20220302 2d Budget Homelessness DRAFT — original pdf

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Commission for Women Austin Commission for Women Recommendation 20220302-xxx: Recommendations for Women Experiencing Homelessness Whereas, the Commission for Women (“Commission”) of the City of Austin (“City”) serves as an advisory body that advocates for and inspires the City Council (“Council”) and City Manager to prioritize women’s quality of life, so that Austin becomes the most equitable city in the nation for women and girls; and Whereas, women and female-identifying persons (hereafter referenced as “women”) may be more vulnerable and less safe while experiencing homelessness; these risks are amplified for those with children; these women and children are often considered “invisible,” rather than living on the streets, they may be sleeping in cars, hotels, or shelters, or moving from one place to another with friends or family; being unhoused causes interrelated issues with stable housing, employment, child care, schooling, and family life; and Whereas, women with or without children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking and any other form of sexual violence or trauma are at a greater risk; and Whereas, the capacity of short or long-term shelters and temporary/transitional housing for women and families is limited, and exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions; facilities may also lack services tailored to the specific needs of women and families; and Whereas, the Saint Louise House is a viable solution to help those in need; their mission as a nonprofit organization is dedicated to the success of women and their children moving from homelessness to healthy independent lives, striving to empower women and their children to overcome homelessness for generations to come; their proven program provides stable housing and wraparound services with highly-individualized support that fosters education, financial literacy, strong family relationships and healthy living, leading to a lifetime of self-sufficiency; and Whereas, since the Saint Louise House was founded in Austin in 2000, there have been 205 families served, 448 children served with 100% moving to the next grade level, and 90% of the women increasing self- sufficiency; in 2020 there were 12 successful graduations, 15 families moved out of homelessness into St. Louise House, and even with COVID-19, 80% of families continued to make progress toward self-sufficiency; and Whereas, the need for housing and services such as those provided by St. Louise House exceeds current capacity, with a waiting list for families needing guidance and assistance; and Whereas, the Commission for Women passed Recommendation 20210203-04b: Continued Funding for the Hotel Safety Net for Survivors on February 3, 2021, to continue funding the hotel safety net and resources for victims experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and directing the City Manager to diversify the funding to organizations that support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, to address their unique needs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission for Women recommends: 1) The City of Austin support the Saint Louise House to increase capacity and services, such as through partnerships with the City to acquire access to additional land and/or facilities at reduced cost, to serve more women and families experiencing homelessness and help them transition to independence; 2) The City of Austin continue to fund the Hotel Safety Net or comparable programs to provide safe and timely housing and services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; 3) Recommend continued funding of programs such as SAFE’s shelter and wrap-around services for victims of sexual violence; <is this addressed in the Safety recommendations?>