REGULAR MEETING of the HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Monday, August 26, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Austin City Hall, Room 1101 301 W. 2nd St Austin, Texas Some members of the Human Rights 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 remotely, contact Eric Anderson at eric.anderson@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2562. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Kolby Duhon, Chair (He/They) Gabriella Zeidan, Vice Chair Alicia Weigel (She/They) Michael Stevenson Muneeb ‘Meebs’ Aslam (He/Him) Morgan Davis (He/Him) Mariana Krueger (She/Her) Jeffrey Clemmons Srini Raghavan Harriett Kirsh Pozen Danielle Bryant AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior 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 Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on July 22, 2024. Staff briefing regarding the Homeless Assistance Outcomes Follow-Up from Ashley Diaz, Office of the City Auditor. 1. 2. STAFF BRIEFING DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of takeaways and feedback from community back to school events and potential initiatives to support families and youth. Discussion of training opportunities with the League of Women Voters for high school voter registration. Update from the Budget working group regarding the inclusion of Human Rights Commission recommendations in the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. 3. 4. 5. WORKING GROUP UPDATE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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. (512) 974-2562 or Please contact Eric Anderson, Office of eric.anderson@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Human Rights Commission, please contact Eric Anderson at (512) 974-2562 or eric.anderson@austintexas.gov. the City Clerk at
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024 The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on July 22, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Duhon called the Human Rights Commission meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kolby Duhon, Chair Gabriella Zeidan, Vice Chair Morgan Davis Harriet Kirsh Pozen Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Meebs Aslam Danielle Bryant Mariana Krueger Srini Raghavan Michael Stevenson Alicia Weigel Commissioners Absent: Jeffrey Clemmons PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on June 24, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of June 24, 2024, were approved on Vice Chair Zeidan’s motion, Commissioner Davis’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Krueger abstained. Commissioner Stevenson was off the dais. Commissioner Clemmons was absent. Discussion of changing the Human Rights Commission December 23, 2024, meeting date. A motion to look into cancelling the Commission’s December 23, 2024, meeting and hold a of a December 16, 2024, special called meeting was approved on Commissioner Zeidan’s motion, Commission Bryant’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Clemmons was absent. Discussion of upcoming community back to school events. Discussed. 3. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve the Human Rights Commission 2023 Annual Internal Report and Review, including the Commission’s goals and objectives for the next year. The 2023 Annual Internal Report and Review was approved with the following amendment on Commission Davis’ motion, Vice Chair Zeidan’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Clemmons was absent. The amendment was to revise Section 1. to include a list of the of all the recommendations approved by the Commission during the year covered by the report. The list will be in chronological order and include the title of each recommendation. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A presentation from the SIMS Foundation was requested by Vice Chair Zeidan and Chair Duhon. A discussion item related to future educational opportunities was requested by Vice Chair Zeidan and Commissioner Bryant. ADJOURNMENT Chair Duhon adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the XX meeting on Commissioner XX’s motion, Commissioner XX’s second on a X-X vote. 2. 4. 2
Homelessness Assistance Outcomes Follow-Up OFFICE OF THE CITY AUDITOR August 2024 Background Background 2021 Follow-Up Background 2018 Allocation of City Resources Recommendation 1: Improve data about the homeless population Recommendation 2: Develop strategies to meet the current housing need Implemented In Progress 2018 Allocation of City Resources Recommendation 1: Implemented To improve the quality and accuracy of data collected about the homeless population. Improvements • The City uses Coordinated Assessments. • Data is published in the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition(ECHO)’s dashboard. 2018 Allocation of City Resources Recommendation 2: In Progress To develop and implement strategies to meet current need for housing. Permanent Supportive Housing Pipeline 1345 1228 Updates • The City increased the supply of Permanent Supportive Housing. • The City does not have a clear and updated goal. May 2024 Dec 2024 Dec 2025 Dec 2026 Dec 2027 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 237 988 530 2019 Outcomes of City Efforts Recommendation 1 Measure long-term success Recommendation 2 Improve contracts Recommendation 3 Enhance and develop new prevention programs Recommendation 4 Improve coordination among case management providers In Progress In Progress In Progress In Progress 2019 Outcomes of City Efforts Recommendation 1: In Progress To review how the City measures long-term success of homelessness efforts. Updates • The Homeless Strategy Office(HSO) is creating a strategic plan. Recommendation 2: In Progress Updates To ensure contracts include long-term outcomes, client feedback, client prioritization, and appropriate resources are dedicated. • Not all contracts require all items. • Vendors may still be taking actions towards items. 2019 Outcomes of City Efforts Recommendation 3: In Progress To enhance the capacity of existing homeless prevention programs and develop new programs. Updates • The Homeless Strategy Office(HSO) manages two prevention programs. • HSO plans to develop additional programs. Recommendation 4: In Progress To design and implement changes to improve coordination and collaboration among entities providing case management. Updates • The HSO and the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition(ECHO) host meetings with case management entities. Questions?
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2024 The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on August 26, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Duhon called the Human Rights Commission meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kolby Duhon, Chair Gabriella Zeidan, Vice Chair Jeffrey Clemmons Harriet Kirsh Pozen Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Meebs Aslam Danielle Bryant Morgan Davis Mariana Krueger Srini Raghavan Commissioners Absent: Michael Stevenson Alicia Weigel PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network (CAN) APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on July 22, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of July 22, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Clemmons’ second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Stevenson and Weigel were absent. 1. STAFF BRIEFING 1 Staff briefing regarding the Homeless Assistance Outcomes Follow-Up from Ashley Diaz, Office of the City Auditor. The presentation was made by Ashley Diaz, Auditor I, Office of the City Auditor and Kelsey Thompson, Assistant City Auditor, Office of the City Auditor. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of takeaways and feedback from community back to school events and potential initiatives to support families and youth. Discussed. Discussion of training opportunities with the League of Women Voters for high school voter registration. Discussed. Update from the Budget working group regarding the inclusion of Human Rights Commission recommendations in the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. Chair Duhon provided an update. WORKING GROUP UPDATE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Duhon adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the September 23, 2024, meeting on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Vice Chair Zeidan’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bryant, Kirsh Pozen, Raghavan, and Stevenson were absent. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2
