Special Meeting of the Commission on Veteran Affairs July 6, 2020 Commission on Veteran Affairs to be held July 6, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (July 6, 2020 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Commission on Veteran Affairs Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at Tina Lee at Tina.Lee@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Tina Lee by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020, 10:00AM – 11:30AM VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Doris Williams (Chair) Mayor Steve Adler Chris Ehlinger – Alison Alter: (10) Manuel Jimenez (Vice Chair) Sabino Renteria: (3) Josephine Hinds – Jimmy Flannigan: (6) Alfred Bingham – Natasha Harper-Madison: (1) Adrenne Mendoza – Delia Garza: (2) Jose Carrasco – Greg Casar (4) Thomas Just – Paige Ellis: (8) Elisabeth Collura-Rosenberg – Kathie Tovo: (9) Pete Salazar – Leslie Pool (7) Jason Denny – Ann Kitchen (5) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. OLD BUSINESS Discussion and possible action regarding approval of the minutes from the Commission on Veterans Affairs Regular meetings on January 15, 2020 a) Update on Veterans Park from the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department ( Sponsors: Jason Denny, Pete Salazar) b) Discussion on providing further guidance on Veteran Courts referral policy (Sponsors: Thomas Just, Jason Denny, Manuel Jimenez) c) Discussion on proposed TAP (Transition …
Kiro Action Housing Program (KAHP) Prepared for City of Austin and Travis County July 2020 www.KIROACTION.com www.KIROACTION.com KIRO ACTION AUSTIN PROTOTYPE KIRO ACTION prototype is setup near Mueller and is roughly 20 ft by 10 ft with the ability to sleep up to 4-people (3 adults and 1 child). With our solutions, we have the ability to make homes larger or smaller using our grid building system. If 200 sq ft is too small, our modular building design can be increased in 200 sq ft increments with ease, meaning you can have a customized unit that is 200 sq ft to 1000 sq ft (and above) using our patent-pending 10-ft wall system. The unit can be put together in hours by 4-people with no specialized tools or heavy machinery in a flat-packed profile with electricity, kitchenette and full bathroom. The units can be deployed in an empty parking lot or field, even if the ground is unlevel. The units can be designed to meet a specific need, changed up with various options, such as larger windows, and future units will be cladded with aluminum and wood siding. www.KIROACTION.com FULL CAPACITY LAYOUT Kitchenette is not pictured, but includes: small fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and hot plate Prototype is 20x10 and roughly 200 square feet. The size can be increased in 100-200 ft increments. Currently, there are two main designs and sizes for KIRO ACTION that include a 200 and 400 sq ft models. Not pictured is the 400 sq ft model, which is our new larger “carriage” home that is being developed with the State of Texas for crisis response and emergency relief. EXAMPLE LAYOUT and OCCUPANCY www.KIROACTION.com Double Occupancy Layout Bathroom with vanity, toilet and corner shower Window or Door Twin Bed S t o r a g e Sofa Bed Twin Bed Storage Kitchenette Kitchenette includes: small fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and hot plate Prototype is 20x10 and roughly 200 square feet. The size can be increased in 100-200 ft increments with current designs going up to 1200 sq ft. Currently, there are two main designs and sizes for KIRO ACTION that include a 200 and 400 sq ft models. Not pictured is the 400 sq ft model, which is our new larger “carriage” home that is being developed with the State of Texas for crisis response and emergency relief. The most important part is that the units are …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: Kiro Action Veterans Transitional Housing Program (KAVTHP) WHEREAS, the City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs was chartered in 2013 by City Council to advocate solutions to Austin Veterans homelessness, housing, employment, education/training, women issues, PTSD/mental health and counseling. WHEREAS, the Commission on Veteran Affairs, (Commission) is authorized by Austin City Code 2-1-126 to serve as an advisory body to council concerning the well-being of military veterans in the Austin area. WHEREAS, Veterans homelessness in Austin is complicated by the lack of affordable housing leases within Austin with close proximity to resource providers, employers and infrastructure. Vouchers and third-party lease payments often are not enough to lease acceptable housing within Austin, further, public transportation with access to Veterans service providers and work are a challenge and limit housing options for Veterans. WHEREAS, Veterans employment, education, training, women and family counseling, PTSD/mental health, healthcare, and VA benefits counseling are scattered throughout Austin and decentralized; making access to vital and necessary services difficult for some Veterans with disabilities, limited economic, mobility and transportation resources. WHEREAS, the Commission is specifically authorized to recommend programs designed to support the well-being of military veterans in Austin. Veteran homelessness has been a particular issue affecting veterans nationally, and Austin, as a whole. At the date of drafting the Commission recommendation in Austin, there are 123 unsheltered veterans on a high-priority list to receive housing due to medical conditions and physical disabilities, 103 on the normal list to receive housing and an average of thirty-eight (38) veterans that become homeless every month in Travis County. All the homeless veterans referenced are signed-up in assistance programs, but will continue to stay homeless upwards of 90-days until housing is found and is dependent on current market rental and affordable housing in Austin. WHEREAS, the Commission received a request from the Kiro Action Group, to create program called the “Kiro Action Veterans Transitional Housing Program”, (KAVTHP). The program will house one-hundred (100) veterans in need of transitional housing in a pilot program with the goal of expanding the program on successful deployment. KAVTHP asks for assistance and support in their request from the City of Austin. KAVTHP requests assistance from the City of Austin to dedicate under-utilized city-owned land to deploy Kiro Action homes in 3-10 locations spread across districts in the city and locations chosen in partnership with …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20200706-D002 Kiro Action Veterans Transitional Housing Program (KAVTHP) WHEREAS, the City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs was chartered in 2013 by City Council to advocate solutions to Austin Veterans homelessness, housing, employment, education/training, women issues, PTSD/mental health and counseling. WHEREAS, the Commission on Veteran Affairs, (Commission) is authorized by Austin City Code 2-1-126 to serve as an advisory body to council concerning the well-being of military veterans in the Austin area. WHEREAS, Veterans homelessness in Austin is complicated by the lack of affordable housing leases within Austin with close proximity to resource providers, employers and infrastructure. Vouchers and third-party lease payments often are not enough to lease acceptable housing within Austin, further, public transportation with access to Veterans service providers and work are a challenge and limit housing options for Veterans. WHEREAS, Veterans employment, education, training, women and family counseling, PTSD/mental health, healthcare, and VA benefits counseling are scattered throughout Austin and decentralized; making access to vital and necessary services difficult for some Veterans with disabilities, limited economic, mobility and transportation resources. WHEREAS, the Commission is specifically authorized to recommend programs designed to support the well-being of military veterans in Austin. Veteran homelessness has been a particular issue affecting veterans nationally, and Austin, as a whole. At the date of drafting the Commission recommendation in Austin, there are 123 unsheltered veterans on a high-priority list to receive housing due to medical conditions and physical disabilities, 103 on the normal list to receive housing and an average of thirty-eight (38) veterans that become homeless every month in Travis County. All the homeless veterans referenced are signed-up in assistance programs, but will continue to stay homeless upwards of 90-days until housing is found and is dependent on current market rental and affordable housing in Austin. WHEREAS, the Commission received a request from the Kiro Action Group, to create program called the “Kiro Action Veterans Transitional Housing Program”, (KAVTHP). The program will house one-hundred (100) veterans in need of transitional housing in a pilot program with the goal of expanding the program on successful deployment. KAVTHP asks for assistance and support in their request from the City of Austin. KAVTHP requests assistance from the City of Austin to dedicate under-utilized city-owned land to deploy Kiro Action homes in 3-10 locations spread across districts in the city and locations chosen in partnership …
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL CALLED MEETING COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS MINUTES The Commission on Veteran Affairs convened in a Special Called Meeting on July 6, 2020 via WebEx Remote meeting. Chair Doris Williams called the Board Meeting to order at 10:27AM. Board Members in Attendance: Doris Williams - Chair July 6, 2020 Manuel Jimenez - Vice Chair Alfred Bingham Jose Corrasco Staff in Attendance: Tina Lee 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Elizabeth Rosenberg- Collura (Left @10:30) Thomas Just Adrenne Luna Pete Salazar Chair Williams asked the Commission members to review the minutes from the special called meeting on January 15, 2020. Chair Williams made the suggestion to spell out TAP as “Transition Assistance Program” on the forth bullet. Chair Williams made a motion to approve the meeting minutes after the correction and Commissioner Pete Salazar seconded the motion. Motion passed with no objection. 2. BUSINESS Sam Haytham with Kiro Action updated the Commission on their progress with the solution with overcoming Veteran homelessness in Austin. Sam Haytham has secured meetings with veteran non-profit organizations, State, Mayor, Council, and City manager with their full support to make the mission come into fruition. Current prototype is at Mueller and Sam is seeking for the Veterans Commission to come up with the language to help the Mayor, City Manager and public to explain the reasoning and purpose of deploying the project. The Veterans Park has started the initial work on creating the park before COVID and currently there are no current updates on the updated timeline. Prior to COVID, the timeline of finishing the park which was originally slated for completion for June and will request Parks and Recreation to provide an update at the next meeting. Commissioner Just and Vice Chair Jimenez has no current updates on the Veterans Court Referral Policy and will get together to come up with the language for the proposed draft to be released to the City Council on the guidance that prosecutors should COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS MEETING MINUTES lean more towards referring veterans towards veterans court. Current criteria is stringent and many veterans are not being referred and would like to see a program where veterans will be able to go to a specific court. Vice Chair Jimenez would like to get in touch with Community court and to re-engage with the process of the referral process and the …
