20220311-003A: Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Recommendations — original pdf

Recommendation

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION 20220311-002A Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Recommendations March 11, 2022 Date: Subject: Motioned By: Commissioner Jason English Seconded By: Commissioner Lea Downey Gallatin Recommendation 1. The DACC needs to locate a new facility and temporarily equip case management staff with the ability to work out of a fleet of vehicles and from their homes; 2. Funding for case management fleet vehicles; 3. Sustained funding for six grant funded COVID-19 case managers; 4. Funds to continue the Violet KeepSafe Program; 5. Funds to continue the Homeless Health and Wellness collaborative with Integral Care and the Downtown Austin Alliance; 6. Funding to augment DACC’s case management capacity by adding 12 positions; and 7. Additional social service dollars to include funding for client rental assistance. Description of Recommendation to Council 1. For more than 7 years, DACC functioned without adequate space for its operation. Its current location at One Texas Center is more spacious, but only temporary and less proximate to other downtown services. It is vital that DACC be provided a permanent home and continued support for the fleet of vehicles its Case Management team uses to provide community-based services. 2. By the end of this fiscal year, DACC will own nine case manager fleet vehicles in addition to renting eight vehicles. To maintain the status quo in a more cost-effective manner, the Court needs funding to purchase eight vehicles. 3. Funds for up to twelve additional permanent Case Manager positions, along with an additional vehicle and corresponding social service dollars per case manager, to serve the 260 individuals experiencing homelessness on DACC’s waiting list. 1 of 2 4. Additional social service support dollars to include funding for rental assistance and intensive wrap-around services for clients served by dollars associated with a DACC Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). 5. Funds to enhance the Violet KeepSafe Program 6. Ongoing funding for the Homeless Health and Wellness collaborative with Integral Care and the Downtown Austin Alliance to continue positively impacting DACC clientele and waiting individuals by treating individuals with complex medical needs. 7. Funding to retain two community service crew leaders whose funding from Austin Resource Recovery is being discontinued Rationale: DACC is serving Austin’s most vulnerable citizens and stabilizing their lives to the benefit of the entire Austin community. The Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supports the DACC services and the Courts request for resources to continue providing needed services to its clients. The Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board urges City Council to allocate funds and explore all available means to avoid setbacks and instead increase DACC’s efforts to address homelessness in Austin. Vote For: Against: N/A Abstain: N/A Absent: Nicole Golden; Seneca Savoie Attest: Edna Staniszewski, DACC Business Process Specialist Darilynn Cardona-Beiler, Chair; Lea Downey Gallatin, Vice Chair; Kergin Bedell; Jason English; Kate Garza, Jocelyn Schwartz, and Andrew Williams. Motion passed 7-0 2 of 2