REGULAR MEETING of the Economic Prosperity Commission October 19, 2022, 6:30 pm Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 1101 301 W. 2nd Street Some members of the Economic Prosperity Commission may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak please contact Michelle Clemons, michelle.clemons@austintexas.gov , 512-974-2713 or Nydia Castillo, Nydia.castillo@austintexas.gov, 512-974-6452. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS Nathan Ryan, Chair Shayna Brown Christiana Ponder Preston Tom Amy Noel Kelsey Hitchingham AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Kirsha Haverlah, Vice Chair Vacant- District 3 Michael D Nahas Will Townsend Ryan Kurtz The first speakers signed up prior to October 18t to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission meeting on September 21st meeting. STAFF BRIEFINGS Font Size: 12; Font: Times New Roman; Font Style: Regular 2. Staff briefing regarding new commissioner members. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion and possible action for 2023 Meeting Schedule 3. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES Update from Intercommision working Group Updated from Joint Sustainability Commission member report Update from Reproductive health working group 4. 5. 6. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Michelle Clemons at 512-974-2713, michelle.clemons@austintexas.gov at Economic Development Department, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Economic Prosperity Commission please contact Michelle Clemons, michelle.clemons@austintexas.gov or Nydia Castillo, Nydia.castillo@austintexas.gov, 512-974-6452. 512-974-2713 , Font Size: 12; Font: Times New Roman; Font Style: Regular
A Holistic Work Program for long-term unhoused residents of East Austin. Chase Wright Executive Director chase@springdaleparkneighbors.org 512-621-1510 New Website: https://springdaleparkneighbors.com (note – it is .com not .org) Mission/Vision We support East Austin residents on their re-entry journey from unhoused to self-sufficient citizens through a holistic multi-tiered work/apprenticeship program. We seek to establish SPN as a new and more effective model for addressing long-term homelessness that can be replicated within our city, our state, and eventually our country. It is hard work putting people to work. But no one is beyond help and everyone can be productive if given the right opportunities and support. Hidden Barriers keep people homeless The unhoused population we work with have many barriers to participating in normal society exasperated by mental health problems and substance abuse. The City funds a multitude of services but makes little progress, year-over-year, in actually helping people find a way out of the poverty trap they are stuck in. To many social workers, it feels that they are throwing a life vest to a drowning man who tells them they would rather keep swimming. Our peers think the problem is lack of coordination between services. We have a different opinion. The current system doesn’t have a way to establish a relationship that motivates change because help comes from outside the community. SPN’s Relationship-First Holistic Solution SPN has taken a holistic approach to rehabilitating each homeless individual - mind, body, and soul. What works for one homeless individual will not work for all. Because we have an ongoing employment relationship with our clients, we can help them address the barriers that the long-term unhoused face when seeking regular employment: appearance and hygiene, lack of ID/address/phone/bank account, inability to focus due to hunger, work habits, and mental issues / substance abuse. Ultimately, this enables our clients to find their way back into society. We show them by example that hard work is rewarded and that they are capable of working hard. Program Progression Community Services Watershed Cleanup s l a i t n e s s E • Breakfast and Lunch for anyone who shows up to at our work site. • Dinner will be added when funding permits. • Free clothing – durable outfits purchase from Goodwill in bulk. • Laundry – Washing performed while people work. • Showers – Manned and monitored safe space to take a shower. We encourage change …
