ITEM 3: SAFE Alliance Presentation — original pdf

Backup

Safety Should Be Accessible to Everyone Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities A homegrown institution where public safety, public health, and housing meet. 2 Integration Is the Intervention Prevent Violence Respond in Crisis Heal & Access Justice Build Lasting Stability • Expect Respect • SAFEline • Youth and community education • Deaf SHARE • Emergency shelter • Trafficking response • Sexual assault advocacy • Counseling and children's services • Permanent supportive housing • Legal and systems • SAFE Futures advocacy • Disability-accessible services • Planet SAFE • Family stabilization Human lives are continuous. Our response must be, too. 3 Every Day, SAFE Responds 26,000+ ~5,800 SAFEline calls, texts, and chats annually People served in a typical year ~1,000 People housed or sheltered nightly as we expand 8,000+ Students, parents, and educators reached annually Children now comprise roughly two-thirds of shelter residents: 88 children and 35 adults at one recent moment. Source: SAFE internal data; current estimates, September 2026. 4 STANFORD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW Paying for Public Failure Isn't Always Charity Published February 26, 2026 The system always collects its debt. The question is when, where, and at what cost. SAFE Creates Public Value Across Its Entire Ecosystem ENTIRE SAFE ECOSYSTEM ~$120M Estimated annually ~$4 modeled value per $1 SAFE HOUSING PROGRAMS $50.3M $6.37 modeled savings per $1 Based on $7.9M invested RESEARCH BENCHMARK • $33,637 per person annually • Higher-quality Housing First studies Housing is one lens within the broader economic case. These estimates are not additive. SAFE scenario analysis; R360 application; NLIHC systematic-review summary. Modeled estimates. 8 Government Should Sustain the Foundation. Philanthropy Makes Transformation Possible. ~50% / ~50% Immediate impact + strategic flexibility + leverage Government: essential infrastructure Philanthropy: direct services now Government: reliable scale Philanthropy: fill urgent gaps Government: durable responsibility Philanthropy: strengthen what works Government-funded vs. raised annually through philanthropy Immediate safety today. Stronger systems tomorrow. Current funding mix: SAFE FY2026-27 budget. 9 People with Disabilities Experience Disproportionate Rates of Violence 40% G R E A T E R R I S K Women with disabilities had a 40% greater risk of violence than women without disabilities.* 50%+ 80% Research indicates that more than half of women with disabilities experience intimate partner violence during their lifetimes.* Some studies estimate that 80% of women with disabilities have experienced sexual assault. B O T T O M L I N E The risk is higher. The consequences can be more severe. Violence Can Be Repeated, Severe, and Exploitative 97–99% of abusers targeting people with disabilities are known and trusted by the victim. W H O M A Y B E R E S P O N S I B L E ? 47% 44% Caregivers, home health aides, or facility staff 32% Family members In one study, nearly half of sexually abused women with disabilities reported that assaults occurred more than 10 times. B O T T O M L I N E When safety depends on another person, violence can be especially difficult to recognize, disclose, or escape. This National Reality Shows Up in Austin 937 people with disabilities sought care at SAFE in FY25–26 Nearly 18% 141 Children 18 Seniors 65+ ~778 Working-age adults* 2,500+ P E O P L E R E A C H E D R E P O R T E D A B I L I T Y T Y P E S 44.6% Mental health conditions 18.0% Physical disabilities 18.0% Chronic health conditions 11.4% Developmental disabilities 6.6% 1.4% Substance abuse HIV/AIDS B O T T O M L I N E People with disabilities are a meaningful part of the community SAFE serves. The Safety System Isn't Always Designed for People with Disabilities 35% of shelters surveyed had disability- awareness training for staff Survivors can encounter additional barriers: 16% had a dedicated staff person to provide services to women with disabilities L A C K O F T R A I N I N G C R E D I B I L I T Y H A R M F U L B E L I E F S Service providers may not have the knowledge or sensitivity needed to respond effectively. People with disabilities may face assumptions that make their experiences less likely to be believed. Some people may view controlling or abusive treatment as necessary to "manage" a person with a disability — or blame the person experiencing abuse. B O T T O M L I N E Access isn't just about opening the door. It's about being prepared to help. Prevention Has to Be Accessible How do we teach people to recognize violence? Disability-informed prevention also asks: Can everyone access the information? Can everyone understand it? Can everyone communicate what is happening? Can everyone practice protective strategies? Does everyone know where to turn? B O T T O M L I N E Accessibility is part of violence prevention. Prevention Is Part of a Larger Safety Ecosystem P R E V E N T → R E S P O N D → H E A L → S T A B I L I Z E Accessible education Self-advocacy Healthy relationships Caregiver education SAFEline Advocacy Safety planning Crisis services Counseling Housing Healthcare coordination Family support Community resources Children's services Legal advocacy B O T T O M L I N E People need support before, during, and after violence. What Can Austin Do? 1. INVEST IN PREVENTION Support accessible, disability-informed violence prevention education. 2. BUILD ACCESSIBILITY INTO SAFETY SYSTEMS Ensure people with disabilities can recognize abuse, disclose violence, access advocates, and navigate services. 3. CENTER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Include people with disabilities in designing and evaluating prevention and safety strategies. 4. STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Create environments where people can build relationships, identify trusted people, and know where to turn. B O T T O M L I N E Safety should not depend on someone's ability to navigate the system.