Item3_CSBG_MonthlyReport_Dec_2020 — original pdf

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Community Services Block Grant Programmatic/Financial Report December 4, 2020 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 three (3) Outreach Sites.  Basic Needs (food, clothing, information and referral, notary services, transportation, car safety education and car seats, tax preparation, Blue Santa applications, 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 2020 Contract Cumulative % of Total Categories Budget Expenditures as of Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total $693,764.20 $394,116.34 $14,225.46 $1,102,106 10/31/20 $573,832.97 $267,705.18 $5,357 $846,895.15 83% 68% 38% 77% 1 SRV 3O 4 4E 4E 5 5B 5D 4C 4I 5A 5JJ 7A 7B 7D 7N Austin Public Health Report on PY19 Community Action Plan Transition Out of Poverty Goal Goal Achieved TOP Individuals who transitioned out of poverty 43 25 Success Rate% 58% 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 October 2020 FNPI Outcome Description Target #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % Housing Households who avoided eviction Households who avoided eviction (Revised Target) 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 500 1200 15 50 915 915 103 7 Service Description Number Served #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % 915 339 261 161 20,551 1,406 51 78 87 1,195 Tax Preparation Programs Rent Payments Utility Payments Immunizations Food Distribution Case Management Eligibility Determinations Transportation Emergency Clothing 3A.1 Total number of volunteer hours donated to the Agency Programmatic/Administrative Updates 1. Neighborhood Services Unit Vacancies – In the process of hiring 2 Community Workers (SJCC & SANC) and one Social Worker (BNC). 915 915 81 5 183% 76.3% 79% 71% 2 2. CDC Nomination/Selection (St John) – Coordinating with NHCD and the Blackland Advisory Board to hold selection/nomination meeting for the Rosewood Zaragosa/Blackland CDC Seat. 3. Neighborhood Services – Due to the City of Austin’s COVID-19 response and safety measures our Neighborhood Centers were closed to the public at 6pm on March 16, 2020. We are now offering Food Pantry Curbside by appt. only services. We continue to process Emergency Rental & Utilities Assistance applications in collaboration with the Austin Area Urban League. 4. CARES ACT CSBG Funding - The Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs TDHCA) has awarded the Neighborhood Services Unit CARES ACT CSBG funds with the purpose of assisting eligible clients with COVID-19 related needs such as rental assistance through July 31, 2021. In November we began working with the Austin Area Urban League to begin processing financial assistance payments for eligible clients. 5. Austin Energy Plus 1 Program – Serious illness, a recent job loss, or a pandemic can make it difficult for some customers to pay their utility bills. The Plus 1 fund helps by providing emergency financial aid to customers who are having a temporary problem paying their utility bills. We continue to assist clients with utility assistance using these funds. Success Story In Social Worker’s own words: Client is a single Hispanic male residing in a sober home. Initially fount the Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) via rent and utility assistance in May 2020. He had employment income at intake. Client stated he got paid sporadically depending on the days he worked. He was also receiving SNAP benefits at the time. Client stated that he was working as an independent contractor and when he fell ill (issues requiring chemo and radiation, not COVID-19 related). As a result, he had to take some time off. When he returned to work, due to COVID-19 his services were no longer needed, and he lost his job. He entered into Self Sufficiency Case Management in June 2020 and began training with SkillPoint Alliance in their Plumbing Apprentice Certification Program. At that time Client had not worked since his diagnosis and was anxious to finish the certification program and get to work. On 6.22.2020 he passed his certification tests and began applying for jobs. Social Worker recommended he look at commercial employers since residential employers were not getting a lot of business due to COVID-19. On 7.9.2020 he told me that he had two opportunities for employment, but apparently they required an Occupational Driver’s license. He initiated a process of requesting permission from a judge to apply for an occupational driver’s license. He initiated the application but was told that it would “take a while for an appointment due to COVID-19”. 3  On 8.10.2020 he began working intermittently at day labor positions and short term gigs to save money as he was told he needed an SR22 to get the Occupational License (OL). He went to DPS to obtain the OL and was told that his Birth Certificate was not sufficient! He then had to order a new one online since the office was closed due to COVID-19. Throughout all this, he maintained sobriety. The NSU has assisted him with Bus Passes to get to work and Dr. appointments as well as Social Service appointments. He also received some rental assistance and was referred out to the RISE Program and other resources. He maintained communication and updated case manager regularly. On 10.26.2020 he reported that he will require hormone therapy and additional radiation but that he was working part time and paying some of his own rent. He has an appointment with DPS in December to reinstate his License. He is paying down his fines, etc…He is requesting an additional 31 day Bus Pass to continue transport to and from work and medical appointments. The good news is that he anticipates completing treatment in December, gaining his Driver's license and beginning work in January 2021. The client’s boundless hope and clear view of what he wants to do and how he will get there is infectious. He has maintained sobriety, worked whenever work was available during COVID-19, paid on his tickets, paid for his ID’s, court costs, some of his shelter, does not accept additional food resources from NSU and maintains communications with the two employers who offered him work. I am certain that he will get that license in December and begin work at the end of December or beginning of January. We will help him through the first 90 days any way that we can. We are now able to assist him with tools for his trade and will work on his budget and transitioning to his own apartment. 4