Community Development Commission Regular Meeting of the Community Development Commission - This regular meeting of the CDC will follow a hybrid format - remote and in-person. Please see agenda for details.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CDC) MEETING June 11, 2024 – 6:30pm Austin City Hall, Board and Commission – Room 1101 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Community Development Commission may be participating by video conference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, call or email the board liaison at 512-974-3108 or edward.blake@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Jo Anne Ortiz Public Sector Appointee Steven Brown Public Sector Appointee Cheryl Thompson St. John’s Gavin Porter Sr. Public Sector Appointee Vacant North Austin Cynthia Jaso Dove Springs Jose Noe Elias Montopolis Julia Woods South Austin Vacant Public Sector Appointee Jenny E. Achilles Private Sector Appointee Raul E Longoria Public Sector Appointee South Austin Estevan Delgado Private Sector Appointee Michael Tolliver Colony Park Bertha Delgado East Austin Vacant Rosewood- Zaragosa/Blackland Please visit https://austintexas.gov/cdc for more information about the Community Development Commission. Purpose: The purpose of the board is to advise the Council in the development and implementation of programs designed to serve the poor and the community at large with an emphasis on federally funded programs. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. Approve the May 14, 2024, Community Development Commission meeting minutes. 2. Briefing on the CDC Annual Internal Review (Housing Staff) APPROVAL OF MINUTES BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS PUBLIC HEARING 3. Presentation and discussion of input heard during the 2024 Community Needs Assessment (Julie Smith, Community Engagement Specialist, Housing Department) 4. Conduct a public hearing to receive comment on community needs for the City's Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan that will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the City's application for federal funding. DISCUSSION ITEMS (continued) 5. Presentation and discussion regarding outcomes for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) for April 2024 (Angel Zambrano, Manager, Neighborhood Services Unit, Austin Public Health) 6. Presentation and discussion on the Home Delivery Program provided by Central Texas Food …
Community Needs Assessment | Phase 1 / Preliminary Findings Summary of Community Engagement May 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Background .................................................01 Timeline ..........................................................02 Communications and Engagement Approach ...........................03-04 Goals, Tools & Tactics ................................05 Community Feedback ......................06-15 Exhibit A: Marketing and Outreach Materials ..........................17-25 Exhibit B: Community Consulations .............................................26 2024 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT BACKGROUND This report details the public engagement efforts for developing the FY25- 29 Consolidated Plan. The consolidated plan is a five-year funding strategy that guides how to distribute approximately $14 million in annual grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The public services and programs from this grant address things like affordable housing, job creation, and public service needs for low- and moderate-income families, persons with disabilities, and seniors. As required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), a community needs assessment is conducted each year to ensure that federal funding meets the needs of the Austin community. This year, we expanded the community needs assessment so that programming funded by local dollars can also benefit from the community’s feedback. Phase 1: In this first phase of the report we outline the community needs that we have heard through the engagement process so far. This input has informed the first draft of the funding strategy for federal dollars and we are now seeking feedback on that draft. Phase 2: A second phase of the report will be produced over the next few months as engagement continues. The phase 2 report will show not only how feedback is used within the finalized consolidated plan but will also include other efforts the Housing Department is making to address community needs. 2024 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 01 TIMELINE STAFF CREATES FIRST DRAFT OF THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN APRIL 2024 FINALIZED PLAN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL JULY 2024 COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS AND INITIAL SURVEY FEB - MARCH 2024 COMMUNITY PROVIDEDS FEEDBACK ON DRAFT PLAN MAY - JUNE 2024 COMMUNITY FEEDBACK LOOP CONTINUES AUG - SEP 2024 NEW CONSOLIDATD PLAN BEGINS OCTOBER 1, 2024 2024 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 02 COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT APPROACH The Housing Department engages with the community regularly at community events, through the experiences of program participants, and often for specific initiatives and projects. The engagement required for our 5-Year Federal Funding plan serves as a time to pause and assess even more intentionally and build a deeper understanding of the experiences people are …
CITY OF AUSTIN CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN A. PURPOSE Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) that receive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement grant funds must develop a Citizen Participation Plan (CPP). The CPP describes efforts that will be undertaken to encourage community members to participate in the development of the City’s federal reports: Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, and the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CPP is designed to encourage the participation of city residents in the development of the federal reports listed above, particularly those residents who are predominantly low- and moderate-income. For purposes of CDBG funding, a resident is considered to be low-income if their family income equals 50% or less of median family income (MFI), as estimated by HUD. A person is considered to be moderate-income if their family income is between 50% and 80% of MFI. Predominately low-to moderate-income neighborhoods are defined as any neighborhood where at least 51% of the residents have incomes equal to or below 80% of the MFI for any given year. The determination of whether a neighborhood meets the low-to moderate income definition is made by the City at the time a project of area-wide benefit is funded based on current data provided by HUD. The CPP also encourages local and regional institutions and other organizations (including businesses, developers, and community and faith-based organizations) to participate in the process of developing and implementing the Consolidated Plan and related reports. The City takes appropriate actions to encourage the participation of persons of minority backgrounds, persons with limited-English proficiency, and persons with disabilities. It is important to note that HUD’s use of the statutory term “citizen participation” does not in any way limit engagement and consultation with community members based on legal status or country of origin. Any person that resides in the Austin metro area is encouraged to provide input about the federal reporting process as outlined in this CPP. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. The City of Austin does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. The City of Austin considers it the right of …
Engagement Presentation & Discussion Residents are invited to review and comment on the City of Austin's federally funded housing and public service programs. Please join us at the June meeting of the Community Development Commission to hear about the input we've collected from the community and how it is being used. TUESDAY JUNE 11, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. City Hall Board & Commission Room #1101 301 W. 2nd St. Learn more and give your input at: www.SpeakUpAustin.org/MyCommunityNeeds www.SpeakUpAustin.org/MyCommunityNeeds www.SpeakUpAustin.org/MyCommunityNeeds
PLAN DE PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA DE LA CIUDAD DE AUSTIN A. PROPÓSITO Las Jurisdicciones Participantes (PJ, por sus siglas en inglés) que reciben fondos de subvención garantizada por ley del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD) de los Estados Unidos deben desarrollar un Plan de Participación Ciudadana (CPP, por sus siglas en inglés). El CPP describe las iniciativas que se llevarán a cabo para fomentar la participación de los miembros de la comunidad en el desarrollo de los informes federales de la Ciudad: Evaluación de Vivienda Justa (AFH), Plan Consolidado, Plan de Acción Anual y el Informe Consolidado Anual de Rendimiento y Evaluación (CAPER). los El CPP está diseñado para fomentar la participación de los residentes de la ciudad en el desarrollo de informes federales mencionados anteriormente, en especial aquellos residentes que perciben predominantemente ingresos bajos y moderados. Para los fines de asignación de fondos de Subvención en Bloque para Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG), se considera que un residente tiene ingresos bajos cuando el ingreso familiar es igual al 50% o menos del ingreso familiar mediano (MFI), según lo estimado por el HUD. Una persona se considera de ingresos moderados cuando su ingreso familiar está entre el 50% y el 80% del MFI. Los vecindarios de ingresos predominantemente bajos a moderados se definen como cualquier vecindario donde al menos el 51% de los residentes tienen ingresos iguales o inferiores al 80% del MFI para un año determinado. La Ciudad determina si un vecindario cumple con la definición de ingresos bajos a moderados al momento de financiar un proyecto de beneficio en toda el área, utilizando datos actuales proporcionados por el HUD. El CPP también fomenta la participación de instituciones locales y regionales y otras organizaciones (incluidas empresas, desarrolladores y organizaciones comunitarias y religiosas) en el proceso de desarrollo e implementación del Plan Consolidado y los informes relacionados. La Ciudad lleva a cabo medidas adecuadas para promover la participación de personas de grupos minoritarios, personas con dominio limitado del inglés y personas con discapacidades. Es importante destacar que el uso por parte del HUD del término estatutario "participación ciudadana" de ninguna manera limita la participación y consulta con los miembros de la comunidad según su condición legal o país de origen. Se alienta a cualquier persona que resida en el área metropolitana de Austin a proporcionar información sobre el proceso de presentación de informes federales, tal como se describe en este CPP. …
Community Needs Assessment | Phase 1 / Preliminary Findings Summary of Community Engagement May 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Background .................................................01 Timeline ..........................................................02 Communications and Engagement Approach ...........................03-04 Goals, Tools & Tactics ................................05 Community Feedback ......................06-15 Exhibit A: Marketing and Outreach Materials ..........................17-25 Exhibit B: Community Consulations .............................................26 2024 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT BACKGROUND This report details the public engagement efforts for developing the FY25- 29 Consolidated Plan. The consolidated plan is a five-year funding strategy that guides how to distribute approximately $14 million in annual grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The public services and programs from this grant address things like affordable housing, job creation, and public service needs for low- and moderate-income families, persons with disabilities, and seniors. As required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), a community needs assessment is conducted each year to ensure that federal funding meets the needs of the Austin community. This year, we expanded the community needs assessment so that programming funded by local dollars can also benefit from the community’s feedback. Phase 1: In this first phase of the report we outline the community needs that we have heard through the engagement process so far. This input has informed the first draft of the funding strategy for federal dollars and we are now seeking feedback on that draft. Phase 2: A second phase of the report will be produced over the next few months as engagement continues. The phase 2 report will show not only how feedback is used within the finalized consolidated plan but will also include other efforts the Housing Department is making to address community needs. 2024 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 01 TIMELINE STAFF CREATES FIRST DRAFT OF THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN APRIL 2024 FINALIZED PLAN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL JULY 2024 COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS AND INITIAL SURVEY FEB - MARCH 2024 COMMUNITY PROVIDEDS FEEDBACK ON DRAFT PLAN MAY - JUNE 2024 COMMUNITY FEEDBACK LOOP CONTINUES AUG - SEP 2024 NEW CONSOLIDATD PLAN BEGINS OCTOBER 1, 2024 2024 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 02 COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT APPROACH The Housing Department engages with the community regularly at community events, through the experiences of program participants, and often for specific initiatives and projects. The engagement required for our 5-Year Federal Funding plan serves as a time to pause and assess even more intentionally and build a deeper understanding of the experiences people are …
Draft FY 25-29 Consolidated Plan Summary Brief The City of Austin’s draft Consolidated Plan proposes how to allocate funding for the next 5 years of federal entitlement grants from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029. The public services and programs from this federal funding address community needs like affordable housing, job creation, and public service support for low- and moderate-income families, persons with disabilities, and seniors. Each year the City of Austin receives the following grant entitlements from HUD: • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) • HOME Investment Partnerships Grant (HOME) • Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) • Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) By incorporating robust community dialogue, the City of Austin Housing Department has prepared estimates of allocations for each of the next 5 years of HUD entitlement funding to meet resident needs. Feedback was gathered through virtual and in-person community meetings and a community-wide survey on www.SpeakUpAustin.org/MyCommunityNeeds. HUD determines how much funding cities and counties will receive annually based on a formula, with the dollar amounts fluctuating each year. As of May 2, 2024, HUD has not released funding allocations for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 25). Therefore, per guidance from HUD, the draft FY 25-29 Consolidated Plan and FY 25 Action Plan are written using estimates of anticipated funding. The estimations of total funding and service goals by program for the upcoming 5 years can be found in section SP-45 Goals Summary of the draft Consolidated Plan. Additionally, estimated funding amounts over 5 years are shown proportionally in this summary document. Considerations in this draft of the Consolidated Plan for FY 2025-29: • The Tenants’ Rights Assistance (TRA) program will no longer be funded by CDBG and will be funded by local dollars. CDBG funding previously allocated toward TRA will be allocated toward Childcare Services for all five years. • The Architectural Barrier Removal – Renter program will no longer be funded by CDBG. • Infrastructure development will e funded by CDBG annually at $2,500,000 for five years. Funding amounts are estimated using the actual allocations made in the most recent Fiscal Year, 2023-2024. Since HUD does not provide information for how much funding the City will receive over 5 years, staff will adjust program funding amounts proportionally each year. Once FY 2025 funding allocations are released by HUD, the City’s FY 2025 Action Plan (included …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2022 to 6/30/2023. Community Development Commission (CDC) Mission Statement The purpose of the board is to advise the Council in the development and implementation of programs designed to serve the poor and community at large with the emphasis on federally funded programs. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. The Community Development Commission (CDC) continued with oversight of the development and implementation of programs designed to serve the poor and community at large, including discussions on: ▪ Housing affordability programs, tools, and developments ▪ Homelessness initiatives ▪ Displacement mitigation strategies ▪ Neighborhood Center Services ▪ 1 Equitable Transit-Oriented Development ▪ Federal Block Grants ▪ Land Development Code ▪ Capital Metro's Project Connect (focus on potential displacement) ▪ COVID response initiatives, such as Housing and Planning Department's RENT program, o Austin Public Health's Emergency Rental Program, and o Austin Energy's Customer o Assistance Program ▪ Austin Transit Partnership ▪ The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ▪ The Project Connect Racial Equity Anti-Displacement Tool ▪ Tenants' Rights ▪ Citywide Resiliency Hubs ▪ The Climate Equity Plan ▪ The 2023-24 Action Plan Community Needs Assessment ▪ The Community Services Block Grants 2023 Community Needs Assessment ▪ The Anti-Displacement Community Acquisition Program (ADCAP) ▪ Community Initiated Solutions through Project Connect Annual Review and Work Plan 2022-2023 ▪ Housing Authority of Austin Rosewood, Chalmers, and Santa Rita Courts redevelopment ▪ The City's budget process The Community Development Commission continued with the development and implementation of federally funded programs, including: ▪ U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Consolidated Plan and Action Plan programs ▪ U.S Department of Health and Human Services Community Services Block Grant programs The Community Development Commission provided recommendations on the following items: ▪ Support of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Draft Action Plan ▪ Support of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 CSBG Budget and Community Action Plan ▪ Support for the expanded use of the Project Connect Equity Tool ▪ Support of HPD staff-recommended improvements to the Home Repair Loan Program (HRLP) ▪ Recommendation 20220712-006 Reiterating Commitment to 20% Affordable Housing in South Central Waterfront Vision The Community Development Commission maintained a presence and reported back on the activities of the following groups: ▪ South Central Waterfront Advisory Board …
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CDC) MEETING June 11, 2024 – 6:30pm Street-Jones Building, Suite 400A 1000 E. 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702 Some members of the Community Development Commission may be participating by video conference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, call or email the board liaison at 512-974-3108 or edward.blake@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Jo Anne Ortiz Public Sector Appointee Steven Brown Public Sector Appointee Cheryl Thompson St. John’s Gavin Porter Sr. Public Sector Appointee Vacant North Austin Cynthia Jaso Dove Springs Jose Noe Elias Montopolis Julia Woods South Austin Vacant Public Sector Appointee Jenny E. Achilles Private Sector Appointee Raul E Longoria Public Sector Appointee South Austin Estevan Delgado Private Sector Appointee Michael Tolliver Colony Park Bertha Delgado East Austin Vacant Rosewood- Zaragosa/Blackland Please visit https://austintexas.gov/cdc for more information about the Community Development Commission. Purpose: The purpose of the board is to advise the Council in the development and implementation of programs designed to serve the poor and the community at large with an emphasis on federally funded programs. REVISED AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. Approve the May 14, 2024, Community Development Commission meeting minutes. 2. Briefing on the CDC Annual Internal Review (Housing Staff) APPROVAL OF MINUTES BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS PUBLIC HEARING 3. Presentation and discussion of input heard during the 2024 Community Needs Assessment (Julie Smith, Community Engagement Specialist, Housing Department). 4. Conduct a public hearing to receive comment on community needs for the City's Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan that will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the City's application for federal funding. 5. Conduct a public hearing to receive comment on the City’s revised Citizen Participation Plan as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan process that secures federal funding for the City from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. DISCUSSION ITEMS (continued) 6. …
Resumen del Plan Consolidado de los años Fiscales 2025-2029 En la versión preliminar del Plan Consolidado de la ciudad de Austin, se propone cómo asignar los fondos para los próximos 5 años de subvenciones federales del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (Housing and Urban Development, HUD), del 1 de Octubre de 2024 al 30 de septiembre de 2029. Los servicios y programas públicos de esta financiación federal abordan necesidades de la comunidad como la vivienda asequible, la creación de puestos de trabajo y el apoyo en materia de servicios públicos para familias con ingresos bajos y moderados, personas con discapacidades y adultos mayores. Cada año, la ciudad de Austin recibe las siguientes subvenciones del HUD: • Subvención del Bloque para el Desarrollo Comunitario (Community Development Block Grant, CDBG) • Subvención del Programa de Asociaciones de Inversión (HOME) • Subvención de Solución de Emergencia (Emergency Solution Grant, ESG) • Oportunidades de Vivienda para personas con VIH/SIDA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, HOPWA) Al incorporar un sólido diálogo comunitario, el Departamento de Vivienda de la ciudad de Austin preparó estimaciones de las asignaciones para cada uno de los próximos 5 años de permisos de financiación del HUD para satisfacer las necesidades de los residentes. Los comentarios se recopilaron en reuniones virtuales y presenciales y en una encuesta comunitaria en www.SpeakUpAustin.org/MyCommunityNeeds. El HUD determina el monto de los fondos que recibirán anualmente las ciudades y los condados basándose en una fórmula, en la que las cantidades en dólares fluctúan cada año. A partir del 2 de mayo de 2024, el HUD no ha publicado las asignaciones de fondos para el próximo año fiscal (FY25). Por lo tanto, siguiendo las orientaciones del HUD, la versión preliminar del Plan Consolidado para los años fiscales comprendidos entre 2025 y 2029 y el Plan de Acción para el año fiscal 25 se redactaron utilizando estimaciones de la financiación prevista. Las estimaciones de la financiación total y los objetivos de servicio por programa para los próximos 5 años se pueden encontrar en la sección SP-45 Resumen de Objetivos de la versión preliminar del Plan Consolidado. Además, los importes de financiación estimados a lo largo de 5 años se muestran proporcionalmente en este documento de resumen. Consideraciones en esta versión preliminar del Plan Consolidado para los años fiscales comprendidos entre 2025 y 2029: • El Programa de Asistencia para los Derechos de los Inquilinos (TRA) ya no …
Community Services Block Grant 2024 Contract Programmatic/Financial Report June 11, 2024 The Community Services Block Grant funds the delivery of services to low income Texas residents in all 254 counties. These funds support a variety of direct services in addition to helping maintain the core administrative elements of community action agencies. For the City of Austin, the grant provides funding for the delivery of basic needs, case management, preventive health and employment support services through the City’s six (6) Neighborhood Centers and the two (2) Outreach Sites. Mission: The Neighborhood Services Unit improves the lives and health of people experiencing poverty by providing public health and social services and connecting residents of Austin and Travis County to community resources. ◼ Basic Needs (food, clothing, information and referral, notary services, transportation, car safety education and car seats, tax preparation, fans, Thanksgiving food baskets and other seasonal activities); ◼ Preventive Health (screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar including a1C, and cholesterol; pregnancy testing; health promotion presentations, coordination and participation in health fairs, immunizations, coordination of wellness activities, linkages to medical home providers and diabetes case management); ◼ Case Management (individual/family support counseling, advocacy, self-sufficiency case management, crisis intervention, linkages with employers, educational opportunities and training, and working with individuals on quality of life issues); ◼ Employment Support (intake, assessment and goal setting, job readiness training, job placement assistance, and job retention services) Expenditures Categories 2024 Contract Budget % of Total Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total $1,129,050.00* *Final CSBG allocation for CY24. Cumulative Expenditures as of 4/30/24 $49,167.96 $21,602.54 $70,770.50 6% 1 4 4E 5 5B 5D 4C 4I 5A 5JJ 7A 7B 7D 7N Transition Out of Poverty Goal Goal Achieved TOP Individuals who transitioned out of poverty 43 7 Success Rate% 16% Austin Public Health Report on PY24 Community Action Plan MISSION: To prevent disease, promote health, and protect the well-being of our community. TOP 5 NEEDS: Housing; Health; Employment; Basic Needs; Education Report Date April 2024 FNPI Outcome Description Target #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % Housing Households who avoided eviction Health and Social/Behavioral Development Individuals who demonstrated improved physical health and well being Individuals who improved skills related to the adult role of parents/caregivers 800 10 50 513 0 29 SRV 3O Service Description Tax Preparation Programs Number Served 356 A Year Ago #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % 513 0 19 317 93 459 42,890 24,998 513 64 59 695 …
Central Texas Food Bank: Home Delivery Program Prepared for: City of Austin Community Development Commission Presented by: Juliana Gonzales, Vice President of Client Programs and Services, Central Texas Food Bank June 11, 2024 ABOUT CTFB 40 YEARS serving 21 counties across Central Texas 70,000 Individuals served each week 53 MILLION MEALS provided in FY23 through Food Distribution and SNAP assistance 100,000 Volunteer hours each year CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD INSECURITY BY THE NUMBERS • ? 14.3% of Central Texas is food insecure, with 458,382 not knowing from where they will get their next meal • 143,498 are children • 61,573 are older adults • $3.52 is the average cost of a meal in CTFB’s service area • Total food budget shortfall is $285 million or 81 million meals. (CTFB and its network closed 52.6M of this shortfall in FY23.) *CTFB’s service area includes: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Caldwell, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Gillespie, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Llano, McLennan, Milam, Mills, San Saba, Travis, and Williamson counties TERMINOLOGY FOOD BANK ≠ FOOD PANTRY OR SOUP KITCHEN A food bank is a central source and clearinghouse for rescued product with a logistics and redistribution component. Food banks are also responsible for the equitable and safe allocation of food and grocery product. A food pantry or soup kitchen obtains food from a food bank and provides individuals with food, either in the form of groceries, or prepared meals. There is no sub-distribution or major logistics component. Central Texas Food Bank works with a network of over 250 food pantries/soup kitchens. • Central Texas Food Bank is a member of the Feeding America Network, which is comprised of 200 food banks throughout the United States. We are the sole Feeding America food bank in Central Texas, serving 21 counties • Feeding Texas is the state association for Feeding America food banks in the state of Texas. CTFB is one of 20 food banks in the Feeding Texas network, serving about 10% of Texas’ food insecure population OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY NOURISH Providing immediate access to nutritious food. INNOVATE Develop and harness data and technology to inform community solutions and investments in programs. CONVENE Bring together community stakeholders and members to elevate the neighbor voice and advocate for equitable food access outcomes. EMPOWER Provide the community and neighbors with the resources, education and technical assistance necessary for equitable access to food outside of the charitable …
CSBG Needs Assessment Findings C O M M U N I T Y D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I S S I O N J U N E 1 1 T H, 2 0 2 4 Overview METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES TOP 5 NEEDS DISCUSSION GAPS IN SERVICES & BARRIERS Austin Public Health is identified as the Travis County Community Action Agency (CAA) receiving Community Services Block Grant Funds (CSBG) – federal funds passed through the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) Background & Justification Federal regulations require CAA’s to conduct needs assessments and use the results to design programs to meet community needs. The Community Development Commission is the designated CSBG community board and must approve the needs assessment plan and accept the final completed assessment TDHCA Community Needs Assessment Standards •Conduct every 3 years •Collects current poverty data and its prevalence related to gender, age, and race/ethnicity •Collects and analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data on its service areas •Includes key findings on the causes and conditions of poverty and the needs •Governing board formally accepts the completed assessment •Informs an outcome-based and anti-poverty focused Community Action Plan •Customer satisfaction data and input identified is considered in the strategic planning process CSBG Service Locations Neighborhood Centers • Blackland • East Austin • Montopolis • Rosewood Zaragosa • St John • South Austin • Dove Springs (coming 2024) Outreach Sites • Turner Roberts Recreation Center • Onion Creek Soccer Complex CNA Data Collection Plan Quantitative Data Census/ACS data Community Assessment Tool Qualitative Data Other community data (e.g. 211/ConnectATX) Key informant interviews (CDC members) Client survey (Neighborhood Center clients) Service provider/Case Manager survey Resident survey with focused outreach in high-poverty areas Analysis Requirement to rank top 5 community needs Include key findings on the causes and conditions of poverty and the needs Report Development Share draft report with CDC in June 2024 Report due to TDHCA by June 30th, 2024 Outreach Conducted • In-person surveys collected at each community center + mobile food distribution events, and the Housing Department Displacement Prevention Navigator Program (CNA design intended to over-sample current CSBG clients). • Virtual outreach conducted via local social media platforms, sent to APH Neighborhood Center clients using OASIS, a text-message communication platform, via community distribution lists, and e-newsletters. • Service provider outreach via ECHO, Austin/Travis County …
2024 Travis County Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Needs Assessment JUNE 2024 Table of Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Community Needs Assessment Results Overview ........................................................................................ 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Community Needs Assessment Process Overview & Methodology ............................................................. 7 Overview of the Causes & Conditions of Poverty ....................................................................................... 11 Travis County Overview .............................................................................................................................. 15 Community Strengths and Assets ............................................................................................................... 29 Inventory of Travis County Community Resources ..................................................................................... 36 Gaps in Services and Barriers ...................................................................................................................... 41 Top Needs & Trends in Travis County by Domain ...................................................................................... 43 HOUSING ................................................................................................................................................. 43 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (BASIC NEEDS) ............................................................................................... 49 HEALTH AND WELLNESS ......................................................................................................................... 55 EMPLOYMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 60 EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................................. 66 CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE .......................................................................................................................... 70 INCOME/FINANCIAL NEEDS ..................................................................................................................... 72 Austin Public Health’s Neighborhood Centers (Travis County Community Action Agency) ....................... 74 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................ 82 Appendix 1: Survey Tools ............................................................................................................................ 82 Appendix 2: Survey Results ......................................................................................................................... 88 Appendix 3: Key Informant Interview Protocol ........................................................................................ 118 Appendix 4: Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 119 1 Executive Summary Background This Community Needs Assessment (CNA) was conducted between January - April 2024 by Woollard Nichols Torres Consulting (WNT) on behalf of Austin Public Health. The assessment was completed in conjunction with Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) requirements and as a resource to develop a Community Action Plan for the Neighborhood Services Division of Austin Public Health. The purpose of this assessment was to ascertain critical needs in Travis County as identified by Travis County residents, community stakeholders, and service providers and neighborhood center clients to enable Austin Public Health to adapt programs and services to best meet the community’s needs. The CNA is anticipated to be formally accepted by the Austin Community Development Commission on June 11th, 2024. Methodology WNT collected data from community members through surveys and key informant interviews. Secondary data sources from various local agencies were also included to draw comparisons between the results of the data collected for the needs assessment and existing data about Travis County. Three surveys were administered to collect data from individuals invested in the community. These individuals included: 1) clients receiving services from the Austin Public Health Neighborhood Centers (in English and Spanish), 2) community residents, and 3) representatives of community agencies providing social services. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted with members of the Austin Community Development Commission that represent geographic areas of Austin/Travis County with high poverty rates. Summary of Findings The top five community needs: 1) Housing 2) Emergency Assistance …
