Item 5-CDC CSBG Report August 2025 — original pdf

Backup

Community Services Block Grant 2025 Contract Programmatic/Financial Report August 12, 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 6/30/25 % of Total Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total $1,140,731.00 $261,182.13 $148,654.38 $135 $409,971.51 36% 1 Transition Out of Poverty Goal Goal Achieved TOP Individuals who transitioned out of poverty 43 17 Success Rate% 40% 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 June 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 366 366 37% #Enrolled #Achieved 20 50 37 49 19 44 Success Rate % 95% 88% Number Served 366 A Year Ago 91 122 43,364 57,018 122 539 18 623 1,220 775 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 – July we assisted 414 people in 184 households avoid eviction using these funds. The total amount of rent assistance payments was $497,160.66 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 were activated to the Resource Center that was stood up for the Travis County Flood Response. They assisted individuals with health screenings and information & referrals. 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 122 individuals this year. 7. Self-Sufficiency Case Management Client Satisfaction Survey - In July we sent out this survey, (please see back-up for details) to the clients who received Self- Sufficiency Case Management services from our agency (75 Households). The results were overwhelmingly positive. For example, 80% of clients report being satisfied with the self-sufficiency program and 85% of clients report case management had made them more self-sufficient. 8. CSBG 2026 Community Action Plan (CAP) & Budget - TAC Rule §6.206 (a) In accordance with the CSBG Act each Eligible Entity must submit a Community Action Plan on an annual basis to the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs 3 (TDHCA). The CAP (back-up document) outlines the Services (SRVs), National Performance Indicators (NPIs) that the Neighborhood Services Unit will deliver to address the top 5 needs outlined in the Community Needs Assessment. The CAP plan sets the course for the CSBG Subrecipients’ activities for the upcoming year. The CSBG grant is federal pass-through level funding. 9. Success Stories – See below. In the Social Worker’s own words: Here is the story of my client. They haven’t TOP'ed (Transitioned Out of Poverty) yet, but they will next month. The client I was enrolling in case management brought a housemate to learn more about the program. I told them about the process and they explained they were living in a sober living home and interested in construction work. They applied for Lone Star Construction training and received tuition assistance through Literacy Coalition. They completed the program, then passed OSHA training to receive their license and join the union. They were assigned a jobsite that they go to 4 days a week and class 1 day a week, while completing their sober living home requirements. They have been working full-time for 6 weeks and are on track to transition out of poverty. 4