Recommendation 20260615-006: Continuity of Survivor Services and Community-Based Care Facilities — original pdf

Recommendation

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: 20260615-006: Continuity of Survivor Services and Community-Based Care Facilities Date: June 15, 2026 Recommendation: The LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that the Austin City Council and the Mayor’s Office, in partnership with Travis County and other funding partners, identify and allocate sufficient emergency and bridge funding to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of survivor-centered services currently provided through Eloise House and other existing community-based facilities serving survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. The Commission further recommends that any funding strategy prioritize: • Continued access to forensic examinations in community-based, non-hospital settings in additional to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training for nurses • Trauma-informed advocacy and crisis response services • Emergency shelter and housing support • Legal and case management services • Culturally competent and affirming care for LGBTQIA+ survivors and other historically marginalized communities • Preservation of service capacity at existing facilities where survivors currently receive care The Commission also recommends that the City develop a sustainable, long-term funding strategy that protects continuity of care, minimizes service disruptions, and ensures that survivors can continue accessing trusted, community-based support systems during any operational or administrative transitions. Description of Recommendation to Council: Austin's network of survivor services provides critical support to thousands of individuals each year. These services include forensic examinations, crisis intervention, advocacy, shelter, counseling, legal support, and other wraparound resources that help survivors achieve safety and stability. Eloise House serves as a unique community-based location where survivors can access forensic examinations and advocacy services outside of a hospital setting. For many survivors, particularly LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants, communities of color, people with disabilities, and people who have experienced discrimination within traditional institutions, community-based care settings can offer a more accessible and trusted environment for seeking help. The Commission's concern is focused on ensuring that critical services remain available, culturally responsive, and accessible regardless of future administrative or funding arrangements. Any transition in service delivery should be carefully planned to avoid interruptions in care, loss of capacity, loss of critical facilities, or barriers to access for vulnerable populations. Funding should be directed toward maintaining service continuity, retaining trained personnel where possible, preserving community-based service locations, and ensuring that survivors continue to receive coordinated support throughout their healing process. Rationale: LGBTQIA+ survivors often face unique barriers when seeking support following experiences of violence, including fear of discrimination, concerns about confidentiality, prior negative experiences with institutions, and challenges finding affirming care providers. These barriers can be compounded by race, ethnicity, immigration status, disability, housing insecurity, and economic hardship. Community-based survivor services play an important role in reducing these barriers by providing trauma-informed, culturally competent, and affirming environments where survivors can access support without navigating multiple disconnected systems. The Commission recognizes that Austin's survivor-services infrastructure is a critical public safety, public health, and quality-of-life resource. While operational and funding models may evolve over time, the continuity of services themselves must remain the City's highest priority. The LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission urges Council to act swiftly to ensure that survivors continue to have access to trusted facilities, experienced providers, and culturally competent care without interruption. Protecting these services protects the health, safety, and dignity of some of Austin's most vulnerable residents. Date of Approval: June 15, 2026 Motioned By: Chair Coyne Seconded By: Commissioner Neal Vote: 12-0 For: Chair Coyne, Vice Chair McLeod, Commissioners, Brown, Daniel, Davis, Fierro-Pérez, Johnson, Krueger, Neal, Nguyen, Pituk, Rivas Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: None Off the dais: None Absent: Secretary Benson, Commissioners Bandit, Knutson Attest: _____________________________________________ (Ryan Sperling, Staff Liaison)