-time emergency responses; and WHEREAS, recent reductions in federal and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health funding have placed increased pressure on local governments to maintain continuity of vaccination, STI, and HIV prevention programs; and WHEREAS, expanded local funding would support not only MPox vaccination efforts, but also broader STI and HIV prevention services that are critical to reducing long-term public health costs and preventing outbreaks; and WHEREAS, ensuring access to timely, accurate, and culturally competent preventive healthcare improves community health outcomes and reduces strain on emergency and acute care systems; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council approve an increase of up to $100,000 in funding to Austin Public Health to expand Mpox vaccination, STI prevention, and HIV prevention programs targeting at-risk and underserved populations. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the expanded funding should support outreach, education, vaccination access, and prevention services delivered through trusted community-based providers and public health partners serving the LGBTQIA+ community. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the City of Austin restore the loss of $800,000 in general health and mental services funding from last year's fiscal budget, as referenced in the Commission’s March 2025 recommendation outlining subsidies for PrEP access …
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: (20260325-004): Expansion and Empowerment of the Community Liaison Office WHEREAS, the City of Austin has committed to equity-centered public safety strategies that prioritize trust-building, accessibility, accountability, and culturally competent engagement with historically marginalized and minoritized communities; and WHEREAS, the Joint Inclusion Committee, in coordination with the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Commission, the Asian American Quality of Life Commission, the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission, the African American Quality of Life Commission, the Commission for Women, and other advisory bodies, has received consistent feedback from community members regarding gaps in communication, transparency, responsiveness, and trust in interactions with law enforcement; and WHEREAS, immigrant communities and other vulnerable populations have identified fear of retaliation, deportation consequences, language access barriers, and lack of anonymity as significant obstacles to engaging with law enforcement; and WHEREAS, strengthening and elevating the Community Liaison function from a primarily public information role to a core accountability and community engagement division within the Austin Police Department is necessary to ensure sustained trust-building, transparency, and culturally competent public safety practices; and WHEREAS, the proposal recommends structural elevation of the Community Liaison Office to report directly to the Chief of Police or a designated Assistant Chief, or alternatively to explore housing the function under the Office of Equity and Inclusion to ensure independence and public trust; and WHEREAS, the proposal further recommends assigning both a civilian liaison and a sworn officer liaison for each major minoritized community, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Women, thereby providing residents the option to engage with either a civilian or sworn representative; and WHEREAS, formalizing liaison responsibilities within official job duties, performance evaluations, training structures, and reporting systems is necessary to ensure consistency, sustainability, and accountability; and WHEREAS, the establishment of dedicated public communication pathways, anonymous reporting options, language access services, and culturally appropriate outreach materials is essential to building durable community trust; and WHEREAS, meaningful reform requires measurable performance metrics, structured engagement with City Commissions and the Joint Inclusion Committee, and a formal feedback mechanism requiring written responses from APD leadership to commission-issued policy memos; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager to allocate one-time implementation funding in the amount of $80,000 to support the expansion and elevation of the Community Liaison Office consistent with …
