Item2a_CDC-MarchReport-2021 — original pdf

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Community Services Block Grant Programmatic/Financial Report March 9, 2021 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 Categories 2020 Contract Budget % of Total Cumulative Expenditures as of 1/31/21 Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total $693,764.20 $394,116.34 $14,225.46 $1,102,106 $734,358.76 $339,838.08 $8,175 $1,082,371.84 106% 86% 57.5% 98.2% 1 SRV 3O 4 4E 4E 5 5B 5D 4C 4C 4I 5A 5JJ 7A 7B 7D 7N Austin Public Health Report on PY20 Community Action Plan Transition Out of Poverty Goal Goal Achieved TOP Individuals who transitioned out of poverty 43 0 Success Rate% 0% 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 January 2020 FNPI Outcome Description Target #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % Housing Households who avoided eviction Households who avoided eviction (CARES ACT) 1200 385 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 Service Description Number Served #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % 50 50 0 19 2,617 385 40 6 385 38 385 0 19 Tax Preparation Programs Rent Payments Rent Payments (Cares Act) 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 1 Community Worker at the South Austin Neighborhood Center (SANC), 1 Social Worker for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and 1 Community Worker at the Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center. 100% 100% 2  2. CDC Nomination/Selection (Elections) Spring 2021 – Working with the Responsible Organizations to conduct these nomination/selection meetings to fill the Montopolis, Colony Park, St. John, Dove Springs, East Austin, Rosewood Zaragosa, South Austin and North Austin CDC Seats. We are coordinating with NHCD and the responsible organizations to facilitate the Nomination/Selection meetings. We are working with NHCD Staff to facilitate these elections in March and April. 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. Community Needs Assessment – Woollard Nichols & Associates has been hired to conduct the NSU Community Needs Assessment. They are here today to give a brief presentation. Community Needs Assessments are an integral part of a Subrecipient’s planning and are to be used to set the direction for their work. Section 676(b)(11), of the CSBG Act states “...an assurance that the State will secure from each eligible entity in the State…a community action plan…that includes a community needs assessment for the community served, which may be coordinated with community needs assessments conducted for other programs….” 5. 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. Through January we assisted 149 Households and processed $274,053.30 in rent assistance payments. 6. 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 For the Severe Winter Storm response, the NSU provided Social Services support at the Palmer Event Center/Shelter. During those two weeks, in collaboration with Travis County, Integral Care and Downtown Area Community Court, staff met with 233 households and discharged client’s to their self-determined discharge destination. The rides from capital metro to where 3 they were discharging to made all the difference! The NSU had 9 staff reassigned to this effort. In the words of one of the Travis County Lead Staff: “It was humbling and inspiring to watch the tireless work and contributions from everyone to support the Palmer guests. This assignment required tenaciousness, flexibility and creativity and all who participated on-site or behind the scenes brought these skills to effect a positive outcome. I appreciated the high level of coordination and collaboration between our social services and behavioral health staff. This approach allowed the response team to stabilize the guest and then productively engage in services and discharge planning. All should be very proud of their work and contributions to this disaster response. Now back to our originally scheduled disaster … COVID 19/The Pandemic.” 4