DRAFT Recommendation 20200427 002a ii — original pdf

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BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number: : Fiscal Year 2021 Budget WHEREAS, the Human Rights Commission of the City of Austin (“Commission”) advocates on behalf of human rights for all people in the City of Austin (“City”); and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Strategic Direction 2023, including the strategic outcomes of Economic Opportunity and Affordability; Mobility; Safety; Health and Environment; Culture and Lifelong Learning; and Government That Works for All; and WHEREAS, the Commission conducted a Budget Engagement Community Forum on February 24, 2020 during the regularly scheduled meeting to receive feedback from the community on budget priorities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Human Rights Commission recommends the City Council to give careful consideration to the following Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Proposal: WHEREAS, Ivanna Neri, Director, Family Independence Initiative, provided testimony that her organization has tracked 380 families in Austin, Texas, and found that families that are provided funds directly with no restrictions on the use of the funds, eventually experience an aggregate 25% raise in their incomes; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Human Rights Commission Request the Austin City Council: Reallocate $1 million dollars from existing social services contracts to direct and unrestricted cash transfers to 500 families struggling with poverty as a way to advance their social and economic mobility.