Item 2- CDC CSBG Report September 2025 — original pdf

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Community Services Block Grant 2025 Contract Programmatic/Financial Report September 9, 2025 The Community Services Block Grant funds the delivery of services to low-income Texas residents in all 254 counties. These funds support a variety of direct services in addition to helping maintain the core administrative elements of community action agencies. For the City of Austin, the grant provides funding for the delivery of basic needs, case management, preventive health and employment support services through the City’s seven (7) Neighborhood Centers. Mission: The Neighborhood Services Unit improves the lives and health of people experiencing poverty by providing public health and social services and connecting residents of Austin and Travis County to community resources. ◼ Basic Needs (food, clothing, information and referral, notary services, transportation, car safety education and car seats, tax preparation, fans, Thanksgiving food baskets and other seasonal activities); ◼ Preventive Health (screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar including a1C, and cholesterol; pregnancy testing; health promotion presentations, coordination and participation in health fairs, immunizations, coordination of wellness activities, linkages to medical home providers and diabetes case management); ◼ Case Management (individual/family support counseling, advocacy, self-sufficiency case management, crisis intervention, linkages with employers, educational opportunities and training, and working with individuals on quality-of-life issues); ◼ Employment Support (intake, assessment and goal setting, job readiness training, job placement assistance, and job retention services) Expenditures Categories 2025 Contract Budget Cumulative Expenditures as of 7/31/25 % of Total Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total $1,140,731.00 $326,748.82 $175,700.02 $135 $502,583.84 44% 1 Transition Out of Poverty Goal Goal Achieved TOP Individuals who transitioned out of poverty 43 19 Success Rate% 44% Austin Public Health Report on PY24 Community Action Plan MISSION: To prevent disease, promote health, and protect the well-being of our community. TOP 5 NEEDS: Housing; Basic Needs; Employment; Health; Income Report Date July FNPI Outcome Description Target #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % 4 4E 5 5B 5D SRV 4C 4I 5A 5JJ 7A 7B 7D 7N Housing Households who avoided eviction Health and Social/Behavioral Development Individuals who demonstrated improved physical health and well being Individuals who improved skills related to the adult role of parents/caregivers Service Description Rent Payments Utility Payments Immunizations (Flu) Food Distribution Case Management Eligibility Determinations Transportation Emergency Clothing 3A.1 Total number of volunteer hours donated to the Agency Programmatic/Administrative Updates 1000 414 414 41% #Enrolled #Achieved 20 50 37 53 19 48 Success Rate % 95% 96% Number Served 414 A Year Ago 127 162 49,035 63,452 131 618 21 668 1,350 832 1. Neighborhood Services – We offer Basic Needs including Food Help, Emergency Rental assistance, Utility Assistance, Self-Sufficiency Case Management services, Bus Passes, Health Screenings, Information & Referrals, and Seasonal Services* at our seven Neighborhood Centers.** *Child Safety Seats, Fans, and Income Tax filing. 2 ** The South Austin Neighborhood Center is currently closed for major HVAC renovations. The public is being directed to the other Neighborhood Centers for services. Expected reopening: October. 2. Food Help – The Neighborhood Centers in collaboration with the Central Texas Food Bank offers food distribution events that provide a variety of shelf-stable goods, fruits, vegetables and other fresh foods to low-income families. These distributions supplement existing grocery budgets with much-needed nutritious foods. 3. Financial Stability Rental Assistance Funding – From January – August we assisted 454 people in 201 households avoid eviction using these funds. The total amount of rent assistance payments was $553,589.63. 4. Austin Energy Plus 1 Program – Serious illness, a recent job loss, or the pandemic can make it difficult for some customers to pay their utility bills. The Plus 1 fund helps by providing emergency financial aid to customers who have a temporary problem paying their utility bills. 5. NSU Public Health Nursing - The Neighborhood Services nurses are offering free health screenings at the Neighborhood Centers. Services included: blood pressure screenings, blood sugar screenings, cholesterol screenings, health education, hemoglobin A1c, pregnancy tests, and general health information & resources. The NSU nurses also offer services at events at the Consulate of Mexico, Gus Garcia Recreation Center, Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center (CGSAC), and the Baptist Community Center Mission. NSU nurses are preparing to administer Flu Vaccine at the Neighborhood Centers this Fall. 6. Self-Sufficiency Case Management Services – The Neighborhood Services Unit social workers help clients reenter the world of work, connecting them with resources, agencies, and training opportunities; including assistance with housing stability, basic needs, and public transportation. They have provided case management services to 131 individuals this year. 7. Success Stories – See below. In the Social Worker’s own words: Client was referred by the agency helping them get their commercial driver’s license (CDL) because client and their partner were struggling to pay rent. Client still had 2 more weeks of training program to attend full time. I met client and developed a plan to help with their basic needs and finding work after their training was done. Client was in a career transition from office work for a small business for many decades because they did not have the education to obtain a similar job when their position was eliminated. 3 Client got their CDL but experienced health challenges with the rigors of the training. These struggles continued at the delivery and long-distance trucking jobs they tried. I provided counseling to client and client with their partner (an English language learner who had not worked outside the home in many years). Client’s partner decided to go to work and I helped them find employment where their native language was an asset. Client worked on their health issues and we discussed moving to driving buses instead of delivery trucks as a job goal. This past Spring, client was able to hire on as a bus driver where they can meet the physical demands of the work. Client and their partner both plan to continue working and are saving for a second car and to purchase a home. Client feels they have transitioned to a new profession and thanked me for always believing in them when the family transitioned out of poverty this past Spring. 4