Item 10: Draft Recommendation — original pdf

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COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Aging Recommendation Number: 20260211-010: Improving Job and Volunteer Access for Older Adults Across Demographics – Budget Neutral WHEREAS, the City of Austin has stated that the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan—adopted by City Council in 2012—guides City decision-making when setting goals and policies1; and WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin vision states that Austin is “a beacon of sustainability, social equity and economic opportunity… where community needs and values are recognized… and where the necessities of life are affordable and accessible to all”2; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Office of the City Auditor reports that cities prioritize being inclusive for people as they age because “older people are a valuable resource for their families and communities”3; and WHEREAS, the City Auditor found that the City “does not have clear outreach about programs and services for older adults.”4 and that as a result “older adults may not be able to find what they need.”5 indicating improvement opportunities through clearer, more consistent outreach and navigation of existing services; and WHEREAS, the City Auditor found that the City provides services to older adults across multiple departments, and that the Age-Friendly Program Coordinator works across departments and “with over 30 community organizations”6 supporting older adults—demonstrating an existing coordination and partner infrastructure the City can leverage; and WHEREAS, the Quality of Life Study “gathered an ambitious and statistically generalizable representation of historically marginalized voices, identified for purposeful sampling by the collaborative study planning process and partners, including: Asian American and Asian immigrant older adults, Black or African American older adults, LGBTQIA+ older adults, Latino or Hispanic older adults, Older adults 1 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=430726 2 https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Imagine_Austin/IA_InfographicConnections.pdf 3 City_Services_for_Older_Adults_October_2022.pdf 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. Page 1 of 3 with disabilities, Older adults living at or below 60% of Austin's Median Family Income, Older adults living in all ten City Council districts, and Older adults living alone”7; and WHEREAS, the Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study found that “19% of older adults report wanting to work but are unable to find a job”8, further that this “group, is disproportionately represented among lower-income residents, highlighting the intersection of economic need and barriers to employment,” 9and identified barriers including ageism, functional limitations, and transportation challenges10; and WHEREAS, the Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study found that 17% of older adults experienced discrimination in places they visit regularly and 13% do not feel safe in their neighborhoods11, which can reduce participation in work, internships, and volunteering across the city; and WHEREAS, the Quality of Life Study also found that District 4 recorded the lowest Community Accessibility Score (2.03)12 and that this statistically significant gap reflects “systematic underinvestment”13 and compounded barriers that make community participation—including work and volunteering—dramatically harder in District 4; and WHEREAS, people aged 50 or older are the fastest-growing age group experiencing homelessness in the United States, and their numbers are projected to triple by 2030, reflecting increasing vulnerability among older adults and the urgent need for upstream solutions;14 and WHEREAS, research shows that older adults frequently experience homelessness for the first time after age 50 due to economic instability, including loss of employment, insufficient income, and rising housing costs, demonstrating that maintaining and expanding employment opportunities is a critical upstream solution for preventing homelessness among older adults;15 and WHEREAS, 19% of Austin’s older adults want to work but cannot find employment, with lower-income residents disproportionately affected;16 and WHEREAS, the City has launched a community-wide effort to update Imagine Austin, reaffirming the City’s commitment to plan-guided actions that respond to community needs and advance equity.17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Aging recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager to: 7 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, p.5 8 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, p.62 9 Ibid. 10 Barriers and Facilitators of Re-Employment among Senior Workers 2022 11 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, p.56 12 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp.7, 56, 58 13 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, p.63 14 Size, Characteristics, and Needs of the Population of Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness - Addressing Homelessness Among Older Adults: Final Report - NCBI Bookshelf 15 Ibid. 16 16 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study, November 2025, pp.7, 63 17 City Embarks on Community-Wide Effort to Update Imagine Austin | AustinTexas.gov Page 2 of 3 1. Improve access using existing City programs and resources: Expand access to employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities for older adults by improving coordination, outreach, and utilization of existing City programs, workforce systems, volunteer programs, and nonprofit partnerships, without creating new programs, staffing positions, or dedicated funding streams. 2. Implement this recommendation in a budget-neutral manner: Direct City departments to implement this recommendation through enhanced coordination, prioritization, and utilization of existing staff roles, communication channels, and partner networks, consistent with the City Auditor’s findings that improved outreach and coordination can significantly improve access to services without requiring new infrastructure. 3. Prioritize District 4 while addressing citywide inequities: Prioritize outreach, engagement, and opportunity expansion in District 4, where older adults face the greatest documented barriers to participation, while implementing age-inclusive workforce and volunteer engagement practices across all City Council districts. 4. Utilize existing community partnerships and infrastructure: Leverage existing community partner networks, City facilities, libraries, senior centers, workforce systems, and nonprofit organizations to expand awareness of and access to employment and volunteer opportunities for older adults. 5. Promote age-inclusive workforce and volunteer practices: Encourage City departments and City-supported programs to implement age-inclusive and accessible practices within existing operational structures, including accessible placement opportunities, flexible participation options where feasible, and nondiscriminatory recruitment practices. 6. Recognize and utilize older adults as a valuable workforce and civic resource: Affirm that older adults represent a valuable workforce and volunteer resource whose participation strengthens community organizations, public services, and civic life, consistent with adopted City policy and goals. 7. Track progress using existing metrics and reporting systems: Monitor progress using existing City and study metrics, including Community Accessibility Scores and workforce participation indicators, without creating new reporting systems or administrative requirements. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ Page 3 of 3