LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission - Feb. 12, 2024
LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Regular Meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Quality of Life Advisory Commission - City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas 78752
REGULAR MEETING of the LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION Monday, February 12, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, Room 1401 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas 78752 MEETING AGENDA Some members of the 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 Alyssa Parra, the Commission’s staff liaison, at 512‐974‐2934 or Alyssa.Parra@AustinTexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Dereca Sims Christian Aguirre Yuri G Barragán VACANT Jerome Benson David Garza J. Scott Neal, Chair CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Appointment Commissioner Appointment District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 Garry Brown Mariana Krueger Brandon Wollerson Marti Bier Charles Curry Dr. Melissa Taylor Morgan Davis Alexander Andersen AGENDA District 8 District 9 District 10 Mayor Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder The first ten speakers signed up before the meeting is called to order will each be allowed a three‐minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Page 1 of 4 MOTION TO SUSPEND ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission’s Regular Meeting on January 8, 2023. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION 2. FY 24‐29 Consolidated Plan Community Needs Assessment Presentation & Discussion Presented by: Chris Duran, Senior Research Analyst, Housing Department, Julie Smith, Community Engagement Specialist, Housing Department, Jamey May, Housing & Community Development Officer, Housing Department, Susan Watkins, Housing Division Manager, Housing Department, Leslie Boyd, Acting Public Health Program Manager II, Austin Public Health. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action to approve budget recommendations to the council. 4. Approve a recommendation to the council on demographic data. 5. Approve a recommendation to the council on Emergency Housing Assistance. 6. Approve a recommendation to the council for a Budget for LGBTQIA+ Affirming Mental Healthcare. 7. Discussion and possible action on Trans Protections Recommendation to the council. 8. Approve a recommendation to the council on vacant commissioner positions. 9. Approve a motion to adjust the start time of the April 15 Commission meeting to start at 6:30 PM. 10. Approve a motion to …
Discussion on community needs and spending priorities for the FY 24-29 Consolidated Plan for federal grants. Agenda Where Does Our Funding Come From? Planning and Reporting for Federal Funding How We Make Decisions Fair Housing What We've Heard From the Community Programs and Activities Overview Group and Community Input How do we fund our programs? HUD Annual Entitlement Grants Housing Trust Fund Approved City Bonds City Operating Budget Project Connect Anti-Displacement Funds CARES Act The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates entitlement funding to municipalities and state governments. The City of Austin applies for what in recent years has been approximately $14 million in annual grant entitlements across four grants for affordable housing, community development, economic development, and public services. Each year, we plan and evaluate the programs funded by the HUD grants. 4 Planning and Reporting for Federal Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated Plan (5-Year) Allocates federal resources to housing and community development Action Plan (1-Year) Summarizes actions, activities and federal/non- federal resources in the Consolidated Plan Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (1-Year) End-of-year report on progress toward consolidated plan 6 Consolidated Plan Funding Sources Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Goal: Provide decent housing and a suitable living environment; expand economic opportunities for low-income people Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Goal: Benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families by providing supportive services and housing Consolidated Plan (5-Year) HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Goal: create affordable housing for low- income households Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Goal: Assist people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness 7 How are funding decisions made? We are here Community Participation: Community Needs Assessment Available Use of Funding Sources Consolidated Plan Housing Needs & Market Analysis Other Planning Efforts Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 8 Fair Housing Issues, Experiences • 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) • Potential upcoming "Equity Plan" related to fair housing • Seeking input and surveying on fair housing issues, experiences (details on future slide) 9 What we’ve heard from the Community I need immediate help I need a more accessible process Feedback themes I want the opportunity to build wealth and long-term stability I need help maintaining stability I need immediate help Housing Needs Finding housing Rental Assistance Mortgage assistance Emergency …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 2 0 2 3 0 2 1 2 ‐ 7 FOR TRANSGENDER PROTECTIONS BE IT RESOLVED, Except to the extent required by law, it is the policy of the City that no City personnel, funds, or resources shall be used to investigate, criminally prosecute, impose administrative penalties on, or terminate or limit the eligibility for City funding, such as grants or contracts, an individual or organization for providing to or assisting a transgender or nonbinary individual with healthcare or for receiving or seeking such care. It is also the policy of the City to protect the welfare and safety of those who identify or are perceived as LGBTQ and those who provide services and support to such individuals through the vigorous enforcement of hate crimes, anti‐discrimination laws, and other forms of support. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED If any law or regulation of the State of Texas imposes criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions on an individual or organization for providing to or assisting a transgender or nonbinary individual with healthcare or for receiving or seeking such care, City personnel shall make enforcement of said law or regulation their lowest priority. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Except to the extent required by law, City personnel shall not enforce laws of other jurisdictions that impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions, on an individual or organization for providing to or assisting a transgender or a nonbinary individual with healthcare or seeking or receiving such care and shall decline any request to stop, arrest, detain, continue to detain, or transfer into the custody of any other law enforcement, individuals based on such conduct being criminalized, penalized, or sanctionable in said jurisdiction. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Except to the extent required by law, City personnel shall not respond to any request for information from another jurisdiction if the request is related to that jurisdiction's laws, rules, or regulations imposing criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions or the investigation thereof, on an individual or organization for providing to or assisting a transgender or nonbinary individual with healthcare or seeking or receiving such care. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Except to the extent required by law, City personnel shall not enforce or facilitate the collection of any judgment of another jurisdiction to the extent the judgment arises out of a cause of …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 2 0 2 3 0 2 1 2 ‐ X X FOR Budget for Increased Emergency Housing Assistance (I BELONG IN AUSTIN PROGRAM) WHEREAS the City of Austin continues to face a housing affordability crisis particularly impacting renters that have seen multiple years of rental increases, and WHEREAS the LGBTQ Quality of Life Study noted that the increased cost of rental housing was the highest‐ranked domain of priority for participants in the town hall meetings, and WHEREAS, in the referenced Study, 10% of respondents indicated they had been homeless in the last 5 years, 65% of respondents spent 30% or more of their income on housing while 9% spent more than 50% before the record increases of the last three years, and WHEREAS, the City has approved funding over $7 million for a program entitled "I Belong In Austin" to provide emergency assistance for renters in danger of losing their housing including short‐term rental assistance as well as moving and storage expenses to lessen the impact of forced relocation, and WHEREAS the "I Belong in Austin" had over 800 people on the waiting list when the Program began and is likely to exhaust funding before the end of this fiscal year, indicating the continuing need for this assistance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission recommends that the Austin City Council approve funding of $8 million for the "I Belong in Austin" Program to mitigate the affordability crisis and to accomplish strategic goals related to housing stabilization, economic opportunity, and affordability. Page 1 of 2 Record of the Vote: Adopted without objection on a X‐X vote. VOTE Date of Approval: Present: Attest: Ryn Gonzales, Chair Page 2 of 2
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 2 0 2 3 0 2 1 2 ‐ 6 FOR Budget for LGBTQIA+ AFFIRMING MENTAL HEALTHCARE WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study identified that the Austin‐Round Rock‐Georgetown metropolitan area had the 3rd largest percentage of LGBTQIA+ people in the United States, with about 5.0% or 90,000 people identifying as LGBTQIA+; and WHEREAS the City of Austin currently has an estimated 475‐person waitlist for LGBTQIA+‐focused mental health services; and WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study found that respondents are at high risk for serious mental health issues, including 42% for depression and 12% for suicidal ideation; and WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study respondents reported having to put off getting health‐related services in the past 12 months because of the cost of dental care (29%), mental health care (21%), medical care (18%), and gender‐affirming care (9%) among the top services avoided due to cost; and WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study respondents were asked about how they rate their overall mental health since the pandemic, more than half (52%) of the 1,882 respondents rated their mental health as fair, poor, or very poor, a sizeable increase in mental health concerns; and WHEREAS nearly half (45%) of respondents in the Austin‐based QWELL Community Foundation’s 2021 survey rated their mental health as poor or fair; and WHEREAS according to the 2022 Austin Public Health Community Health Assessment, there exists significant mental health needs including stigma and limited access to mental health care. Among Travis County residents, the suicide rate was 12.2 deaths per 100,000 population and highest among males (18.5 deaths per 100,000 population) and White residents (17.1 deaths per 100,000 population) in 2016‐ 2020. In 2020, a higher percentage of females (33.0%) compared to males (20.9%) reported poor mental health, and the prevalence of poor mental health days has increased by 7 overall for both genders. In the same year, a higher percentage of Hispanic/Latino adults (31.5%) reported poor mental health compared to White (26.3%) and Black/African American (22.9%) adults. In 2020, the highest proportion of adults experiencing poor mental health was seen among adults aged 18‐29 (32.6%) and 30‐44 years of age (34.3%); and WHEREAS, of the seven million dollars of mental health funding in FY24 social service contracts, only $161,673 (2%) provides …
REGULAR MEETING of the LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION Monday, February 12, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, Room 1401 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas 78752 MEETING MINUTES Some members of the 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 Alyssa Parra, the Commission’s staff liaison, at 512-974-2934 or Alyssa.Parra@AustinTexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Dereca Sims Christian Aguirre Yuri G Barragán VACANT Jerome Benson David Garza J. Scott Neal, Chair CALL TO ORDER Appointment Commissioner Gary Brown District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 Mariana Krueger Brandon Wollerson Marti Bier Charles Curry Dr. Melissa Taylor Morgan Davis Alexander Andersen Minutes Appointment District 8 District 9 District 10 Mayor Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder Vice Chair Aguirre called to order at 7:05 PM ROLL CALL: Absent: • Marti Bier • Mariana Krueger Page 1 of 4 Present: Jerome Benson John Scott Neal (virtual) ● Dereca Sims (virtual) ● Christian Aguirre ● Yuri G Barragán (virtual) ● ● David Garza ● ● Gary Brown ● Brandon Wollerson ● Charles Curry • Melissa Taylor (virtual) ● Morgan Davis ● Alexander Andersen PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No public communication MOTION TO SUSPEND ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER Motioned by Commissioner Aguirre and seconded by Commissioner Curry, passed unanimously by roll call vote with Commissioner Garza abstaining. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Motion by Commissioner Wollerson, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to approve the minutes of the Commission’s Regular Meeting on January 8, 2023. Passed unanimously. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION 2. FY 24-29 Consolidated Plan Community Needs Assessment Presentation & Discussion Presented by: Chris Duran, Senior Research Analyst, Housing Department, Julie Smith, Community Engagement Specialist, Housing Department, Jamey May, Housing & Community Development Officer, Housing Department, Susan Watkins, Housing Division Manager, Housing Department, Leslie Boyd, Acting Public Health Program Manager II, Austin Public Health. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion on Trans Protections Recommendation to the council. 4. Approve a recommendation to the council on Emergency Housing Assistance. Motion by Commissioner Wollerson, Seconded by Commissioner Davis, Passed via roll call vote, …
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 2 0 2 4 0 2 1 2 - 4 FOR Budget for Increased Emergency Housing Assistance (I BELONG IN AUSTIN PROGRAM) WHEREAS the City of Austin continues to face a housing affordability crisis particularly impacting renters that have seen multiple years of rental increases, and WHEREAS the LGBTQ Quality of Life Study noted that the increased cost of rental housing was the highest-ranked domain of priority for participants in the town hall meetings, and WHEREAS, in the referenced Study, 10% of respondents indicated they had been homeless in the last 5 years, 65% of respondents spent 30% or more of their income on housing while 9% spent more than 50% before the record increases of the last three years, and WHEREAS, the City has approved funding over $7 million for a program entitled "I Belong In Austin" to provide emergency assistance for renters in danger of losing their housing including short-term rental assistance as well as moving and storage expenses to lessen the impact of forced relocation, and WHEREAS the "I Belong in Austin" had over 800 people on the waiting list when the Program began and is likely to exhaust funding before the end of this fiscal year, indicating the continuing need for this assistance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission recommends that the Austin City Council approve funding of $8 million for the "I Belong in Austin" Program to mitigate the affordability crisis and to accomplish strategic goals related to housing stabilization, economic opportunity, and affordability. Page 1 of 2 Record of the Vote: Adopted on an 11-1 Vote, Commissioner Garza voted no Present: VOTE Date of Approval: 2/12/2024 Jerome Benson John Scott Neal (virtual) ● Dereca Sims (virtual) ● Christian Aguirre ● Yuri G Barragán (virtual) ● ● David Garza ● ● Gary Brown ● Brandon Wollerson ● Charles Curry • Melissa Taylor (virtual) ● Morgan Davis ● Alexander Andersen Attest: Alyssa Parra, staff Liaison Page 2 of 2
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 2 0 2 4 0 2 1 2 - 5 FOR Budget for LGBTQIA+ AFFIRMING MENTAL HEALTHCARE WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study identified that the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metropolitan area had the 3rd largest percentage of LGBTQIA+ people in the United States, with about 5.0% or 90,000 people identifying as LGBTQIA+; and WHEREAS the City of Austin currently has an estimated 475-person waitlist for LGBTQIA+-focused mental health services; and WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study found that respondents are at high risk for serious mental health issues, including 42% for depression and 12% for suicidal ideation; and WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study respondents reported having to put off getting health-related services in the past 12 months because of the cost of dental care (29%), mental health care (21%), medical care (18%), and gender-affirming care (9%) among the top services avoided due to cost; and WHEREAS the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study respondents were asked about how they rate their overall mental health since the pandemic, more than half (52%) of the 1,882 respondents rated their mental health as fair, poor, or very poor, a sizeable increase in mental health concerns; and WHEREAS nearly half (45%) of respondents in the Austin-based QWELL Community Foundation’s 2021 survey rated their mental health as poor or fair; and WHEREAS according to the 2022 Austin Public Health Community Health Assessment, there exists significant mental health needs including stigma and limited access to mental health care. Among Travis County residents, the suicide rate was 12.2 deaths per 100,000 population and highest among males (18.5 deaths per 100,000 population) and White residents (17.1 deaths per 100,000 population) in 2016- 2020. In 2020, a higher percentage of females (33.0%) compared to males (20.9%) reported poor mental health, and the prevalence of poor mental health days has increased by 7 overall for both genders. In the same year, a higher percentage of Hispanic/Latino adults (31.5%) reported poor mental health compared to White (26.3%) and Black/African American (22.9%) adults. In 2020, the highest proportion of adults experiencing poor mental health was seen among adults aged 18-29 (32.6%) and 30-44 years of age (34.3%); and WHEREAS, of the seven million dollars of mental health funding in FY24 social service contracts, only $161,673 (2%) provides …
