Item9-Travis County CSBG Needs Assessment Report 2024.final — original pdf

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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 (Basic Needs) 3) Employment 4) Health & Wellness 5) Income/Financial Additional identified needs include the following (in no particular order): • Help with lawn care and home repairs; • Access to water (especially in summer); • Addressing barriers to felony convictions (e.g. housing, employment, etc); • Transportation: help with transportation to and from various places including work, school, doctors' appointments, and grocery shopping; • Having access to resources when they are displaced out of county; • Assistance in paying for prescriptions; • Help getting IDs and assistance accessing other vital records; • Eviction prevention services; • Stipends while enrolled in job training programs; • Language accessible services; • Multidisciplinary spaces where multiple needs can be met at one time; • Skilled birth care facilities; • Harm reduction services for persons with substance use disorders; • Help receiving child support payments; • Access to capital for business development; 2  • Addressing the disruption of homeless camp sweeps; • Crisis mental health response support; • Parent/child communication support and assistance; • Access to affordable veterinary care, pet food, and resources for responsible pet ownership, especially for emotional support animals; and • Legal assistance and advocacy support: access to affordable legal assistance, advocacy for Social Security benefits, disability benefits, and immigration assistance. 3  Community Needs Assessment Results Overview The ranking of the needs is based on all the sources of data obtained during the assessment process. The rankings are provided below, as required by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. However, the community emphasized that these needs are closely interrelated. This interrelated aspect was also highlighted in the survey data. Though clients and residents ranked their top 5 needs in the order shown below, many clients and residents appeared more concerned with other needs. For example, the survey results among clients suggested emergency assistance needs would be ranked higher than housing needs. Furthermore, the ranking system is not an indication that needs ordered higher or lower on the table are less important but rather sheds light on the potential tradeoffs people with limited financial and time resources must make to survive. Needs Ranking Service Provider Survey Interviews Final Ranking Domain Emergency Assistance (Basic Needs) Housing Employment Childcare Assistance Health & Wellness Education Income/ Financial Other Needs Identified 2 3 7 5 6 4 Quantitative Data 1 Client survey 1 Resident Survey 5 2 1 4 6 5 7 3 2 3 6 4 7 5 1 3 6 2 7 4 5 1 6 3 4 7 2 Help with lawn care and home repairs; access to water (especially in summer); addressing barriers to felony convictions (e.g. housing, employment, etc); adequate transportation; having access to resources when they are displaced out of county; assistance in paying for prescriptions; help getting IDs and Transportation: help with transportation to and from various places including work, school, doctors' appointments, and groceries shopping; support for pets: Access to affordable veterinary care, pet food, and resources for responsible pet ownership, 2 1 3 6 4 7 5 4  especially for emotional support animals; legal and advocacy support: access to affordable legal assistance, advocacy for Social Security benefits, disability benefits, and immigration assistance. assistance accessing other vital records; eviction prevention services; access to stipends while enrolled in job training programs; language accessible services; more multidisciplinary spaces where multiple needs can be met at one time; skilled birth care facilities; harm reduction services; support addressing child support payments; access to capital for business development; addressing the disruption of camp sweeps for unhoused persons; legal assistance; crisis mental health response/de- escalation support; parent/child communication support and assistance 5  Introduction Background The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act requires “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.”1 In 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USHHS) issued Information Memorandum 49, requiring eligible entities to conduct needs assessments and use the results to design programs to meet community needs. CSBG regulations require that each eligible entity submit a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) for the area served. The CNA guides an annual action plan for the use of CSBG funds designed to meet community needs. In 2015, United States Health and Human Services (USHHS) issued Information Memorandum No. 138 establishing Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Organizational Standards (OS) requiring CAAs to conduct a Community Needs Assessment and develop a Community Action Plan to address the needs identified in the needs assessment. These standards set forth the expectations for the Community Needs Assessment including: ● ● Information must be collected directly from low-income individuals. Information must use information gathered from key sectors of the community, including community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, private sector, public sector, and educational institutions. ● Collects current poverty data and its prevalence related to gender, age, race/ethnicity ● Collects and analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data on the service area ● Includes key findings on the causes and conditions of poverty Organization Profile 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). Austin Public Health utilizes CSBG funding to support the work of its six (6) Neighborhood Centers and three (3) outreach sites. The Austin Community Development Commission is the designated CSBG community board and must approve the needs assessment plan and accept the final assessment. The CNA is anticipated to be formally accepted by the Austin Community Development Commission on June 11th, 2024. Community Profile The geographic area represented for this CNA is Travis County, Texas. As the county seat and largest city in Travis County (very small portions of Austin also extend into Hays and Williamson County), data trends in Austin generally reflect Travis County as a whole. In this report, data sets focusing on Austin data and trends are used when data specific to Travis County was unavailable. Unless otherwise specified, Travis County data refers to all of Travis County and not only the unincorporated areas of the county. 1 CSBG Statute Community Services Block Grant. June 29, 2012. The Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 - CSBG Only. 6  Community Needs Assessment Process Overview & Methodology Overview For the 2024 CNA, Austin Public Health contracted with Woollard Nichols Torres Consulting (WNT) to conduct the Community Needs Assessment. With guidance from Austin Public Health staff, WNT conducted surveys and interviews to engage the community and then compiled and analyzed this qualitative data along with other quantitative data sources to produce the Community Needs Assessment report. Austin Public Health provided oversight and guidance to WNT during the assessment process. Austin Public Health staff input included recommendations and support during the data collection process, reviewing the survey tools, linking the research team with key stakeholders in the community, making suggestions about the data collection plan, and translating the survey into Spanish in an effort to obtain more resident input. WNT also relied on feedback from the Community Development Commission (CDC) and City of Austin Neighborhood Center staff to determine the best methods for data collection. WNT also relied upon their network of community partners and connections to obtain community agency reports to help triangulate the quantitative data generated by the Community Action Partnership Data Hub and the qualitative data generated by the surveys and key informant interviews. Quantitative Data The quantitative data included in this Community Needs Assessment was obtained from the Community Action Partnership Data Hub as well as from secondary data sources. The Community Action Partnership Data Hub provided data and visualizations from the American Community Survey (ACS), US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), United States Census Bureau (U.S. Census), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Administration for Children & Families (ACF), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and Feeding America. Community Action Partnership Data Hub – Data Sources The ACS is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely social, economic, housing, and demographic data every year. The ACS has an annual sample size of about 3.5 million addresses, with survey information collected nearly every day of the year. Data are pooled across a calendar year to produce estimates for that year. As a result, ACS estimates reflect data that have been collected over time rather than a single point in time. Data represent estimates for the 3-year period 2017‐2021 and in some cases, one-year data from 2022. HUD is a department of the Federal Government enacted to secure affordable housing for all Americans. With numerous housing assistance programs available, HUD acts to support home ownership, access to affordable housing free from discrimination, and community development. The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States. It is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years. The census collects information about the age, sex, race, and ethnicity of people in the United States. The BLS is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision‐making. The ACF is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. ACF promotes the economic and social well‐being of families, children, individuals, and communities. 7  The NCES produces estimates of the percentage of adults lacking Basic Prose Literacy Skills (BPLS) for all states and counties in the United States in 2003 and 1992. Feeding America is the nation’s network of more than 200 food banks and the largest hunger‐relief charity in the United States. Each year, Feeding America secures and distributes three billion pounds of food and grocery products through 61,000 agencies nationwide. The agency network provides charitable food assistance to an estimated 37 million people in need annually. In addition to outreach, Feeding America works with other foundations to produce hunger studies to help combat hunger by learning about food insecurity at the local level. The mapped data provided by the Community Action Partnership Data Hub are summarized to 2010 census tract boundaries. Area estimates are developed by the U.S. Census and given as a value for each geographic area. Secondary Data Sources This assessment also incorporates secondary data sources from national, state, and local government organizations and community planning agencies. These secondary data sources provide additional quantitative data on key community needs including housing/homelessness; emergency assistance and navigation; transportation and mobility; early childhood education; workforce/education; and income/financial needs. See Appendix 5 for a bibliography of the data sources cited in this report. Methodology Most of the data are counts or percentages of counts. For example, for the housing cost burden information, population counts for household program participation and total household data are acquired from the U.S. Census. Area statistics are measured as a percentage of total occupied households based on the following formula: Percentage = [Population in Housing Type] / [Total Population] * 100. Qualitative Data The qualitative data for this Community Needs Assessment was obtained utilizing the SurveyMonkey platform and semi-structured interviews. The assessment aimed to capture the needs of low-income residents as well as client satisfaction with APH neighborhood center services. Methodology Three surveys were conducted to collect data from a variety of individuals invested in the community. The first was completed by clients receiving services from the Austin Public Health Neighborhood Centers (available in English and Spanish), the second by community residents (available in English and Spanish), and the third by representatives of agencies providing social services. The surveys were hosted on SurveyMonkey and were available online from February 5th through March 31st, 2024. The survey was open to all residents of Travis County. Survey outreach was geared toward agencies, organizations, and neighborhood associations who predominantly serve residents who are low- income. Survey outreach was 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. This assessment also targeted service providers who gave feedback about the 8  needs of residents, service gaps, barriers to service access, and suggestions for addressing these gaps and barriers. Project outreach efforts resulted in 410 total submitted online survey responses (303 English + 107 Spanish). In addition, a total of 270 paper surveys were completed by clients in-person with program staff at the City of Austin Neighborhood Centers and affiliated food distribution events (132 English + 138 Spanish), for a grand total of 680 survey responses received. The chart below summarizes the zip codes that were indicated by residents and clients while completing the survey. There are a total of 26 zip codes represented from across Travis County. Zip Code Location Spanish Speaking Total Zip Code Distribution of Survey Responses English Speaking 0 Cedar Creek Del Valle Manor Pflugerville Central Austin East Austin South Austin Far East Austin NE Austin NE Austin Far NE Austin Far East Austin/Eastern Travis County Far North Austin/Northern Travis County Far North Austin/Northern Travis County NW Austin SE Austin SE Austin South Austin SE Austin/SE Travis County Far South Austin/Southern Travis County North Austin 11 6 13 3 41 24 14 9 24 46 7 3 3 3 48 28 25 7 19 3 3 6 4 3 0 0 4 0 10 14 24 3 0 5 0 41 26 7 8 0 0 3 17 10 16 3 41 34 18 9 38 70 10 3 8 3 89 54 32 15 19 3 9 78612 78617 78653 78660 78701 78702 78704 78721 78722 78723 78724 78725 78727 78728 78731 78741 78744 78745 78747 78748 78751 78752 78753 78754 78758 Unknown or not indicated North Austin Far North Austin Far NE Austin/NE Travis County Far North Austin TOTAL 8 21 7 7 36 15 6 8 44 36 13 15 74 680 This assessment also included open-ended interviews with Community Development Commission members who were designated as key informants for the CNA. The purpose of these interviews was to gain further insight about the needs of low-income residents. The interview included questions about the top 5 needs, organizations addressing those needs, and barriers to accessing community resources . Key informants were selected due to their close contact and knowledge of the target population and were interviewed via phone or Zoom videoconference. In all, the team conducted 4 interviews with members of the Community Development Commission. Limitations This assessment was conducted via virtual and in-person data collection. Careful attention was paid to ensuring that survey respondents had the opportunity to participate in the survey via an electronic device or in person. The lack of capacity to translate the online survey into languages other than Spanish may have limited feedback in languages other than English and Spanish. 10  Overview of the Causes & Conditions of Poverty CSBG guidance requires Community Action Agencies to identify key findings of the causes (the factors causing and/or impacting poverty) and conditions of poverty (what poverty looks like/what the need looks like). Four primary regional data sources—the Community Advancement Network (CAN) Dashboard, United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline, the Central Health Demographic Report, and the Central Texas Assessment of Fair Housing—provide key insights about the causes and conditions of poverty in Travis County. CAN Dashboard The Community Advancement Network (CAN) is a partnership of 26 government and non-profit entities who work to leverage resources and align efforts to improve community well-being. The CAN dashboard provides an overview of the socio-economic well-being of Travis County. The report tracks 17 socio-economic indicators in four goal areas. The original CAN Dashboard report was created in 2010. The 2023 CAN Dashboard report provides an equity analysis which highlights several areas in which there are significant and persistent inequities between demographic groups.2 A summary of that analysis follows: Are we safe, just and engaged? The indicators selected to measure whether we are a community that is safe, just and engaged are the overall crime rate, whether people of different races are disproportionately booked into jail, and voting. Arrest disproportionality has been stubbornly persistent for Black residents of Travis County. While Black residents account for 8% of the total adult population in Travis County, 23% of all people booked into the Travis County jail are Black. A recent report by the Urban Institute and the Center for Policing Equity finds that Black motorists are four-times more likely to be arrested after being stopped by the Austin Police Department as White motorists. This problem is not unique to our community, and solving it will require collaborative action. Are our basic needs met? The poverty rate for all races and ethnicities has declined since the end of the Great Recession, however, disparities remain. Poverty rates for Travis County residents who are Black or Hispanic are about 2.5 times greater than the poverty rates for Whites. Less than one-tenth of White residents live below the poverty level, which is about $25,000 for a family with two adults and two children and $20,000 for a family with one adult and two children. The disparity for children is even greater. Nearly one-third of all Travis County children who are Hispanic or Black live in poverty. High rates of child poverty indicate this is an issue that requires greater support for families. People who are Black are over-represented in the local population experiencing homelessness. Although the Black population makes up 8% of the total Travis County population, 37% of the homeless population identify as Black, which indicates a high level of disproportionality (i.e., the rate of homelessness for Blacks is 4.6 times greater than what one would expect given racial/ethnic composition of Austin/Travis County). Are we healthy? Black residents are over-represented among those who smoke, those who are obese, and those reporting poor mental health. There are life and death consequence to these health disparities. According to Austin Public Health, Black residents also have the highest rates of cardiovascular 2 2023 CAN Dashboard Report. Online at https://dashboard.canatx.org. 11  disease and diabetes—diseases more prevalent among those who are overweight or obese. Health disparities by income are even greater than disparities by race or ethnicity for mental health, smoking, and those with no health insurance. In Travis County, 26% of all people under the age of 65 who are low-income have no health insurance. This is almost twice the rate overall. Hispanics are more likely to be uninsured than people of other races and ethnicities. According to the Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 23% of Hispanics under the age of 65 are uninsured. Much of the overall increase in the number of people who have health insurance is due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which is not available to people who are undocumented. Do we achieve our full potential? Educational disparities exist from kindergarten through college in Central Texas. Many children enter kindergarten already behind their peers. An estimated 38% of low-income kindergarteners were school ready in Central Texas, compared to 61% of children from moderate to high income households. This is significant considering the fact that 55% of children under the age of 5 are Black or Hispanic. The disparities in high school graduation rates are smaller than the disparities in college success. For the high school graduating Class of 2012, about 34% of Black students and 41% of Hispanic students who enrolled in a Texas college completed a post-secondary credential by 2018. The college success rates for Whites (63%) and Asians (73%) were much higher. Even though college success rates for Hispanic students are low, they have improved from 35% to 41% over the past five years. Since the end of the Great Recession, unemployment rates have fallen in Travis County for all races and ethnicities, however, disparities remain. The unemployment rate for Black residents is 7%, which is more than two-times the 3% unemployment rate for Asian residents. The unemployment rate for Hispanics is 5%, while for Whites it is 4%. United Way/2-1-1 Data 2-1-1 is the free, confidential, multilingual, 24/7 available support line for accessing community resources hosted by United Way for Greater Austin. For the past year that data is available (September 2022 – August 2023), calls to 2-1-1 from Travis County indicated the following needs:3: 3 United Way for Greater Austin (2024). 2-1-1 Requests and Needs Tableau website. Online at https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/success.by.6/viz/UnitedWayForGreaterAustin_211DataVizualization/TitlePage 12  # of calls % of calls Need Category Income Support and Employment Housing/Shelter Utilities Food Individual and Family Life Mental Health and Substance Use Health Care Criminal Justice and Legal Services Transportation Material Goods Information Services Tax Organizations and Services Disaster Services Education Environment and Public Health/Safety 40129 23463 10369 5076 3747 3604 3583 2967 1727 1596 1507 670 490 431 322 55.4% 32.4% 14.3% 7.0% 5.2% 5.0% 4.9% 4.1% 2.4% 2.2% 2.1% 0.9% 0.7% 0.6% 0.4% Within the above categories, the five highest needs were as follows: Top Travis County 2-1-1 Requests, Sept 2022 - Aug 2023 Food Stamps/SNAP Rent Payment Assistance Utility Service Payment Medicaid Food Pantries # of requests 23,789 11,652 9,805 7,719 4,149 3,489 Low- Income/Subsi dized Rental Housing 13 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0  Central Health Demographic Report Central Health, Travis County’s Healthcare District, publishes a demographic report to share how demographic and economic trends are impacting low-income residents of Travis County. The most recent report (2022) identifies the following key findings:4 • High cost of living and affordability is a regional issue that impacts Travis and surrounding counties; • Austin is the key regional access point for health care, affordable housing, public transportation, and social services; • Families in poverty are becoming more concentrated near the I-35 corridor;* • Access to care continues to be major barrier – regardless of proximity to care;* • Disease prevalence rates for the unhoused population are 1.5 to 2 times higher than the housed population; patient; • 40 percent of patients had at least one chronic condition – the overall average is 2.5 per • Health equity issues present most significantly in East Central Austin and among Black patients but demographic differences had more of an impact than geographic differences among the MAP and MAP Basic population. Central Texas Assessment of Fair Housing The Central Texas Assessment of Fair Housing (2018) is a joint report commissioned by cities, counties and housing authorities in Travis and Williamson Counties. The report informs jurisdictions about meaningful actions that can be taken to overcome historic patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice, and foster inclusive communities that are free from discrimination. The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, a planning process mandated for local governments and public housing agencies receiving funding from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), provides helpful context on the causes and conditions of poverty, given that the analysis of impediments to fair housing process includes examining patterns of residential segregation, discrimination, and other disparities that result in inequitable outcomes. The 2018 report cites three factors contributing to fair housing choices in the region: 1) ongoing regional challenges with housing segregation and integration; 2) disproportionate housing needs (differences in housing access among jurisdictions in the region as well as among race/ethnic demographic category); and 3) access to opportunity (good jobs and skill development, quality schools, healthy food and access to the outdoors, supportive services, and affordable transportation). Specific barriers to fair housing in the region include the following:5 ● City and county capacity for addressing fair housing challenges is limited. ● The harm caused by segregation is manifested in disproportionate housing needs and differences in economic opportunity. ● Affordable rental options in the region are increasingly limited. ● Stricter rental policies further limit options. ● Disparities in the ability to access homeownership. ● State regulations and zoning and land use limit housing choice. ● Educational inequities persist in the region. ● Public transportation access has not kept up with growth. 4 Central Health Demographic Graphic (2022). https://www.centralhealth.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/2022_Demographic_Report.pdf 5 Central Texas Assessment of Fair Housing (2019). Root Policy Research. 14  Based on the above data sources, the table below identifies the causes and conditions of poverty in Travis County. Key Causes and Conditions of Poverty in Travis County Key Causes of Poverty (factors causing and/or impacting poverty) High cost of living/lack of affordable housing Poor mental and physical health outcomes Poor educational outcomes Housing and employment discrimination Suburbanization of poverty Disproportionality in contact with the criminal justice system Racial and ethnic disparities Conditions of Poverty (what poverty looks like/what the need looks like) Hunger/food insecurity Housing insecurity and homelessness Poor housing conditions/overcrowding High rates of eviction and housing mobility Lack of transportation to access basic needs Geographic disparity of health and educational outcomes High rates of obesity and chronic disease Travis County Overview Between 2010-2020, the total population for Travis County grew by 26%, increasing from 1,024,183 persons in 2010 to 1,290,188 persons in 2020. In comparison, the population estimates for Texas grew by 16% and the populations estimates for the United States grew by 7%.6 These numbers suggest Travis County’s population has grown exponentially in the past 10 years. These population changes are likely to cause challenges, particularly in resource access such as in the areas of housing and transportation, as the county attempts to meet greater resource demands and respond to a greater variability of needs among residents. The CAN dashboard report provides some context to this population change. Though 66% of the population aged 65 or older is White, 44% of the child population is Hispanic.7 These numbers indicate the ethnic demographic of the population is shifting and suggest there has been an influx of people in Travis County who identify as Hispanic. The influx of Hispanic people suggest Travis County may also need to address cultural difference challenges, such as in language barriers and resident priorities, as the population becomes more diverse. There continues to be a disproportionate number of minorities, specifically Hispanic and Black people, who are living in poverty compared to White people and a higher number of females living in poverty than males. Demographics Gender and Age The female population comprises 49.3% while the male population represents 50.7%.8 The chart below illustrates there are more people in the 25-34 and 35-44 age ranges in Travis County compared to Texas and the United States and less people in the 65+ age range in Travis County (9.98%) compared to Texas (12.54%) and the United States (16.04%). 6 US Census Bureau, Decennial Census. 2020. 7 CAN (2022). CAN dashboard. 8 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2017-2021. 15  Race Travis County has more White residents (66.17%). There are smaller percentages of people who identify as Black (8.29%), Asian (7.07%), American Indian (0.74%), Native Hawaiian (0.04%), other races combined (8.79%), or mixed race (8.91%) residents.9 The chart below provides a total number of people who chose each racial category and compares the totals to the number of people who identify in each category throughout Texas and the United States.10 Hispanic Origin In 2023, Residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino number 841,396, or almost 34% of the Travis County population. This is less than the percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents in Texas (almost 40%), but much more than the percentage of Hispanic or Latino in the U.S. (18%).11 Between 2018 and 2022, the proportion of the Hispanic/Latino population in Travis County decreased slightly from 34% to 33%.12 9 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2017-2021. 10 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2024). Travis County, TX. 11 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2024). Travis County, TX. 12 Research and Planning Division. (2023). The 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) Travis County Snapshot Health and Human Services Department. Travis County. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/research- planning/snapshot. 16  Poverty The 2020 poverty estimates show a total of 139,416, or 11%, of persons living below the poverty level (100% of the federal poverty income guidelines) in Travis County.13 At this level, a single person is earning $13,465 and a family of four, with two children, is earning $26,246. One in four (25%) of Travis County residents are living below 200% of the federal poverty income guidelines (see image to the right).14 At this level, a single person is earning approximately $26,929 and a family of four, with two children, is earning $52,492. Poverty by Gender 13U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019. 14 Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division (June 2022). Travis County Poverty Brief: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2011-2015 & 2016-2020. 17  There are more females (12%) than males (10%) in poverty in Travis County.15 These numbers appear to be decreasing as there is a reduction in the number of males (-24%) and females (-21%) that were reported to be below the poverty threshold in 2016-2020 compared to 2011-2015 (see image below).16 However, these numbers indicate the decrease is lower for females. Poverty by Age In 2016-2020, young adults 18-24 years old experienced the highest rates of poverty with near half (47%) living under 200% of the poverty threshold (see image below).17 Most young adults (61%) below 200% of poverty were enrolled in post-secondary school, suggesting this condition is temporary and a condition of secondary education enrollment. The second most vulnerable group was children with more than 1 in 3 (32%) of residents under 18 years old living below 200% of the poverty threshold.18 15 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019. 16 Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division (April 2021). Travis County Poverty Brief: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2010-2014 & 2015-2019. 17 Ibid. 18 Ibid. 18  The Residents living below 200% of Poverty Threshold by Age chart provides context about the changes in poverty levels among age groups.19 There appears to be a decreasing number of people experiencing 200% of the poverty threshold among most groups between 2011-2015 and 2016- 2020. However, there is a smaller decrease among 25-64 years old (15%) and under 18 years old (22%) than among 18-24 years old (26%). There is a noted increase among 65+ years old (28%) in the number of people living in poverty. 19 Ibid. 19  Poverty by Race and Ethnicity There are substantially more people who identify as Hispanic or Latino living in poverty (16.4%) than people who identify as not Hispanic or Latino (8.6%). The chart shows that this trend is similar for Texas and the United States .20 All groups, with the exception of the smallest populations, saw a decrease in their poverty rate from 2011-2015 to 2016-2020 (see image below).21 The poverty rate for this group increased from 16% between 2011-2015 to 18% between 2016-2020.22 The group with the largest decrease in poverty rates was the Hispanic or Latino group which saw a decrease from 26% to 16% between 2011- 2015 and 2016-2020. 20 Community Action Partnership Report (2022). Travis County, TX. 21 Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division (April 2021). Travis County Poverty Brief: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2010-2014 & 2015-2019. 22 Ibid. 20  21 Poverty Rate below 200% FPL In 2022, 22% of individuals were living in households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This indicator is relevant because poverty creates barriers to access including health services, healthy food, and other necessities that contribute to poor health status.23 Since 2018, the percentage of residents living at or below 200% of poverty in Travis County has decreased from 27% to 22%. From 2018 to 2022, Travis County experienced a 22% increase in the number of residents living above 500% of the poverty threshold and a 12% decrease in the number of residents living below 200% of the poverty threshold. 23 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019.  Households in Poverty In 2021, it is estimated that there were 53,985 or 10.5%, households living in poverty within Travis County.24 This map shows that many areas in the eastern portion of Travis County are experiencing statistically significant declines in the number and percentage of people living below 200% of poverty. For the areas experiencing percentage decrease only (yellow) what is typically occurring is that the population of those living above 200% of poverty is increasing which makes the percentage of those under 200% decline. 24 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2017-2021. 22  Families in Poverty by Family Type According to ACS 2017‐2021 5-year estimates, there were 22,104 families living in poverty. There were more single-parent families (12,930) living in poverty than married-couple families (9,174). There were also a greater number of female householder families (10,828) living in poverty than male householder families (2,102). These trends are the same for Texas and the United States. The number of families in poverty by type is shown in the chart below.25 It is estimated that 7.5% of all households were living in poverty within Travis County, compared to the national average of 8.9%. Of the households in poverty, female headed households represented 25 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2021). Travis County, TX. 23  49% of all households in poverty compared to households headed by males (9.5%) and married couples (41.5%).26 The image below shows that poverty rates for all family types declined between 2011-2015 and 2016-2020.27 In 2016-2020, married-couple families and male householder families with children had poverty rates of 5% and 12% respectively, while female householder families with children had the highest poverty rate of all family types, at 30%.28 26 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019. 27 Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division (April 2021). Travis County Poverty Brief: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2010-2014 & 2015-2019. 28 Ibid. 24  Child Poverty Rate According to the American Community Survey 5-year data, an average of 13.9% of children lived in poverty in Travis County.29 To see how this rate compares to Texas and the United States, see the chart below.30 29 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019. 30 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2021). Travis County, TX. 25  Median Income by Family Type The ACS data from 2017 to 2021 illustrate how the median income for some family types has adjusted over the years.31 All family types income have increased from 2017 to 2021, however the female and male householder family percentage change is shown as not statistically significant. The table below shows the female householder, no spouse with children family type has a lower median income than all other family types. 31 Travis County (2021). American Community Survey Snapshot Data. 26  Crime In 2015-2017, the three-year total of reported violent crimes, which include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated result, in Travis County was 14,162 which is an annual rate of 373.60 crimes per 100,000 people. These rates are lower than the national average (416.00) and state average (428.50) per 100,000 people.32 However between 2014-2016, the two-year total of property crimes reported by law enforcement, which include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, was higher in Travis County per 100,000 residents at a crime rate of 3,346.7 compared to the national average of 2,466.1 and state average of 2,878.6 per 100,000 people. The average annual property crimes reported in Travis County between 2014 and 2016 was 39,399 property crimes.33 32 Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Uniform Crime Reports. Accessed via the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. 2015-2017. 33 Ibid. 27  28  Community Strengths and Assets Austin/Travis County has a long history of collaboration and engagement to address community needs. Specific collaborations, community plans, and other current initiatives are listed below. Housing • In 2017, the Austin City Council adopted the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint. The City Council set a Blueprint goal calling for the creation of 60,000 units by April 2027. The Blueprint is anticipated to be updated in 2024-2025. • The Austin Housing Coalition brings together low-income housing providers from across the community to network and share information with the goal of increasing the supply of low-income housing. • HousingWorks Austin works to increase the supply of affordable housing in Austin through research, education, and advocacy. They have developed an analysis of affordable housing challenges and opportunities for each City Council district. • The Central Texas Fair Housing Assessment was published in 2021. The assessment is a regional effort of cities, counties and housing authorities in Williamson and Travis County. • Project Connect is Austin’s plan to expand the local public transit system. More rail and bus options in Austin will help people to get to their jobs, schools, and families. However, improvements that come with new transportation infrastructure can also lead to an increase in the cost of living. This can make Austin even more unaffordable to those who live here. Voters approved $7 billion for Project Connect in November 2020. Proposition A (Web) included $300 million for anti-displacement work. This funding will help affordable areas remain affordable to the people who want to stay. Investments will focus on preventing displacement in vulnerable areas near transit lines. • The Austin Community Foundation (ACF) created a five-year strategic plan in February 2020 that focuses on mobilizing resources to address Austin’s affordable housing challenges. By February 2024, they have invested $4 million in two projects that will result in 300 units of new affordable housing. 100 for individuals transitioning out of homelessness and 200 for adults with intellectual disabilities • ECHO and LifeWorks led the effort to develop the Plan for Ending Youth Homelessness in Austin/Travis County. It outlines key projects and resources needed to meet the housing and support services that the youth require. • ECHO published Austin’s Action Plan to End Homelessness, which proposes areas of investing that can help ensure homelessness in rare, brief, and non-recurring for adults, youth, and families in our community. There was a 56% reduction in unsheltered homelessness among young adults aged 18-24 in 2019. • • The Best Single Source Plus Program provides comprehensive case management and direct financial assistance to eligible individuals and families in the Austin/Travis County area. The program’s primary purpose is to establish housing stability and to both prevent and end homelessness. In March 2024, the Austin City Council approved $50 million in housing funds that will create more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, hundreds of which will serve as permanent supportive housing for people who are currently homeless. In 2023, Travis County agreed to loan approximately $110 million to non-profits that are building deeply affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. Over 2,000 new affordable units will be built through the Supportive Housing Initiative Pipeline partners. • 29  Emergency Assistance • In 2023, the Transit Empowerment Fund partnered with Capital Metro to pilot a program to determine the need for free bus passes for low-income and individuals who are unhoused. The pilot provided free bus passes to local nonprofits serving low-income and unhoused populations. The pilot resulted in 3,080,077 rides taken and 93,355 passes utilized • Between 2021 and 2024, the local Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board has distributed $3,586,240.50 to Travis County serving organizations for food and emergency shelter. In 2022, Keep Austin Fed rescued over one million pounds of food with a value of $2,027,952 in partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank. In the 2023/2024 school year Austin Independent School District is providing free breakfast and lunch for all students at 74 of the 116 schools in the district. • • • The City of Austin utility, Austin Energy offers four programs to assist low-income households: 1) CAP utility bill discounts. 2) Financial Support Plus 1 emergency fund to help pay utility bills, 3) Services for the medically vulnerable, and 4) weatherization assistance. In FY23, the CAP discount program had 57,501 participants, a 75 percent increase from the beginning of the fiscal year. • The Central Texas Food Bank partners with nearly 300 organizations across Central Texas • The City of Austin’s Food System Portal provides information/resources for growing, to provide emergency food assistance. selling, eating, and composting food. • Through Fresh for Less, the City of Austin partners with the Sustainable Food Center, Farmshare Austin and Go Austin! Vamos Austin! to offer fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. The program seeks to expand availability of Farm Stands, Mobile Markets and Healthy Corner Stores. • Capital Metro approved the Long-Term Vision for Project Connect to guide efforts to improve existing transit services and develop new, high-capacity public transportation projects. • The Austin Transportation Department shares information about addressing congestion and promoting sustainable transportation. • The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan is a comprehensive multimodal transportation that presents the policies needed to guide Austin and the actions necessary to achieve Austin community’s common goals. • United Way for Greater Austin has developed a plan for its 2-Gen Initiative aimed at ending the cycle of poverty by focusing on overarching systems change, educational success, social capital, health and well-being, and financial security. Integral Care’s program, Families With Voices, uses a case management approach to address the unique needs of families living in Manor, Texas. • • The Austin/Travis County Food Plan will be the community’s first comprehensive food system plan. The food planning process was made possible through a close partnership between the City of Austin and Travis County. In June 2021, Austin City Council passed a resolution directing the development of a five-year food plan for Austin-Travis County. In December 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to formally join the planning process to ensure the plan would be inclusive of all Travis County residents. The plan is anticipated to be approved by Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioner’s Court in 2024. Over 3,000 local residents were engaged in the planning process. 30  Health and Wellness • In 2022, Central Health, Travis County’s Hospital District provided 152,453 residents with health services, a 4% year over year average; the network included 228 provider locations a 12% increase from the previous year. Twenty-four new providers were added to the network including opioid treatment, primary care, and specialty providers. • Austin Public Health is one of the few health departments that is participating in the future of preparedness for future pandemics through the University of Texas's Center for Implementation in Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modelling: Multi-Scale Outbreak Decision Support Tools in conjunction with Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS). APH initiated and supports the Children's Mental Health, Opioid Crisis Response, the Trauma Recovery Center, and Diversion Center planning. ; APH continues to convene and support the Travis County Healthcare Collaborative work towards the creation of a county-wide care coordination and data-sharing platform. • Since 2014, Prosper Health Coverage, a program of Foundation Communities, has helped over 45,000 Texans enroll in affordable health insurance plans and use those plans to prevent medical debt and have good health. This is a free service available to individuals and families in Texas regardless of income level, preferred language, immigration status, education background. The team of federally-certified Navigators help clients simplify health coverage and healthcare by reviewing available plan options (Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, or other plans), helping clients enroll in a plan that meets their needs and budget • EnrollATX is a partnership between Central Health, United Way 211, and other community partners that helps people in Central Texas understand health coverage options and enroll in health plans. • The Austin Business Group on Health, an initiative of the Mayor’s Health and Fitness Council, is a community-driven organization dedicated to promoting health and well-being in the workplace while fostering collaboration and innovation among businesses in the Austin area. They provide educational and networking opportunities for Austin area employers who want to support the health and well-being of their employees. .The Medical Assistance Program, MAP is s a health coverage program for uninsured Travis County residents with low income. As of January 1, 2024, there are 32,100 individuals enrolled in the MAP program. For individuals not eligible for MAP, MAP Basic, provides access to a doctor, dentist and medicines, but has a more limited level of services. There are 51.3 thousand individuals enrolled in MAP Basic. • • • The City of Austin sponsored Breathe with Pride Coalition was formed in 2020 to focus on tobacco use prevention in the LGBTQ2IA+ community In February 2022, the Black Men’s Health Clinic was established. In FY23, they had 6,701 patient encounters, 770 screening appointments and 63 MAP enrollments. • Live Tobacco-Free Austin is a program of Austin Public Health, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Program. They promote tobacco cessation resources, support prevention efforts, and help create tobacco-free environments through multi-unit housing and workplace- tobacco policies. Integral Care, Travis County’s Local Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority, provides high quality mental health care and works collaboratively to strengthen programs and systems and raise awareness of mental health issues in our community. • Kids Living Well is a collaboration of experienced professionals promoting the behavioral health of children and youth. Kids Living Well oversees the Travis County Children's Mental Health Plan. 31  • The St. David’s Foundation provides more than $80 million in funding each year to support community health and well-being. Their mission is to o advance health equity in Central Texas through investment and action. • United Way in partnership with Austin Public Health provides clinical staff and expertise for Family Connects Texas which is a voluntary, nurse home visiting program offered to every family with newborn infants in Travis County to give babies the best possible start in life. Family Connects Texas is designed to support every family after the birth of a newborn. A registered nurse contacts a family within the first couple of weeks after a baby’s birth to share in the joy of a new baby and respond to their immediate needs for support and guidance. Nurses are also able to provide warm referrals to community resources. Employment • What began as Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s (WFSCA) Austin Metro Area Master Community Workforce Plan has evolved to become Austin’s Hire Local Plan. This plan broadens the original Community Workforce Plan to 1) increase skilled local talent while better defining the region’s capacity for training, 2) improve income for local people by creating an affordability index, and 3) grow payrolls for local businesses. Within the larger plan are industry specific sub-plans in the areas of health care, information technology, skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, and the mobility sector. • The Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative is a local effort focused on reengaging youth between ages 16 and 24 who are not in school or not working. • The Austin Two Generation Advisory Council, co-facilitated by United Way for Greater Austin and the Ray Marshall Center, includes partners from across the community who connect high quality early childhood education with training opportunities for low-income parents. The Committee helped launch a pilot program with AISD at the Uphaus Early Childhood Center, and crafted a two-generation vision for Austin. • Career ACCelerator is a partnership between Austin Community College (ACC) and Capital IDEA to help low-income adults build skills to succeed in tech careers. ACC provides self- paced training and stackable credentials. Capital IDEA offers financial assistance for tuition, books, and childcare. Education • United Way is working with over 60 organizations to develop the third iteration of the Success by 6 Strategic Plan. The 5-year plan outlines strategies for our community to work toward the common goal of helping all children enter school ready to learn. In 2022-2023 United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) invested $7,030,876 to fund education efforts. • Early Matters Greater Austin (EMGA) is an alliance of current and retired business professionals focused on the critical relationship between access to high-quality early education and our State’s long-term economic success. Formed by the United Way of Greater Austin and E3 Alliance to mobilize and unite the business community around preparing children for school success, EMGA published the Family Friendly Workplace Toolkit which is designed to help employers explore the benefits of family-friendly workplaces, assess current business practices, identify opportunities for potential change, and connect employees with local family resources. • Central Texas College Attainment Network (CenTxCAN) is a network of 15 community- based organizations that leverage their collective expertise to remove systemic barriers to post-secondary credentials so that every student can reach their highest potential. Members included are Austin Community College, Austin Partners in Education, Breakthrough Central Texas, College Possible, Capital IDEA, , Con Mi MADRE, E3Alliance, Hispanic Scholarship Consortium, Huston-Tillotson University, Foundation Communities, KIPP 32  Austin, PelotonU, St. Edwards University, Texas State University, and United Way Greater Austin. • Austin Community College's Early College High School (ECHS) Program enables high school students to earn an associate degree (or up to 60 college credits) before earning their high school diplomas, free of charge. Participating high schools include Akins, Colorado River Collegiate Academy, Crockett, Del Valle, Elgin, Harmony, LBJ, Manor, Navarro, Northeast, Round Rock, and Travis. In March 2024, Austin Community College announced the launch of the ACC Free Tuition pilot program which eliminates the cost of tuition and general fees at Austin Community College. It starts with the class of 2024 and will continue over the next five years for future classes of high school graduates and GED completers who live in the ACC service area. Students with ACC Free Tuition can also apply for scholarships, grants, and loans for everyday expenses, like housing, groceries, and transportation. • • Austin Voices for Education and Youth mobilizes the community to improve public education and expand opportunities for students and families. We work in partnership with community leaders, young people, parents, and educators to build successful schools and strong neighborhoods. In 2023 they worked with AISD families to assist with housing, food, and other basic needs. • Literacy First deploys early literacy intervention via two models: Literacy First hires and trains AmeriCorps members dedicating a year of service to the community, and Literacy First trains school district staff (full-time tutors and instructional coaches) to deliver the Literacy First program, with the goal of building community capacity over time. Literacy First tutors work one-to-one with every student for 20-30 minutes daily, using research- based curriculum to develop skills that predict reading success – phonological awareness, letter knowledge, phonics, and oral reading fluency. Childcare • United Way of Greater Austin’s Success by Six program is a coalition of over 60 community organizations that share a commitment to supporting the optimal development of children in Travis County. One goal of this program is to ensure that children and families are able to access high-quality care and education. • Since 2015, Austin ISD has partnered with childcare centers to provide high-quality pre-K in • community settings. In 2019, the AISD board vot4ed to authorize an innovative management organization led by United Way that will formalize this work and serve as the start of a shared-services alliance. Jeannette Watson Wage Supplement Project funded by the City of Austin, Travis County, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area is a program that helps early educators afford to keep working in a field where wages aren’t commensurate with other professional positions. • The Quality Childcare Collaborative (QC3) managed by Workforce Solutions of the Capital Area is an intensive mentor-driven program that provides free mentoring and training, technical assistance, referrals, and resources to help provider in our community achieve a quality ranking. In FY 20, 157 providers were Texas Rising Star (TRS) certified and 1,284 providers and teachers were trained and mentored. • Greater Austin Shared Services Alliance for Early Learning targets business supports for high-quality childcare centers which allows family-based childcare homes to access coaching and resources to support licensing and quality accreditation. • The City of Austin Early Childhood Council is a Council-appointed advisory group that explores and develops recommendations to City Council in a variety of areas related to ensuring quality early care and education for Austin’s children. 33  • The Easterseals Central Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program serves babies and toddlers, aged birth to 36 months, with developmental delays or disabilities. Easterseals’ staff of early childhood specialists, therapists, social workers, and other professionals work in homes, childcare facilities, and other community settings to conduct evaluations and provide services to children and their families. Service coordination with other agencies is provided at no cost and is an essential component for integrating services around family-centered goals. • Partnerships for Children supports children, youth, and families involved with Child Protective Services. The Partnerships for Children Rainbow Room, located in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices, stocks everything from toiletries to clothing to car seats. With the donations they receive through the generosity of caring individuals, companies, and organizations, they’re able to serve more than 650 children every month. Income/Financial • Austin Public Health Neighborhood Services Unit partners with the AARP Foundation to provide free in-person tax preparation assistance to the community by IRS-certified volunteers to help those who need clarification or support on the new tax laws and additions. • Foundation Communities has created Prosper Centers which provide college financial aid • • • application assistance, financial wellness courses and tax assistance. Over the course of the twenty years the tax assistance has been provided more than 313,000 tax returns have been filed, and more than $520 million in tax refunds returned to clients. In 2022, RAISE Texas created, tested, and launched the Financial Coaching with a Cultural Lens curriculum through a grant from the Texas Financial Education Endowment. This curriculum was created on coalition feedback and research showing the need to supplement financial coaching training with core competencies in financial education along with cultural competence and an understanding of the racial wealth divide. In partnership with the Texas Fair Lending Alliance, RAISE Texas conducted a statewide survey of small dollar loan options that are available to Texans with no credit and/or lower credit scores. See the extensive list here. As a companion resource for consumers, RAISE Texas created Better Options When You Need Cash Now, in English and Spanish. These resources have been shared with Texas legislators to demonstrate the availability of affordable, safe loans up to $2,500 with interest rates that do not exceed 36%. In September 2022, the City of Austin piloted a guaranteed income program. UpTogether and ten community-based partners enrolled 135 households to receive $1,000 monthly for one year. Participation in the program was not without regard to each individual’s circumstances. To be eligible for the Program, applicants were required to satisfy the following qualifications: live within the City of Austin; have a household income at or below 60 percent of the area median family income; and be at least 18 years old. Additionally, participants met at least one of the following criteria: moving from homelessness toward permanent housing; have a filed eviction; behind on rent for two or more months over the past year; their household received a verbal or written notice of intent to evict OR a threat to vacate by their landlord or property manager. Based on the success of the pilot, the City of Austin included $1.3 million in the FY23/24 budget. COVID-19 and 2021 Winter Storm Uri Response • To address the COVID-19 pandemic, the Austin Community Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin partnered to create All Together ATX which raised $7.7 million and 34  • • • distributed funding to more than 210 local organizations. This community-led philanthropic fund provided flexible resources to nonprofit organizations working with communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the pandemic. In 2021, the Austin Community Foundation is also partnering with the St. David’s Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin to grant $415,000 towards improving COVID-19 vaccine confidence and equitable access among Black, Latino, Indigenous, people of color, and other groups that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The 19 local organizations selected to receive grants have deep connections in the community and a plan for increasing vaccination rates for underserved, unserved, disconnected, and rural populations in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. In 2021, the Austin Community Foundation distributed $300,000 in grant funding for select nonprofits providing recovery efforts in response to Winter Storm Uri. ACF selected twelve organizations for Uri grants based on the type of on-the-ground work they are doing to support the economic security of individuals and families in Central Texas, especially people of color who had been disproportionately impacted by multiple crises over the past 12 months. In 2022, the City of Austin awarded a contract to Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA) to The contract will support the development of a cooperative and/or non-profit grocery store in an underserved area of Austin. It will incorporate organizing, cooperative, or nonprofit development, business feasibility analysis, and pilot store planning and implementation. GAVA will address inequity in the availability of healthy food options in the Eastern Crescent by exploring the organizing and piloting of a community-owned grocery store. 35  Inventory of Travis County Community Resources Community Resources by Need Type Emergency Assistance Neighborhood Center Partners Other Community Resources • Austin Diaper Bank • Austin Tenant’s Council • Catholic Charities of Central Texas • Central Texas Food Bank • Easter Seals of Central Texas • Farmshare Austin • HEB • Keep Austin Fed • Recycled Blessings • Sprouts • St. John Episcopal Church • Transit Empowerment Fund • Travis County Health and Human Services • Wheatsville Food Coop • WIC Abiding Love Lutheran Church; Austin Cornerstone Church Food Pantry; Austin Neighborhood Center Locations (Rosewood Zaragosa, South Austin, St. John Community Center, East Austin, Montopolis, & Blackland); Bannockburn Baptist Church; Bethany Faith Food Pantry; Bread For All; Christian Life Church; Church of Christ Hyde Park; Circle of Hope Community Center; Circle of Hope St. Johns Community Center; Covenant Food Pantry; Cristo Rey SVDP; Dolores Catholic Church; Dorcas Passion Ministries; Eastside Community Connection; El Buen Samaritano; Foundation Communities; Front Steps; Hope Food Pantry; Hope Lutheran Church; Lake Travis Crisis Ministries; Lyons Gardens; Micah 6 of Austin; Mision Cristiana Intl/LIDS; Mission Accomplished; Mission Possible Austin; Olivet Helping Hand Center; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church; People’s Center for Women’s Health; People’s Community Clinic; Round Rock Area Serving Center; Salvation Army Shelter; Salvation Army; Trinity Center; Society of St. Vincent de Paul; South Austin Church of Nazarene; St. Andrews Presbyterian; St. Austin’s SVDP; St. Edwards’s Baptist Church; St. Ignatius Catholic Church; St. Ignatius Catholic Church; Street Youth Ministries; SVDP-Diocesan Council; The Store House; Travis Heights Food Pantry; Trinity Center; University Presbyterian Church; Vivent Health; Welcome Table; Westover Hills Church of Christ; Zion Baptist 36 Health & Wellness • American Heart Association • Austin Travis County Integral Care • Bluebonnet Trails • Center for Child Protection • Central Health Community Care • Communities for Recovery • Easter Seals Central Texas • Family Eldercare • • OSAR • Texas Department of State Health Services – Public Health Region 7 Integrated Care Collaboration • Texas RX Card • Travis County Health and Human Services • University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing AGE of Central Texas; Alzheimer’s Association; Any Baby Can; ASHwell; Asian Family Support Services; Austin Asian Community Health Initiative; Austin Center for Independent Living (ARCIL); Austin Child Guidance Center; Austin Clubhouse; Austin Recovery Network; Austin Speech Labs; Austin Travis County Integral Care; Blue Cross, Blue Shield; Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas; Capital Area Counseling; Austin Recovery Network; Center for Health Empowerment; Center for Survivors of Torture; Children’s Wellness Center; Community Women’s Wellness Center; Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services; Drive a Senior ATX; Family Eldercare; Foundation Communities; Health Alliance for Austin Musicians; HealthStart Foundation; Healthy Futures of Texas; Insure-A-Kid; Integral Care; Integrated Care Collaboration; Jewish Family Service of Austin; Kind Clinic; Lone Star Association of Charitable Clinics; Lone Star Circle of Care; Manos de Cristo; Marathon Kids; Meals on Wheels Central Texas; MedSavers Pharmacy; NAMI Central Texas; People’s Community Clinic; Planned Parenthood; Regarding Cancer; Ronald McDonald House Charities; RSVP Senior Corps; Alzheimer’s Texas; SafeKids; Samaritan Center; Sendero; Senior Access; Seton; Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation; SIMS Foundation; Sobering Center; St. David’s Foundation; Texas Health Alliance; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; The Care Communities; The Christi Center; United Healthcare; United Way for Greater Austin; University of Texas at Austin; Vivent Health; Volunteer Healthcare Clinic; Waterloo Counseling Center; We Are Those People; YMCA Senior Programs; YWCA for Greater Austin 37 Employment Housing American Youthworks; Austin Area Urban League, Inc; Austin Clubhouse; Austin Travis County Integral Care-Developmental Disabilities Services Division; Capital IDEA; Community Tech Network; Easter Seals Central Texas Inc; Goodwill; Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHHS); Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS); The City of Austin-Parks and Recreation Department Senior Programs and Services; Travis County Criminal Justice Planning and Comprehensive Workforce Development Program; WIA Youth Services • Austin Careers Institute • Austin Community College • Austin Public Libraries • Caritas Supported Employment • Central Texas Allied Health • City of Austin Employment Services • City of Austin Human Resources Department DeWitty Job Training and Employment Center • COA Offender Workforce Development • Dress for Success • Goodwill Career and Technical Academy • HACA Employment Services • Skillpoint Alliance • Vocational Rehabilitation Services • Workforce Solutions Capital Area • Zollege • Alpha House • Blackland Community Development Corporation • Brightside Sober Home • Children’s Home Initiative • City of Austin Housing Department • DeHoff House • Foundation Communities • Housing Smarts Accessible Housing Austin; Austin Habitat for Humanity; Austin Tenants’ Council; Caritas of Austin; Casa Marianella; East Austin Conservancy; Ending Community Homelessness Organization (ECHO); Family Eldercare; Foundation for the Homeless; Foundation Communities; Front Steps; Green Doors; HousingWorks Austin; ICC Austin; Lifeworks; Local Community Development Corporations; Mary Lee Foundation; Permanent Supportive Housing Programs; Project Transitions; Rebuilding Together; SAFE Alliance; Salvation Army; St. George’s Senior Housing, Inc. 38  American Youthworks; Any Baby Can; Austin Kids Can!; Austin Partners in Education; BookSpring; Breakthrough Central Texas Capital IDEA; Communities in Schools of Central Texas; Community Tech Network; Con Mi Madre, Foundation Communities; Goodwill Industries of Central Texas; Hispanic College Consortium; Huston Tillotson University; La Fuente Learning Center; Lifeworks; ACE: A Community for Education; Literacy Coalition; Literacy First; Open Door Preschools; Peerbagh; PeletonU; Texas Folklife; Texas Partnership for Out of School Time • Oxford Houses • Pro Lodges • Project Transitions • Reliable Comfort Care • South Austin Marketplace • St. Louise House • ARCIL • Austin Alliance for Economic Inclusion • Austin Community College • Austin Free Net • Austin Voices for Education and • Bank of America-Better Money Youth Habits • COA Housing and Planning - Financial Fitness • Earn and Learn • FDIC Financial Education • Money Smarts • Prospect Center • St. Vincent De Paul - Pay Day Loan Reversal Program • Workforce Solutions • Child, Inc. • Workforce Solutions Childcare Assistance Any Baby Can; Austin Kids Can!; El Buen Samaritano; Open Door Preschools; Sammy’s House; Texas Partnership for Out of School Time; Todos Juntos Learning Center; YMCA of Austin, United Way for Greater Austin 39 Education Income/Financial • Catholic Charities • El Buen Samaritano Jail/Prison Reentry Austin HousingWorks; El Buen Samaritano; Financial Health Pathways; Foundation Communities; RAISE Texas; Texas Appleseed, Foundation Communities Prosper Centers A New Entry, Inc.; Bastrop County Cares; Black Men’s Health Clinic; Building Promise USA (BPUSA); Capital Area Private Defender Service; Choice and Chance Center For Change; Cities4Peace; Community Coalition for Health; Dove Springs Proud; Downtown Austin Community Court; Jail to Jobs; Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance; On-Point Re-Entry Consortium; Recovery ATX; Santa Maria Hostel, Inc.; TCCJS; Texas Diva of Real Estate; Texas Inmate Families Association; The Excel Center; The Other Ones Foundation; Travis County Juvenile Probation Department; Travis County Public Defender-Mental Health Division; Travis County Public Defender's Office; Travis County Sheriff's Office 40  Gaps in Services and Barriers CSBG guidance requires that Community Action Agencies outline the gaps in services and barriers facing the community that they serve. Gaps in services and barriers were identified primarily from key informant interviews and the service provider survey. An overall gap identified both by service providers and key informants was lack of knowledge about available programs and services that might provide support. This was also supported by the high number of survey respondents that identified “help finding resources in the community” as a specific need. Additional identified gaps identified fell into specific categories: Transportation: • Lack of reliable public transportation. • Difficulty accessing medical facilities and essential services due to transportation barriers. • Challenges for individuals in obtaining IDs and accessing resources post-release from incarceration. Housing: status. Healthcare: • Lack of affordable housing options. • Risk of eviction and homelessness. • Families of special needs children at risk of losing housing, exacerbated by immigration • Limited access to healthcare services beyond basic coverage. • Long wait times for medical appointments. • Difficulty accessing medications and vaccinations. Employment and Economic Support: • Barriers to employment for undocumented individuals. • Financial assistance needed for utilities, rent, and basic necessities. • Challenges in accessing capital for business development. Documentation and Legal Assistance: • Difficulty obtaining lost or stolen documents like IDs and birth certificates. • Need for legal assistance in navigating various services and rights. • Language barriers and lack of language-accessible services. In addition, it is important to note that many clients and residents experience multiple barriers. In their survey responses, service providers discussed the complexity of the barriers and gaps in services that Travis County residents face when seeking assistance: • Many of my clients… do not have adequate transportation, and there are not enough bus stops within walking distance of their home that would be safe or practical to use. Therefore, they often feel landlocked/stuck, and cannot access the resources they need. They also struggle to access food sources. • Health insurance beyond MAP which is very limited and takes a long time to get appointments. Reliable public transportation. Our CapMetro is slooowww [sic] and has not done a great job at expanding into the newer areas of Austin like McKinney Falls. Our transportation services 41  are wanting in Austin. Elderly or sick that need transportation to medical facilities have VERY few options. • Eviction, Access to Clinics/Vaccinations, Vaccination Records, Transportation to Medical Appointments or School! The displacement has moved youth farther and farther from their original schools and they struggle to get there. They are being bused back in Austin. • Our biggest need is Case management. A lot of the women we serve are also looking for case managers that can help them navigate all the resources available in the greater Austin area. some other resources that has been brought to our attention are legal services and welfare assistance. • Housing continues to be a significant issue especially with population that may be employed and re entering with criminal and or credit history unable to find housing options. 42  Top Needs & Trends in Travis County by Domain The needs identified in this CNA are highlighted in this section in order of their greatest concern or need. Each section includes both qualitative and quantitative data to verify and outline trends related to the need. A detailed overview of the results of the client, resident, and service provider survey as well as a summary of the key informant interviews are included in the Appendices. HOUSING My house is maybe 10 yrs old and falling apart my back and side yard flood every rain. -Client Survey I’m about to get evicted. I need help. -Client Survey (Need) housing for people who have been involved with criminal justice system, we have the money to rent a place because we are both employed but cannot find a place that will overlook husband's most recent charges. -Resident Survey Quantitative Findings Similar to previous needs assessments, housing continues to be a major concern for Travis County residents. Survey data indicates that the current housing needs in Travis County are both acute (as evidenced by 41% of English-speaking clients, 50% of Spanish-speaking clients, and 39% of residents reporting needing help paying rent) and chronic (as evidenced by 29% of English speaking clients, 18% of Spanish-speaking survey respondents, and 50% of residents citing housing that I can afford as a need). In Travis County, 47% (277,075) of housing units are renter-occupied and 53% (309,061) are owner-occupied,34 lower than the state average of 64%35 and the national average of 65%36, but up from 48% in 2021.37 While the Austin/Travis County housing market has cooled somewhat in 2024,38 several years of post-pandemic expansion has left the region continuing to experience housing affordability challenges. 34 Research and Planning Division. (2023). The 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) Travis County Snapshot Health and Human Services Department. Travis County. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/research- planning/snapshot. 35 U.S. Census Bureau, Homeownership Rate for Texas [TXHOWN], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TXHOWN, March 21, 2024. 36 U.S. Census Bureau, Homeownership Rate in the United States [RSAHORUSQ156S], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RSAHORUSQ156S, March 21, 2024. 37 Travis County (2019). American Community Survey Snapshot Data. 38 According to the Freddie Mac House Price Index, home prices in 2024 have fallen more than 11% since peaking in 2022, the biggest drop of any metro area in the country. 43 Contract Rents In 2022, the median contract rent in Travis County ($1,468) was higher than Texas ($1,117) and the U.S. ($1,128).39 In 2022, most rental units (78%) had rents between $1,000 and $2,500. Only 13% of rental units had rents below $1,000.40 39 Research and Planning Division. (2023). The 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) Travis County Snapshot Health and Human Services Department. Travis County. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/research- planning/snapshot. 40 Ibid. 44 Home Prices Similarly, owner-occupied home prices in Travis County have generally continued to increase over the past five years. Since 2018, owner-occupied housing units have increased by 23% (57,419). Compared to 2018, owner-occupied housing units valued above $300,000 have increased by 25% in 2022 with the largest gains (+133%) in housing units valued between $500,000-$999,999. In 2022, 86% of Travis County owner-occupied homes were valued at or above $300,000. Only 7% (20,709) of Travis County owner-occupied homes were valued under $200,000, and 7% (22,167) were valued between $200,000 and $299,999.41 Housing Affordability and Housing Cost Burden According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is a shortage of rental homes affordable and available to extremely low income households (those whose incomes are at or below the poverty guideline or 30% AMI) across Texas. Many of these households are severely cost burdened, spending more than half of their income on housing. Severely cost burdened poor households are more likely than other renters to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food and healthcare to pay the rent, and to experience unstable housing situations like evictions. When 30% or more of income is spent on housing costs it is considered a "housing‐cost burden." The 2022 American Communities Survey shows that 23% of renter households in Travis County are cost-burdened, spending 30-49.9% of their income on housing costs, and 22% of renter households are severely cost burdened, spending 50% or more of income on housing costs).42 A lower 41 Research and Planning Division. (2023). The 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) Travis County Snapshot Health and Human Services Department. Travis County. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/research- planning/snapshot. 42 Ibid. 45  proportion of Travis County homeowners, 12%, are cost burdened and 10% of Travis County homeowners are severely cost burdened. The 2022 Travis County Snapshot reports that although the number of households experiencing a cost burden has increased for both renters and owners, the rate of households experiencing a cost burden within each group has not statistically changed.43 Homelessness The most recent 2023 Point-in-Time count was performed on January 28th, 2023. The 2023 count identified 2,374 persons experiencing homelessness including 1,266 people sleeping unsheltered and 1,108 people in shelters or transitional housing. The chart below shows trends in the point in time count since 2017, with a slight decrease in the number of total unhoused persons counted in 2023, and an increase in the number of persons sleeping in shelters or transitional housing since 2020.44 43 Ibid. 44 2023 Point-in-Time Count Public Presentation. Austin Ending Community Homeless Coalition (ECHO) (May 2023). 46  The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is committed to ensuring housing is a human right for everyone who lives in our community. ECHO reports that more people exited homelessness to permanent housing in 2022 than in any other year, and that the homelessness response system’s capacity to house people in permanent supportive housing has increased 59% since 2019 and 14% between 2022 and 2023. About 1,000 new site-based PSH units are anticipated to be available by the end of the year 2025, with approximately one quarter to one third of these units coming online in 2023.45 Qualitative Findings English-speaking clients ranked Housing as their second-ranked need. English-speaking clients reported help with utility bills (50.6%) followed by help paying rent (40.7%) as the greatest housing needs followed by housing that I can afford (28.8%). Spanish-speaking clients also ranked Housing as their second-ranked need. Spanish-speaking clients reported help paying rent (49.8%), followed by help with utility bills (41.2%) and housing that I can afford (17.6%). Residents ranked Housing as their top-ranked need. Residents reported help with utility bills (61.1%) followed by housing that I can afford (50%), and help paying rent (38.9%) and help to make my home more energy efficient (38.9%). Service providers mentioned housing needs mostly in the context of a shortage of affordable housing and high cost of living but also referred to the need for more shelter for persons experiencing homelessness, and the need for eviction and displacement prevention counseling and other legal support related to housing. They also highlighted specific housing needs of 45 Ibid. 47  undocumented immigrants, persons with behavioral health needs, and persons with criminal backgrounds. Key informants referenced housing as a clear and persistent community need. In particular, key informants highlighted the need for mixed income housing communities, creating new affordable housing and preserving existing affordable housing, emergency rental assistance, home repair, shelter and permanent housing for unhoused persons, and options for aging seniors to remain in their own homes (e.g. community land trusts). One key informant cited that the root cause of the housing problem in their community was physical and cultural gentrification and displacement. Another key informant noted that demand for City home repair programs exceeds supply. Other comments included: • How do homeless persons access services? (key stakeholder shared a map with specific locations where unhoused persons are congregating in their area) • People want to know how the new housing plan [Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment” (HOME) Initiative] may impact the district. We do see a lot of opportunities for mixed income – how to make that more attractive for those that may be averse to it. • Demand for home repair programs • The City [needs to improve) preserving current affordable housing especially in our neighborhood. There is natural affordable houses where people own their homes, they are small landlords and we need to preserve that. 48  EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (BASIC NEEDS) Transportation is a big hindrance. I'm not as young as I used to be and buses are super time- consuming and includes lots of walking. Often in dangerous weather conditions. -Client Survey Transportation is a big issue. Some live in areas where the only transportation available is Metro Access but they may not qualify. I have clients that live in Manor, Pflugerville subdivisions where the only transportation available is by car and they can't afford a Lyft or Uber and Capital Pickup is very limited. -Service Provider Survey We receive no government help or fodd [sic] stamp (SNAP) so the central mobile food pantry has been a great help and a blessing to my family. -Client Survey Both qualitative and quantitative data support that the community need for Emergency Assistance/Basic Needs is a close second to housing. Travis County is generally performing similarly or worse than the national average though better than the state average in some emergency assistance indicators, such as the number of qualifying public school students for free or reduced lunches, the percentage of people experiencing food insecurity, the number of low-income population with low food access, and the number of people who are uninsured. There is a reported need for greater access to basic needs, specifically food, and transportation. There is also a reported need to help residents find resources in the community. Quantitative Findings Transportation In the 2022 Austin/Travis County Community Health Assessment (CHA), transportation emerged as a barrier for conducting day-to-day activities such as getting groceries, going to school, and going to the doctor. In 2019, an estimated 60% of Travis County residents spent <30 minutes commuting, around one-third (33%) spent 30-60 minutes commuting and 7% spent over an hour commuting. Community members and leaders described several barriers to using public transit and limited public transportation and medical or senior transit options in rural areas. Senior community members noted that medical ride services were limited and made for long and exhausting travel. 46 Capital Metro is the public transportation provider. Since the pandemic, Capital Metro has seen a significant increase in ridership. In May 2020, the Capital Metro Board voted to provide free fares for all K-12 students. In addition, from April 2023-October 2023 Capital Metro partnered with the Transit Empowerment Fund to conduct a pilot program that provided free bus passes to local social service organizations that served low-income individuals. This pilot has been continued with 46 Austin Public Health. 2022 Austin/Travis County Community Health Assessment, Research and Planning Division. (2022). https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Health/ATC_2022%20CHA_FINAL_Executive%20Summary.pdf 49  Capital Metro providing free passes to organizations serving individuals who are homeless and the Transit Empowerment Fund providing free or deeply discounted passes to individuals who are at or below 150% of poverty. Overall, there has been a 14.8 percent increase in rides over the last 12 months. However, there continues to be significant transportation gaps for individuals who are outside the Capital Metro service area and individuals who live more than one mile from a bus stop. Food Access Free and Reduced Lunch Program Free or reduced-price lunches are served to qualifying students in families with income between under 185% (reduced price) or under 130% (free lunch) of the U.S. federal poverty threshold as part of the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Out of 188,972 total public school students in Travis County, 93,521 were eligible for the free or reduced price lunch program in 2020-2021. This represents 49.5% of public school students, which is lower than the state average of 60.6%.47 See chart below for a comparison of this rate to the rates of Texas and the United States.48 47 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2021). Travis County, TX. 48 Ibid. 50  Low Income and Low Food Access This indicator reports the percentage of the low income population with low food access. Low food access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store. The chart below shows that 18.52% of the low‐ income population in the report area have low food access.49 Food Insecurity & SNAP Access Food insecurity is the household‐level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. In 2021, 14% of Travis County residents were food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.50 A contributor to food insecurity is the ability to access SNAP benefits in a timely manner. According to the non-profit Every Texan, 36 percent of Texas SNAP applications are experiencing delays, some lasting up to six months, surpassing the federal mandate of less than 5 percent. 51 49 Ibid. 50 City of Austin, 2022. State of the Food System Report. Available: https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Sustainability/Food/2022%20State%20of%20the%20Food%20S ystem%20Report/SotFS%202022%20-%20FINAL%20(Smaller).pdf 51 Every Texan (2024). “Too many Texans can't get Medicaid and SNAP, despite being eligible.” https://everytexan.org/tracking-texas-medicaid-snap-delays/ 51  While there are 687 establishments that accept SNAP (as of 2022),52 47% of Travis County residents were income eligible for SNAP but not enrolled as of 2021.53 As shown in Figure 2, Eastern and northwest Travis County have a more limited number of SNAP-authorized retail outlets compared to the concentrations of households receiving SNAP benefits in those areas. However, access to online retailers that accept SNAP benefits has increased equitable access to home delivery and curbside pickup options.54 As shown in Figure 1, food retail outlets are unevenly distributed geographically in Travis County. As of 2022, 18 out of 47 zip codes in Travis County lack a grocery store.55 Food Retail Outlets Accepting SNAP Compared to SNAP Subscribers Health Insurance Coverage Texas is one of few states that opted not to expand Medicaid under the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA anticipated the expansion of Medicaid to cover all people who live below 138% of the federal poverty level, or $ $28,869 for a single person in 2024.56 This has left our state with a health coverage gap which includes those who make too much to be eligible for Medicaid or too little to afford health insurance, either on the open market or through the 52 USDA Food and Nutrition Service as cited in the Central Texas Food System Dashboard. Available: https://www.centraltxfoodsystem.org/the-dashboard 53 City of Austin, 2022. State of the Food System Report. Available: https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Sustainability/Food/2022%20State%20of%20the%20Food%20S ystem%20Report/SotFS%202022%20-%20FINAL%20(Smaller).pdf 54 Central Texas Food Bank, Central Texas Food System Dashboard. Available: https://www.centraltxfoodsystem.org/the- dashboard 55 City of Austin, 2022. State of the Food System Report. Available: https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Sustainability/Food/2022%20State%20of%20the%20Food%20S ystem%20Report/SotFS%202022%20-%20FINAL%20(Smaller).pdf 56 Garfield, R., Orega, K., & Damico, A. (2019). The coverage gap: Uninsured poor adults in states that do not expand Medicaid. San Francisco, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/the-coverage-gap- uninsured-poor-adults-in-states-that-do-not-expand-medicaid/ 52  Affordable Care Act.57 In Texas, it is estimated that more 1.2 million individuals are stuck in this healthcare gap.58 Uninsured Population The uninsured population is calculated by estimating the number of persons eligible for insurance (generally those under 65) minus the estimated number of insured persons. In Travis County, more than 149,000 or 16.99% of persons are uninsured. This rate is higher than the national average and lower than the state average.59 The chart below provides a comparison to Texas and the United States.60 While the percentage of uninsured in Travis County decreased during COVID, the percentage of individuals who are uninsured has started to rise again, 57 Waller, A. R. (2018). Texas still hasn’t expanded Medicaid. That’s leaving a gap in coverage for hundreds of thousands. Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/17/what-medicaid-coverage-gap-means-texans-without-health- insurance/ 58 Ibid. 59 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. 2015-2019. 60 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2021). Travis County, TX. 53  Qualitative Findings English-speaking and Spanish-speaking clients reported Emergency Assistance to be their top- ranked need, with food as their most cited specific need (with 82% and 88.6%, respectively). Clients’ next reported need was help finding resources in the community (English-speaking clients: 42%; Spanish-speaking clients: 30.6%), followed by transportation (English-speaking clients: 29.3%; Spanish-speaking clients: 22.0%), and health insurance/medical care (English-speaking clients: 23.0%; Spanish-speaking clients: 28.2%). Residents reported Emergency Assistance as their fifth-ranked need, with food as their primary basic need (55.6%), followed by help finding resources in the community (50%), health insurance/medical care (38.9%), and transportation (50%). Service providers generally referred to emergency assistance needs in the context of transportation and food (including the need for access to fresher and healthier foods in food distribution programs). Additionally, service providers mentioned the need for accessing ID and other documentation, prescription assistance, clothing, baby needs, and more multidisciplinary spaces where multiple needs can be met at one time. Key informants highlighted some emergency assistance needs including transportation/mobility including more bike paths as well as access to basic needs (food, clothing). In general though, key informants ranked emergency assistance/basic needs somewhat lower than survey respondents and service providers, behind income/financial needs, childcare assistance, and health & wellness needs. 54  HEALTH AND WELLNESS I desperately need help fixing my teeth. I got out of an abusive relationship but unfortunately still have half of my front teeth broken out. I don't look presentable or hireable, it makes me afraid to speak to anyone, my depression is severe as a result. It's so humiliating. I'm only 38. -Client Survey I am recovering from an eating disorder I need special counciling [sic] in this particular field. -Client Survey Experiences with MCOT or other mental health services have not been responsive and has cause many escalations for mental health crisis for our clients and staff. -Service Provider Survey Quantitative Findings Physical Health Outcomes The leading causes of death in Travis County in 2020 were heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, and COVID-19. Life expectancy in Travis County and surrounding areas ranges from 68.6 years to 88.9 years and is highest in northern and western census tracts.61 In 2018, 16.2% of Travis County adults reported fair or poor health.62 About one-fifth (22.4%) of Travis County residents have been diagnosed with diabetes. From 2011 to 2019, a higher percentage of Hispanic/Latino residents and those aged 65 and over reported being diagnosed with diabetes compared to their counterparts. In 2017, the heart disease and stroke mortality rate in Travis County (121.6 and 28.8 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively) was lower than that in Texas (163.4 and 39.0 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively).63 According to Austin Public Health, tobacco is not only the leading cause of preventable death in Austin/Travis County, but causes more deaths in Austin/Travis County than “AIDS, crack, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, car crashes, fire, suicide, and murder – combined.”64 In 2017, an estimated 11.1% of adults in Travis County reported that they are current smokers, with a greater percentage of men (13.4%) reporting being current smokers compared to women (8.7%).65 61Austin Public Health. 2022 Austin/Travis County Community Health Assessment, Research and Planning Division. (2022). https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Health/ATC_2022%20CHA_FINAL_Executive%20Summary.pdf 62 Ibid. 63 Ibid. 64 Live Tobacco Free Austin. (n.d.). Facts and tools. https://www.livetobaccofreeaustin.org/facts-and-tools/ 65 Center for Health Statistics (CHS). Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Dates. Austin, Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services, 2017. 55  One in five Travis County adults are obese and more than one-third are overweight.66 The prevalence of overweight or obesity among adults in Travis County has remained fairly constant at about 58% from 2011 to 2015. The rates of obesity are lower in Travis County as compared to Texas (21.9% vs. 31.0% respectively), and the prevalence of being overweight in Travis County is similar to that of Texas (36.1% vs. 35.7%, respectively (BRFSS, 2011-2015).67 Continuing a consistent trend, Travis County adults are more active than adults across the state. According to the 2018 County Health Rankings data for the period of 2004 - 2014, Travis County adults were more physically active than adults across the state. Sixteen percent (16%) of Travis County adults age 20 and over reported no leisure-time physical activity compared to 24% of adults for the state of Texas. This has been a trend for the previous ten-year period.68 Behavioral Health Outcomes Post pandemic, there are increasing community challenges related to behavioral health. Travis County suicide mortality in 2014 was the highest in ten years. Austin experienced 132 suicides in 2015. During the ten-year period between 2005 and 2014, 1,207 deaths by suicide occurred in Travis County, with 2014 having the highest yearly suicide rate. Suicide deaths among children and youth has continued to increase, as indicated in the charts below.69 66 Austin Public Health. 2022 Austin/Travis County Community Health Assessment, Research and Planning Division. (2022). 67 Ibid. 68 Ibid. 69 Travis County Medical Examiner report https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/medical_examiner/docs/2022_Annual_Report.pdf 56  57 As the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA), Integral Care provides a crisis hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis. The chart below reflects the number of people who call Integral Care’s 24/7 Helpline or the 9-8-8 National Suicide Hotline for help with a crisis involving a Travis County child or youth.70 They have seen an increasing number of calls. 70 Kids Living Well (2024). https://kidslivingwell.org/data/.  Substance use overdoses and deaths continue to increase. According to Travis County Medical Examiner data released in April 2023, there were a total of 245 fentanyl-related accidental overdoses in 2022. Meanwhile, the number of fentanyl-related overdoses more than doubled from 2021 to 2022. Currently, fentanyl-related overdose deaths are up 108% in the county. 71 Qualitative Findings English-speaking clients ranked Heath & Wellness as their fourth-ranked overall need. English- speaking clients reported healthy eating classes or other support (31.1%) as their highest health and wellness need followed by programs and activities for seniors (28.8%) and mental health counseling or classes (24.5%). Spanish-speaking clients also ranked Heath & Wellness as their fourth-ranked overall need. Spanish-speaking clients also reported healthy eating classes or other support as their highest need (28.6%), followed by mental health counseling or classes (11.4%) and help living with major health conditions (e.g., diabetes) (11.0%). Residents ranked Heath & Wellness as their second-ranked overall need. They reported programs and activities to keep youth and adults from reentering jail or prison (55.6%) as their number one health and wellness need, followed by mental health counseling or classes (50%), programs and activities for seniors (50%), and assistance for elderly and disabled and persons with chronic health conditions to maintain independence (50%). 71 Travis County Medical Examiner report https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/medical_examiner/docs/2022_Annual_Report.pdf 58  Service providers included the following health and wellness needs: proper mental health diagnoses, health insurance beyond MAP, assistance in paying for prescriptions, access to clinics and vaccinations, transportation to medical appointments, skilled birthing care facilities, pediatric mental and behavioral health care, and improved community mental health crisis response. Key informants referenced many health and wellness needs in the community, including healthcare affordability, healthcare access, behavioral health needs, and public health and safety. One key informant highlighted the need for more outreach regarding City health resources: Our district has good health resources but need a way to access city resources. Need more communication in the area about the neighborhood centers and how people can access them. 59  EMPLOYMENT Every body have job opening in their building how ever you apply and they don't call you, you don't get a chance to get a job I want to work but is so hard to get one. -Client Survey [Clients need] stipends while training for a trade. Need money to survive while being trained. -Service Provider Survey Quantitative Findings The biggest employment challenge faced by Travis County is the persistent mismatch between job seekers and job openings. Labor market demand exceeds the supply of job seekers. In addition, the skills present among job seekers often do not match the skills that employers need. The map below illustrates the Travis County Workforce Development resources, which also highlights the need for greater resources in some areas.72 72 Travis County TX (2020). Travis County Workforce Development Resource Map. 60  Employment Opportunities The following images illustrate different employment sectors and how employment has shifted over the past four years. The number of small businesses that were open increased by 8.8% between January 2020 and February 2022.73 Unemployment Over the past three years, unemployment in Travis County has significantly decreased, although levels are still slightly higher than pre-COVID levels in February 2020. Specifically, unemployment increased slightly from 2.5% in February 2020 to 3.6% in February 2024 with the largest spike in April 2020 at 11.8%.74 As the chart shows below, the unemployment rate for Travis County as of November 2023 was 3%. 73 Opportunity Insights (2024). Austin, TX: Percent Change in Number of Small Businesses Open. 74 Historical Unemployment Rates chart, Workforce Development Area Profiles - Texas LMI 61  The graph below highlights the unemployment trends over the past four years, illustrating the increase in unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic and the general decrease in unemployment in the following years.75 75 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). BLS Data Viewer: Unemployment Rate: Travis County, TX (U). 62  Employment Change The graph below highlights the changes in employment over the past 12 months and suggests employment is currently increasing in Austin, faster than at the national rate.76 Specifically, Travis County employment rate has increased 2.5 percent since 2023 compared to the National 0.4% increase.77 The industry sectors that employe the largest number of residents are Professional and Business Services, Education and Health Services, Trade, Transportation and Utilities, and Leisure and Hospitality.78 The largest number of job postings are in Health Care and Social Assistance, followed by Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services.79 The image below illustrates the change in employment since January 2020 for workers by type of wage earned (middle wage, and low wage). 80 In Travis County, the employment rates for low wage workers have decreased by 29.7% compared to middle wage workers at 21.6% between January 2020 and January 2024. Data is no longer being collected for high wage. 76 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). Austin, Texas Current Employment Statistics. 77 Labor Force Statistics, February 2024, Workforce Development Area Profiles - Texas LMI 78 Employment by Industry, (3rd Quarter 2023, Percent Change), Workforce Development Area Profiles - Texas LMI 79 Job Postings by Industry, March 2024, Labor Market Insights — Workforce Solutions Capital Area (wfscapitalarea.com) 80 Opportunity Insights (2024). Travis County: Percent Change in Employment. 63  64  Employment Wages The image below provides information about hourly wages for selected occupations in Austin compared to national wages. Compared to 2022, Austin’s average weekly wage has decreased by $18. However, even with this decrease, Austin has an average weekly wage ($1,692) which is greater than both Texas ($1,335) and national ($1,334) averages.81 Wages in Austin are lower than national wages.82 The wage differences are as low as $0.72 for cooks, fast food occupations and as high as $4.82 for construction laborers. Qualitative Findings Both English- and Spanish-speaking clients ranked Employment as their third-ranked overall need, with, help finding a job with a living wage as their highest employment-related need (26.6% and 42.9%, respectively) followed by help with job skills and/or job training to earn better wages (23.0% and 19.1%, respectively) and childcare so that parent can go to work (9.6% and 19.1%, respectively). Residents also ranked Employment as their third-ranked overall need. Residents reported help with job skills and/or job training to earn better wages and childcare so that parents can go to work as their highest employment needs (both 38.9%), followed by help finding a job with a living wage (27.8%). Service providers mentioned the following employment needs: need for vocational and skills training, employment for undocumented persons, and reducing employment barriers for persons with criminal backgrounds. Two key informants referred to employment needs—one mentioned the need for small business development and one mentioned the need for guaranteed income programs. 81 Average Weekly Wage (3rd Quarter 2023), Workforce Development Area Profiles - Texas LMI 82 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020). Austin, Texas Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. 65  EDUCATION I am almost completely finished with my bachelors degree, but I have maxed out on federal loans! -Client Survey I want to learn Spanish. -Client Survey Undocumented families [need] safe access to computer and email skills …language support, language skills. -Service Provider Quantitative Findings COVID-19 Impact: Child Educational Challenges The COVID-19 pandemic caused some educational challenges for children, as many had to adjust to completing schoolwork at home, although things seemed to have improved. One indicator for the challenges associated with home school is the image below, which illustrates the percent change in student math progress between January 2020 and March 2024.83 There was a 16.8% decrease in student progress in online math coursework which is much better than the 93.3% decrease in student progress in 2021. 83 Opportunity Insights (2024). Travis County: Percent Change in Student Math Progress. 66  Child Educational Attainment In 2019, 48% children who enter kindergarten were school-ready and 38% of children from families with low income who entered kindergarten were school-ready. In 2022, 22% of eligible three-year-old children were enrolled in public pre-K in Travis County school districts or other higher-quality early education settings, and 60% of eligible four-year-old children were enrolled in full-day public pre-K in Travis County school districts.84 The CAN dashboard report shows that in 2019, 50% of kindergarteners were school ready and in 2020 91% of Central Texas students graduated from high school in four years. The CAN dashboard also provides insight into the problem via economic status: “The greatest disparity in school readiness occurs by income. An estimated 38% of low-income kindergarteners were school ready in 2019, compared to 61% of children from moderate to high-income families. This is significant considering the fact that, “of children under the age of 5 living in households with incomes below the federal poverty level, 72% were Hispanic, while 15% were Black.” Disparities in high school graduation rates are smaller than disparities in college success. For the high school graduating class of 2015, about 37% of Black students and 44% of Hispanic students completed a post-secondary credential within six years. The college success rates for Whites (64%) and Asians (78%) were much higher.”85 The graphs below are from the CAN Dashboard.86 The one on the left highlights the differences among low income and non-low income children who are school ready. The one on the 84 Success by 6 Coalition Austin/Travis County Coalition (2023). Strategic Plan 2019-2023, A 2,000 Day Journey: Day 365 Update. 85 CAN (2024). CAN dashboard. 86 Ibid. 67  right illustrates the high school graduation and college success rates among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White children. Adult Educational Attainment Educational Attainment shows the distribution of the highest level of education achieved in Travis County. This indicator helps schools and businesses understand the needs of adults, whether it be workforce training or the ability to develop science, technology, engineering, and mathematics opportunities. Educational attainment is calculated for persons over 25 and is an estimated average for the period from 2017 to 2021. For Travis County, 33% have at least a college bachelor’s degree, while 15.7% stopped their formal educational attainment after high school. 68  Adult Literacy The Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIACC) estimates for adult literacy based on educational attainment, poverty, and other factors in each county. In Travis County, 20.5% of persons over 16 years old are lacking literacy skills. The chart below shows that the percent lacking literacy skills is lower in Travis County than in Texas and the United States.87 Qualitative Findings Surveys English-speaking clients ranked Education as their last-ranked overall need. They reported Computer Skills Training (26.1%) as their top educational need, followed by help to attend trade or technical school or college (19.7%) and Adult Education or Night School (11.3%). Spanish-speaking clients ranked Education as their sixth-ranked overall need. They articulated different educational needs, with English as a Second Language Classes as their top need (49.4%), followed by Adult Education or Night School (14.7%), extra educational support for children (reading, math, etc) (11.9%) and childcare so that parent/guardian can go to school (11.9%). Residents also ranked Education as their last-ranked overall need. Residents reported help to attend trade or technical school or college as a top need (44.4%) followed by Computer Skills Training (38.9%) and Adult Education or Night School (21.3%), extra educational support for children (reading, math, etc) (33.3%) and childcare so that parent/guardian can go to school (33.3%). Service providers mentioned the following educational needs: literacy skills, computer and email skills training, language support and skills, life skills, and vocational training. 87 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2021). Travis County, TX. 69  Interviews In general, key informants ranked educational needs relatively low. However, key informants mentioned several needs that intersect with education including a lack of internet and computer equipment, improving language access, and the need to share information and materials about programming at lower reading levels and utilizing culturally relevant outreach methods. CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE After School activities/ sports for children, big brother/ big sister / mentors for troubled or at risk youth…. [Opportunities] for small children to build self esteem, learn about responsibilities & budgeting , learn to be independent & problem solvers, to teach them about the important things in life such as financial, housing, employment stability, to teach the children the value of a dollar & the difference between the wants & needs. -Client Survey Quantitative Findings Childcare The cost of high-quality infant care ranges from $15,000 per year on Austin’s east side to $20,000 on the city’s west side. In Travis County, 45% of programs serving children from households with low income are high quality.34 In 2022, 60% full-day early care and education centers were rated Texas Rising Star 4-Star or higher and served children ages 0-5 from families with low income and 62% of children ages 0-5 from families with low income were in early care and education centers rated Texas Rising Star 4-Star or higher.88 Enrollment Age 3‐4 This indicator reports the percentage of the population age 3‐4 that is enrolled in school. This indicator helps identify places where pre‐school opportunities are either abundant or lacking in the educational system. The chart below shows that in Travis County, 51.87% of children ages 3-4 are enrolled in school.89 Children from families with low income who attend Pre-K are more than twice as likely to be school ready; 1 in 4 potential students are served by Austin ISD Pre-K3.90 Travis County has a higher percentage of children ages 3-4 enrolled in schools and a lower enrollment in Head Start programs than the national or state averages. 88 Success by 6 Coalition Austin/Travis County Coalition (2020). Strategic Plan 2019-2023, A 2,000 Day Journey: Day 365 Update. 89 Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2021). Travis County, TX. 90 Success by 6 (2019). Strategic Plan 2019-2023. 70  Head Start Head Start is a program designed to help children from birth to age five who come from families at or below poverty level. The program’s goal is to help children become ready for kindergarten while also providing the needed requirements to thrive, including health care and food support. This indicator reports the number and rate of Head Start program facilities per 10,000 children under age 5. Head Start facility data is acquired from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2022 Head Start locator. Population data is from the 2010 US Decennial Census. The chart below shows that Travis County has a total of 44 Head Start programs with a rate of 5.81 per 10,000 children under 5 years old.91 Qualitative Findings English-speaking clients ranked child care assistance as their sixth-ranked need. They reported help with high quality childcare you can afford or childcare tuition assistance as their top need in the category (10.8%) followed by high quality childcare close to home or work (9.6%). Spanish-speaking clients ranked child care assistance as their fifth-ranked need, with high quality childcare close to home or work as their top need (12.7%) followed by high quality childcare you can afford or childcare tuition assistance (9.8%). Residents ranked childcare assistance as their sixth-ranked need, and reported high quality childcare you can afford or childcare tuition assistance as their top childcare need (33.3%) followed by high quality childcare without waitlists (27.8%). One service provider mentioned the need for childcare. Key informants ranked childcare as a relatively high need behind only housing and income/financial needs. One key informant noted that 91Ibid. 71  childcare in Austin/Travis County is extremely expensive and families must make tough decisions on spending their paycheck on rent or childcare. INCOME/FINANCIAL NEEDS How to learn about buying a house and what resources are there on getting or steps to take and what life insurance is best for me and my family. -Client Survey Need help building credit. -Client Survey [Need] support addressing child support payments and access to capital for business development. -Service Provider Survey Quantitative Findings Income/financial needs were included as a separate category in this year’s CNA. The 2023 Nation’s Report Card on Financial Literacy92 sounds the alarm about significant need for financial literacy and other financial health needs for Americans, citing the following statistics: savings or pension; • As of April 2022, one quarter of non-retired Americans indicate they have no retirement • • As of 2022, the average American household has $101,915 of debt; • As of 2023, Americans owe $1.11 trillion in credit card debt; • As of 2022, only 68% of Americans could cover an unexpected $400 expense using cash • or its equivalent; • As of July 2023, experts estimate that households that were able to build up excess • savings during the pandemic will exhaust them by the third quarter of this year; • As of January 2021, 14% of Americans say they wiped out their emergency savings since • the start of the pandemic, and one in three Americans have decreased or stopped their • retirement savings altogether; • As of January 2023, 45%of Americans say their household financial situation worsened • • Household debt sits at a total of $17.13 trillion (as of 2023); and • Total student loan debt in the U.S. reached a record high of $1.595 trillion in 2021—an since the pandemic; increase of about $25.4 billion since 2020. 92 The Nation’s Report Card on Financial Literacy, 2023. Developed by David A. Pickler, Esq., CFP®, Cassie Lynn Foote, and Cameron Spann. Online at https://www.thenationsreportcard.org/ 72  The Report Card notes that as a state, Texas has made some strides in increasing personal financial literacy training which will impact Travis County students. In 2021, the Texas General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1063 which creates a one-half credit course entitled "Personal Financial Literacy and Economics” comprised of one-third instruction time in economics and two-thirds instruction time in personal financial literacy; students will be able to take this course in order to fulfill the above-mentioned one-half credit requirement in economics. The Nation’s Report Card on Financial Literacy notes that “Texas ensures financial literacy instruction in Grades K-12 through its legislative mandate to include instruction in its curriculum as well as embedded into its mathematics and high school economics standards, earning Texas a “B.” Although each Texas high school is already required to offer the stand-alone Personal Finance elective, making the course a requirement for graduation would earn Texas an “A.93 According to a recent survey conducted by Financial Health Pathways, a community-centered organization focused on improving the financial health of Texans, many area households are still recovering from financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 70% of respondents to a recent survey cited financial hardships related to the pandemic including a drop in income. 40% of Spanish language-dominant individuals and 47% of low- and moderate-income women of color were financially vulnerable, compared to 32% of all people who responded to the survey.94 The report also cites that survey respondents who used payday loans, auto title loans, or other high-cost loans to fill financial gaps were predominantly low-income women of color. In addition, the report cites a high proportion of survey respondents reporting being unbanked, or not having a bank or credit union for their financial home (6% of survey respondents compared to an overall 0.8% for the Austin Round Rock MSA, based on a 2021 survey by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). Qualitative Findings English-speaking clients ranked Income/Financial as needs their fifth-ranked need. English- speaking clients cited help getting out of debt as their highest income/financial need (29.3%) followed by creating financial goals and self-sufficiency (26.9%) and help with applying for benefits like Social Security, SNAP (Food Stamps), Disability, etc. (26.0%). Spanish-speaking clients ranked Income/Financial needs as their last-ranked need. Spanish- speaking clients cited help with applying for benefits like Social Security, SNAP (Food Stamps), Disability, etc. as their highest income/financial need (22.4%) followed by help getting out of debt (18.8%) and financial education classes (10.2%). Residents ranked Income/Financial needs as their fourth-ranked need. Residents cited help getting out of debt and help with applying for benefits like Social Security, SNAP (Food Stamps), Disability, etc. as their highest income/financial needs (44.4%), followed by creating financial goals and self- sufficiency and financial education classes (38.9%). 93 Ibid. 94 “Boosting Financial Health in Travis and Williamson Counties: A Study of Individuals and Organizations in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Financial Health Pathways (2022). 73  Service providers mentioned the following income/financial needs: financial assistance for utilities and car payments, signing up for SSI and Medicare, help addressing past or back debt owed, stipends while training for a trade, support addressing child support payments, and access to capital for business development. Key informants ranked income/financial needs as the second need only to housing. One key informant cited the need to expand the City’s Universal Basic Income pilot program. Austin Public Health’s Neighborhood Centers (Travis County Community Action Agency) Background The Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) is part of the Community Services Division of Austin Public Health (APH). NSU operates six (6) Neighborhood Centers, throughout the City of Austin, and two outreach sites. The Neighborhood Centers provide support for low-income residents of Austin and Travis County, to increase stability and promote self-sufficiency. The Neighborhood Centers and outreach sites include: 1. Blackland Neighborhood Center 2. East Austin Neighborhood Center 3. Montopolis Community Center 4. Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center 5. South Austin Neighborhood Center 6. St. John Community Center 7. Onion Creek Mobile Pantry (outreach site) 8. Turner Roberts Recreation Center Mobile Pantry (outreach site) The Neighborhood Centers offer a wide variety of services, in partnership with numerous community agencies. Services provided include the following: • Rent and utility assistance • Food pantries • Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (HOPE) • Fresh Food for Families • Mobile Food Pantry • Food recovery and distribution programs • Home Delivery Program • Assistance applying for SNAP, childcare and other benefits • Clothing • Assistance with transportation (bus passes) • Income tax assistance • Notary Public services • Summer fan distribution • Referrals for rent and utility assistance 74  • Social work case management services for people facing barriers to employment and self- sufficiency Job search assistance Job coaching and counseling • • • Help with budgeting and money management • Quality of life case management • Preventive health services such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screening • Diabetes Case Management • Flu shots • Health education classes • Pregnancy testing and reproductive counseling • Child passenger safety education and seat installation • Portable Cribs and safe sleeping education • Formula, Diapers, Blankets • Seasonal programs such as Thanksgiving Turkey distributions and Wellness/Resource Fairs Strengths and Assets Long History of Serving Austin/Travis County - Austin Public Health’s Neighborhood Centers serve as the Community Action Agency for Travis County and have a long history of serving low-income residents of Austin and Travis County. As a result of this long history of service, the Neighborhood Centers are a trusted source of support for many of Austin and Travis County’s most vulnerable citizens. Diverse, Multidisciplinary Team – Neighborhood Centers utilize a multidisciplinary team approach to addressing the needs of the community. Our diverse staff brings a wealth of experience and training to their work with clients. Community Workers and Administrative Associates use their experience and knowledge of social services and community resources to help clients meet their basic needs. Licensed Social Workers provide self-sufficiency and quality of life case management and crisis intervention services to increase our clients’ stability, self-sufficiency, and overall quality of life. Registered nurses conduct health screenings and prevention education to help prevent chronic disease and educate the community about how to better care for their health. Center Managers bring experience and knowledge from the fields of Social Work, Professional Counseling, and Organizational Leadership. Additionally, our staff represent a diverse range of backgrounds and work together to provide wraparound services to clients. Community Partnerships – Neighborhood Center staff work with a broad range of internal and external partners to offer a variety of services to clients and leverage CSBG funds to maximize capacity. Quality, Customer Service - Neighborhood Center staff consistently receive high marks for the customer service they provide to the community. Through ongoing training and staff development, Neighborhood Center staff seek to continually build their knowledge and skills to better serve the community. Subject Matter Experts within the Neighborhood Services Unit conduct training throughout the year to ensure high quality services are being delivered and data is collected correctly. The NSU offers updated Self-Sufficiency Case Management Services, Employment Supports, and virtual/remote services. 75  Employee Wellness – A variety of Health & Wellness activities are incorporated into team and unit trainings and are also promoted through Unit wide TEAMS and e-mail communications. We are in the process of re-establishing our Employee Retention & Wellness Promotion workgroup to encourage staff to get healthier and sustain their wellness goals. Austin Public Health also promotes telework for eligible Neighborhood Center staff. The coronavirus disruption has demonstrated that digital connectivity, including telework, is a valuable tool that makes workplaces stronger and more resilient. Organizational Standards – In 2023, the Neighborhood Centers met 100% of the CSBG organizational standards. Broad Range of Programs – Neighborhood Centers offer a wide range of programs that help low- income individuals and families meet basic needs, increase their self-sufficiency or family stability, and take better care of their health. Facilities and Growth - The Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center has been serving Austin residents since it was built in 1974 and the majority of the six neighborhood centers were built in the 1970s and 1980s. The St. John Community Center, was built in 2001, relocating Neighborhood Center services from another building in the same area. In 2012, a bond was passed to build a new facility in the Montopolis Neighborhood which was completed in the Fall of 2020. This Neighborhood Center is co-located with the Recreation Center in the new facility named Montopolis Community Center. Three new Neighborhood Centers were proposed in the 2018 bond process (Colony Park, Dove Springs and North Austin) to address the growth of the low-income populations in these areas. The Dove Springs Neighborhood Center was the only one approved. This new neighborhood center will be co-located at the new Dove Springs Public Health Facility together with WIC, Immunization Programs, and a childcare center. This new Neighborhood Center is currently scheduled to open in the Summer of 2024. Outreach Locations – Staff provide services not only in Neighborhood Centers, but also in two outreach locations in the Onion Creek and Colony Park neighborhoods. Outreach – The Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) provides robust outreach activities. These activities range from hosting to attending numerous community events, offering public health nursing services in the community, participating in other City of Austin celebrations, and maintaining a listserv to keep community partners informed of services and events at the Neighborhood Centers. These efforts have resulted in further developing and strengthening our community relationships and increasing the awareness of Neighborhood Center services. Crisis Intervention - The Neighborhood Centers have a team of Social Workers dedicated to crisis intervention who have helped Austin respond to crises such as Winter Storm Uri and other severe weather events and public health concerns, such as MPOX and COVID-19 response. In the past they have been part of APH’s emergency response (providing support to community members impacted by events such as the floods that occurred in the Dove Springs area and Hurricane Harvey). They are also called to provide assistance with housing displacement issues. When not engaged in emergency or disaster response, this team also provides ancillary support to the NSU, responds to inquiries for information and referrals, and engages in Public Health Emergency Preparedness Training. 76  Community Development Commission – Eight members representing the low-income populations of Travis County serve on Austin’s Community Development Commission. Each representative is nominated and elected by their community and bring their unique skills and ideas to the work of the Commission. Challenges Resources – In recent years, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding has been continually at risk at the Federal level. CSBG currently funds 16 of the 35 staff of the Neighborhood Centers, leading to uncertainty about future programming and availability of services. Additionally, this grant is level-funding even though the personnel costs continue to rise each year. Gentrification - As the urban core where the Neighborhood Centers were built in the 1970s and 1980s becomes less affordable, low- and moderate- income residents are increasingly moving to outlying areas of Travis County and surrounding counties. As a result of this changing landscape, the Neighborhood Centers must consistently strive to expand service accessibility to areas with high concentrations of residents with low- and moderate- income. The upcoming opening of the Dove Springs Neighborhood Center will aid in addressing this issue. Other ways the NSU is addressing this issue is by offering more virtual processes to apply for services such as rent and utility assistance and offering the Home Delivery Program. Through our partnership with The Central Texas Food Bank and Amazon, participants enrolled in this program receive a monthly box of shelf stable groceries, delivered in a contactless method directly to their home. Client Satisfaction Data The Neighborhood Services Unit offered a client survey for any client accessing CSBG services that was open from summer 2023 though February 2024. The charts below show the results of the survey. Based on the results of the survey, Neighborhood Center clients appear to be very satisfied with both the accessibility and availability of services offered at the Neighborhood Centers, as well as the customer service provided by Center staff. 77  Services at the Neighborhood Center were easy to find No Response 3% Agree 42% Strongly Disagree 2% Disagree 3% Not Sure 9% Strongly Agree 41% Getting services was easy Not Sure 8% No Response 7% Strongly Disagree 2% Disagree 3% Strongly Agree 41% Agree 39% 78  The staff cared about and listened to my needs No Response 6% Strongly Disagree 2% Disagree 3% Not Sure 8% Agree 35% Strongly Agree 46% Strongly Agree 55% I would recommend a friend or relative get help at a Neighborhood Center No Response 4% Not Sure 6% Strongly Disagree 1% Disagree 1% Agree 33% 79  How happy were you with the overall quality of the services? Unsatisfied 2% Very Unsatisfied 2% Satisfied 30% Very Satisfied 55% Neutral 11% 80  Conclusion The results of this needs assessment will be the foundation to assist Austin Public Health’s Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) in the development of a new Community Action Plan (CAP) for Fiscal Year 2024-25. This process includes review of the current Needs Assessment, a detailed review of the services that will be provided, the National Performance Indicators (NPIs), Agency capacity building, referrals, partnerships, and service locations. Over the next year, the Needs Assessment data and findings will be analyzed and used to guide our programing and service delivery in Travis County. The critical needs will be weighed against the agency’s capacity to determine the scope of programs and services that will be provided in the future. The NSU currently offers a variety of programs that address, Housing & Basic Needs which rated number 1 and 2 in areas of concern: • Rent Assistance program • Utility Assistance program • Food Pantry & other food distribution programs • Self-Sufficiency Case Management Services The NSU provides services to address many of the primary concerns mentioned by survey respondents. Primary Concerns not currently addressed by the NSU will be reviewed during the CAP planning process to determine if the NSU has the capacity to address them directly or possibly through new partnerships and funding opportunities. Programs currently offered will also be reviewed to determine the need for continuation and/or possible improvements in service delivery for enhanced outcomes. 81  APPENDICES Appendix 1: Survey Tools Neighborhood Center Client and Resident Survey – English Community Needs Assessment Client and Resident Survey   The Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) awarded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs provides basic needs services (may include emergency rent, utility, and food assistance) and case management support at Neighborhood Centers across the Austin in St John, Rosewood Zaragosa, Blackland, East Austin, Montopolis, and South Austin operated by Austin Public Health. Austin Public Health is required to use the information from this survey to design programs to meet community needs and to create an Annual Community Action Plan. Your help completing this short survey will help us improve our services. Please answer the following questions based on the needs of you/your household.  1. Please enter your zip code: 2. Please mark your emergency assistance needs. Select all that apply. • Food. • Transportation. • Prescription Assistance. • Health Insurance/Medical Care. • Help finding resources in the community. • N/A 3. Please mark your housing needs. Select all that apply.  • Assistance with safe short-term shelter for unhoused persons.  • Housing that I can afford.  • Help paying rent.  • Help paying my mortgage. • Help with utility bills (electric, gas, etc). • Help with repairs to my home. • Help to make my home more energy efficient (adding solar panels, adding more insulation) • N/A 4. Please mark your work/employment needs. Select all that apply. • Help finding a job with a living wage. • Help with job skills and/or job training to earn better wages. • Childcare so that parent/guardian can go to work. • N/A 5. Please mark your childcare needs. Select all that apply. • High quality childcare you can afford or childcare tuition assistance. • High quality childcare close to home or work. • High quality childcare without waitlists. • High quality childcare offered at all hours. • Help finding childcare. • Half-day public pre-kindergarten for 3-year-olds. • Full-day public pre-kindergarten for 3-year-olds. • Help finding public pre-kindergarten. • N/A 6. Please mark your health and wellness needs. Select all that apply. • Healthy eating classes or other support. • Help living with major health conditions (e.g., diabetes). • Mental health counseling or classes. • Help with drug or alcohol addiction. 82  • Programs and activities for Seniors. • Assistance for elderly and disabled and persons with chronic health conditions to maintain independence. • Programs and activities to keep youth and adults from reentering jail or prison. • N/A 7. Please mark your education needs. Select all that apply. • GED classes. • English as a Second Language Classes. • Adult Education or Night School. • Computer Skills Training. • Help to attend trade or technical school or college. • Extra educational support for children (reading, math, etc). • Childcare so that parent/guardian can go to school. • N/A 8. Please mark your income/financial needs. Select all that apply. • Creating financial goals and self-sufficiency. • Help finding a bank or credit union. • Help getting a loan. • Help getting out of debt. • Planning for retirement. • Financial education classes. • Help with applying for benefits like Social Security, SNAP (Food Stamps), Disability, etc. • N/A 9. Please rank the needs listed below in order of importance for you/your household from 1 (highest) to 7 (lowest) • Emergency Assistance • Housing • Work/Employment • Childcare Assistance • Health & Wellness • Education • Income/Financial 10. Do you have a need that was not included? If so, please share. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback! 83  Neighborhood Center Client and Resident Survey – Spanish Encuesta de evaluación de necesidades comunitarias para clientes y residentes   La Subvención en Bloque para Servicio Comunitario (Community Services Block Grant o CSBG en inglés) adjudicada por el Departamento de Vivienda y Asuntos Comunitarios de Texas brinda servicios para cubrir necesidades básicas (pueden incluir alquiler de emergencia, asistencia para alimentos y servicios públicos) y apoyo en forma de administración de casos en los centros comunitarios en todo Austin en St. John, Rosewood Zaragosa, Blackland, Este de Austin, Montopolis y Sur de Austin operados por Salud Pública de Austin/Austin Public Health. Salud Pública de Austin debe usar la información de esta encuesta para diseñar programas que cubran las necesidades de la comunidad y para crear un Plan de Acción Comunitaria Anual. Su ayuda al completar esta breve encuesta nos ayudará a mejorar nuestros servicios. Por favor, responda las siguientes preguntas en base a sus necesidades/las necesidades de su hogar.  Ingrese su código postal: 1. 2. Por favor, marque sus necesidades de asistencia de emergencia. Seleccione todas las que apliquen. • Alimentos. • Transporte. • Asistencia con medicamentos recetados. • Seguro de salud/atención médica. • Ayuda para encontrar recursos en la comunidad. • N/A 3. Por favor, marque sus necesidades de vivienda. Seleccione todas las que apliquen.  • Asistencia con albergue seguro a corto plazo para personas sin hogar.  • Vivienda que puedo pagar.  • Ayuda para pagar el alquiler.  • Ayuda para pagar la hipoteca. • Ayuda con los servicios públicos (electricidad, gas, etc.). • Ayuda con reparaciones de mi vivienda. • Ayuda para que mi casa tenga bajo consumo de energía (agregar paneles solares, más aislamiento). • N/A 4. Por favor, marque sus necesidades de trabajo/empleo. Seleccione todas las que apliquen. • Ayuda para encontrar empleo con un salario que me alcance para vivir. • Ayuda con habilidades laborales o capacitación laboral para ganar un mejor salario. • Cuidado infantil para que la madre/padre o tutor pueda ir a trabajar. • N/A 5. Por favor, marque sus necesidades de cuidado infantil. Seleccione todas las que apliquen. • Cuidado infantil de alta calidad que usted puede pagar o asistencia con el pago de cuidado infantil. • Cuidado infantil de alta calidad cerca de la casa o trabajo. • Cuidado infantil de alta calidad sin listas de espera. • Cuidado infantil de alta calidad ofrecido a toda hora. • Ayuda para encontrar cuidado infantil. • Medio día de pre-kínder público para niños de 3 años. • Día completo de pre-kínder público para niños de 3 años. • Ayuda para encontrar un pre-kínder público. • N/A 6. Por favor, marque sus necesidades de salud y bienestar. Seleccione todas las que apliquen. • Clases de alimentación saludable y otro apoyo. • Ayuda para vivir con condiciones médicas serias (por ejemplo, diabetes). • Terapia o clases de salud mental. 84  • Ayuda con adicción a drogas o alcohol. • Programas y actividades para adultos mayores. • Ayuda para que personas de la tercera edad y discapacitadas, y personas con enfermedades crónicas mantengan su independencia. • Programas y actividades para evitar que jóvenes y adultos regresen a la cárcel o a prisión. • N/A 7. Por favor, marque sus necesidades de educación. Seleccione todas las que apliquen. • Clases de GED. • Clases de inglés como segundo idioma. • Educación para adultos o escuela nocturna. • Capacitación en informática. • Ayuda para asistir a la escuela vocacional o universidad técnica. • Apoyo educativo adicional para niños (lectura, matemática, etc.). • Cuidado infantil para que la madre/padre o tutor pueda ir a estudiar. • N/A 8. Por favor, marque sus necesidades financieras/de ingresos. Seleccione todas las que apliquen. • Creación de metas financieras y autosuficiencia. • Ayuda para encontrar un banco o cooperativa de crédito. • Ayuda para obtener un préstamo. • Ayuda para pagar deudas. • Planificación para la jubilación. • Clases de educación financiera. • Ayuda para solicitar beneficios como Seguro Social, SNAP (estampillas de alimentos), 9. Por favor, clasifique las necesidades indicadas más abajo en orden de importancia para usted/su hogar, desde 1 (más alto) hasta 7 (más bajo). discapacidad, etc. • N/A • Asistencia de emergencia • Vivienda • Trabajo/empleo • Asistencia con cuidado infantil • • Educación • Ingresos/finanzas Salud y bienestar 10. ¿Tiene usted una necesidad que no se haya incluido? De ser así, por favor, háganoslo saber. ¡Gracias por tomarse el tiempo de brindarnos sus comentarios! 85  Service Provider Survey CSBG Service Provider Survey The Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) awarded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs provides basic needs services (may include emergency rent, utility, and food assistance) and case management support at Neighborhood Centers across the Austin in St John, Rosewood Zaragosa, Blackland, East Austin, Montopolis, and South Austin operated by Austin Public Health. Austin Public Health is required to use the information from this survey to design programs to meet community needs and to create an Annual Community Action Plan. Your help completing this short survey will help us improve our services. We are requesting your participation in this survey because of your role as a service provider in the community. Please use your knowledge of the community where you work to respond to this survey. 1. Agency/Organization Name: 2. What are the top needs of the community you serve? Please rank in order of importance, from 1 3. Please select which of the identified needs are currently being addressed by your organization (select (highest) to 7 (lowest). • Emergency Assistance • Housing • Work/Employment • Childcare Assistance • Health & Wellness • Education • Income/Financial all that apply): • Emergency Assistance • Housing • Work/Employment • Childcare Assistance • Health & Wellness • Education • Income/Financial • Other (Open-ended) apply): Income/Financial • Employment • Education • • Housing • Childcare • Transportation • Substance Use • Mental or Physical Health Conditions • Waitlists for services • Other (Open-ended) 4. Please identify the barriers to your clients accessing services in the community (Select all that 5. Please share any additional needs of your clients or the community not identified in the questions above. 6. Is there anything additional you would like to add? 86  Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback! 87  Appendix 2: Survey Results Neighborhood Center Client Survey Results: English Survey Emergency Assistance Needs Housing Needs 88  89 Employment Needs 90 Childcare Needs 91 Health & Wellness Needs 92 Education Needs 93 Income/Financial Needs 94 Ranked Needs 95  Neighborhood Center Client Survey Results: Spanish Survey Emergency Assistance Needs 96 Housing Needs 97 Employment Needs 98 Childcare Needs 99 Health & Wellness Needs 100 Education Needs 101 Income/Financial Needs 102 Ranked Needs 103  Resident Survey Results Emergency Assistance Needs 104 Housing Needs 105 Employment Needs 106 Childcare Needs 107 Health & Wellness Needs 108 Education Needs 109 Income/Financial Needs 110 Ranked Needs 111  Service Provider Survey Results Ranked Needs 112  Client Needs Met Through Agency 113  Unmet Client Needs 114  Q5: Please share any additional needs of your clients or the community not identified in the questions above. A place to shelter Proper mental health diagnoses for the purposes of obtaining IDD services and educational accommodations My clients that live in houses need help with lawn care and home repairs. Some need extra help with transportation, as they are not able to navigate the public transit system. signing up for SSI and medicare Lack of shelter Many of my clients' parents in Montopolis do not have adequate transportation, and there are not enough bus stops within walking distance of their home that would be safe or practical to use. Therefore, they often feel landlocked/stuck, and cannot access the resources they need. They also struggle to access food sources. Past or back debt owed Having access to resources when they are displaced out of county Health insurance beyond MAP which is very limited and takes a long time to get appointments. Reliable public transportation. Our CapMetro is slooowww and has not done a great job at expanding into the newer areas of Austin like McKinney Falls. Our transportation services are wanting in Austin. Elderly or sick that need transportation to medical facilities have VERY few options. Food not always available to client and clothing depending on season and mainly lack of affordable housing Transportation. Assistance in paying for prescriptions. Getting ID's are a huge problem for incarcerated people once they are released. Most state their ID's are either lost or stolen. Transportation 115  Transportation is a big issue. Some live in areas where the only transportation available is Metro Access but they may not qualify. I have clients that live in Manor, pflugerville sub divisions where the only transportation available is by car and they can't afford a Lyft or Uber and Capital Pickup is very limited Eviction, Access to Clinics/Vaccinations, Vaccination Records, Transportation to Medical Appointments or School! The displacement has moved youth farther and farther from their original schools and they struggle to get there. They are being bused back in Austin. Reminiscent of the tensions from the BAustin Bussing Crisis of the 70s... Access to services for people experiencing homelessness Families of special needs children at risk of losing housing. Parents are immigrants (no SSN) so jobs they find are not stable. Stipends while training for a trade. Need money to survive while being trained Food Help with acquiring lost/stolen documents such as ID and birth certificate. Help with paying for medications. Rental assistance language accessible services, internet support Mainly employment and undocumented Clients need more multidisciplinary spaces where multiple needs can be met at one time Financial assistance for utilities The elderly do not transportation or electric devices to make applications on line. Most do not have wifi Life skills, vocational training, substance use counseling and parent/child communication assistance. We have a tremendous need for better transportation. We also have a need for more skilled birth care facilities. housing and childcare Harm reduction Support addressing child support payments. Access to capital for business development. affordable housing, enough housing stock, transportation for those living outside of Austin utility payments; car payments; Food Insecurities Housing continues to be a significant issue especially with population that may be employed and re entering with criminal and or credit history unable to find housing options lack of affordable housing and high cost of living along with insufficient resources and long waitlists for support make it very difficult for families to sustain themselves financially. Our biggest need is Case management. A lot of the women we serve are also looking for case managers that can help them navigate all the resources available in the greater Austin area. some other resources that has been brought to our attention are legal services and welfare assistance. Most patients have little to no income which causes barriers to transportation, food, and housing. I appreciate agencies/organizations assisting individuals with obtaining employment but what about the individuals who are not documented and need employment. These individuals do not have a social security number and unable to obtain employment. How can we assist this population? Most of our parents are undocumented and struggle to get a job or decent housing. Food insecurity 116  Food insecurity affordable housing! Access to permanent supports once transitioning out of our programming Translators, Spanish speaker clients not knowing how to go on United state life with out a language, Not even knowing how to write correctly or comprehend life concept. It is so frustrating for clients to not find help for rent or utilities in a timely manner. These clients are on a super long waitlist or lottery system. There is no funding and lack of affordable housing. Also more pantries with fruits and vegetables. Less cakes, cookies, soda, bread, and pasta. No shelter, camp sweeps undocumented families safe access to info & work, computer and email skills, baby needs, clothing, language support, language skills housing is number one, rent and bill assistance, felony friendly housing and jobs that pay enough, medical care Legal assistance mental health response. Experiences with MCOT or other mental health services have not been responsive and has cause many escalations for mental health crisis for our clients and staff. Q6: Is there anything additional you would like to add? Water access is crucial to those living on the streets to stay hydrated during the summer months Some can use additional help with food. They don't get very much for SNAP and some don't get any at all and are not able to physically get to a food pantry. I think the lack of affordable housing is our BIGGEST issue and we don't have enough nonprofits to handle the needs that government won't cover. Medicine is already corporatized and now housing is a well and that includes some non-profits who have unreasonable criteria for working families. affordable housing seems to be the biggest need Receive help with housing outside of our program. Food, Lack of health care County and City government should work together to provide housing for those most vulnerable and also provide casemanagement and lifeskills with these housing opportunities. All city funding goes to homeless who could work if given supports. Social security is not going up as fast austin rent. In next five years homeless will be those over 65. They will not live very long in elements. Felony convictions are a major barrier to far too many people who simply wish to return from prison and rebuild or build for the first time, their lives. More opportunities to have fresh food pantries at CUC for patients, There needs to be more emergency financial assistance funding available to meet the many needs of families before they become homeless. The food distribution helps many families. Funding for pediatric mental and behavioral health would be amazing! affordable housing! Better system of referring homeless clients for services, Chronically homeless clients should not be referred for Rapid services and prioritized for Permanent Supportive Housing only. 117  Appendix 3: Key Informant Interview Protocol CSBG Needs Assessment Key Informant Interview Our community’s CSBG allocation currently provides basic needs services and case management at Neighborhood Centers across the Austin in St John, Rosewood Zaragosa, Blackland, East Austin, Montopolis, and South Austin operated by Austin Public Health. The purpose of this assessment is to identify top community needs. Austin Public Health is required to use the information from the community needs assessment to design programs to meet community needs and to create an Annual Community Action Plan. We have contacted you because of your role as a CDC Commissioner and community leader representing a specific geographic area in Austin/Travis County. During the interview, please try to limit your responses to the geographic area in which you represent. 1. Please rank the following needs of your community in order of importance, from 1 (highest) to 7 (lowest). • Emergency Assistance • Housing • Work/Employment • Childcare Assistance • Health & Wellness • Education • Income/Financial • Other (please specify) 2. What are the most trusted organizations in your community currently assisting community residents with these needs? 3. What are the top barriers for residents in accessing the services they need? (If the key informant needs examples: For example: criminal background, immigration status, lack of education, lack of transportation, language access, poor credit history, or others.) 4. As you may know, we are seeking to include resident feedback in the needs assessment process and will be conducting an electronic resident survey. Are there any neighborhood or other grassroots organizations from your community that we should reach out to get the word out about this survey? Can you provide contact information for the organization(s)? 5. Would you like to add anything to the interview? 6. Thank you for your time. If we have additional questions during the community needs assessment process, may we contact you again? 118  Appendix 4: Bibliography 2023 Point-in-Time Count Results. Austin Ending Community Homeless Coalition (ECHO) (2023). AustinECHO.org Austin Public Health. 2022 Austin/Travis County Community Health Assessment, Research and Planning Division. (2022). https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Health/ATC_2022%20CHA_FINAL_E xecutive%20Summary.pd Boosting Financial Health in Travis and Williamson Counties: A Study of Individuals and Organizations in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Financial Health Pathways (2022). CAN (2023). CAN Dashboard 2023. Center for Health Statistics (CHS). Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Dates. Austin, Texas: Texas, Department of State Health Services, 2017. Central Health Demographic Report (2022). https://www.centralhealth.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/2022_Demographic_Report.pdf Central Texas Assessment of Fair Housing (2019). Root Policy Research. Central Texas Food Bank, Central Texas Food System Dashboard. Available: https://www.centraltxfoodsystem.org/the-dashboard City of Austin (2019). Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. City of Austin Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis (2020). Root Policy Research. City of Austin, 2022. State of the Food System Report. Available: https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Sustainability/Food/2022%20State %20of%20the%20Food%20S ystem%20Report/SotFS%202022%20-%20FINAL%20(Smaller).pdf Community Action Partnership Data Hub (2022). Travis County, TX. 51 Every Texan (2024). “Too many Texans can't get Medicaid and SNAP, despite being eligible.” https://everytexan.org/tracking-texas-medicaid-snap-delays Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Uniform Crime Reports. Accessed via the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. 2015-2017. Garfield, R., Orega, K., & Damico, A. (2019). The coverage gap: Uninsured poor adults in states that do not expand Medicaid. San Francisco, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/the-coverage-gap-uninsured-poor-adults-in- states-that-do-not-expand-medicaid/ 119  Historical Unemployment Rates chart, Workforce Development Area Profiles - Texas Labor Market Information. https://texaslmi.com/EconomicProfiles/WDAProfiles. Kids Living Well (2024). https://kidslivingwell.org/data. Live Tobacco Free Austin. (n.d.). Facts and tools. https://www.livetobaccofreeaustin.org/facts-and- tools/ Opportunity Insights (2024). Austin, TX: Percent Change in Number of Small Businesses Open. Opportunity Insights (2024). Travis County: Percent Change in Employment. Opportunity Insights (2024). Travis County: Percent Change in Student Math Progress. St. David's Foundation (2019). St. David's Medical Center and St. David's South Austin Medical Center Community Health Needs Assessment. Success by 6 (2019). Strategic Plan 2019-2023. Success by 6 Coalition Austin/Travis County Coalition (2023). Strategic Plan 2019-2023, A 2,000 Day Journey: Day 365 Update. https://www.unitedwayaustin.org/wp- content/uploads/2023/07/Success-By-6-4-year-update.pdf Travis County (2021). American Community Survey Snapshot Data. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/health_human_services/Docs/ACS_Snapshot_202 1_FINAL.pdf The Nation’s Report Card on Financial Literacy, 2023. Developed by David A. Pickler, Esq., CFP®, Cassie Lynn Foote, and Cameron Spann. https://www.thenationsreportcard.org Travis County Courts (2021). Travis County Court Criminal Data. https://courtsdata.traviscountytx.gov/CriminalAnalytics/ Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division (June 2022). Travis County Poverty Brief: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2011-2015 & 2016- 2020. Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division. (2023). The 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) Travis County Snapshot Health and Human Services Department. Travis County. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human- services/research-planning/snapshot. Travis County Medical Examiner report https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/medical_examiner/docs/2022_Annual_Report.pdf Travis County TX (2020). Travis County Workforce Development Resource Map. United Way for Greater Austin (2021). 2020 211 caller needs and zip codes [unpublished data]. 120  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). BLS Data Viewer: Unemployment Rate: Travis County, TX (U). Statistics. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2017-2021. U.S. Census Bureau, Homeownership Rate for Texas [TXHOWN], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TXHOWN, March 21, 2024. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021) Austin, Texas Current Employment U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020). Travis County Unemployment. Waller, A. R. (2018). Texas still hasn’t expanded Medicaid. That’s leaving a gap in coverage for hundreds of thousands. Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/17/what- medicaid-coverage-gap-means-texans-without-health-insurance/ Workforce Solutions Capital Area. Job Postings by Industry, March 2024. https://www.wfscapitalarea.com/insights/labor-market-information/ 121