Item 1: Budget Follow-Up Working Group Report — original pdf

Backup

FY2026–27 LGBTQIA+ Budget Advocacy Priorities White Page This document summarizes the Working Group’s recommended advocacy priorities, it does not represent an official Commission position unless adopted by the full Commission. Our priorities are, in order: housing, healthcare, safety, legal assistance, and community place making. Most of these proposals strengthen existing programs and invest in fiscally responsible prevention. We also ask for clear accountability, including responsible departments and implementation timelines. 1. Housing Stabilization and Homelessness Assistance ● Protect and increase funding for existing housing stabilization, rental assistance, homelessness prevention, and emergency housing programs. ● Ensure City-funded programs provide safe, affirming, and accountable services for LGBTQIA+ residents, particularly transgender and gender-diverse residents. Ask: Maintain and expand proven housing assistance programs while reviewing whether LGBTQIA+ residents can access those programs safely and equitably. 2. LGBTQIA+ Legal Navigation and Community Safety Coordination ● Support coordinated assistance that helps LGBTQIA+ residents navigate legal concerns, safety incidents, referrals, and available City or community services. ● Head count here can provide residents with a clear point of contact and produce tangible, measurable results without creating a large new program. Ask: Fund legal-navigation and community-safety coordination through the Equity Office by having a dedicated resource. 3. APD LGBTQ+ Community Liaison Program ● Dedicate approximately $40,000 from the proposed APD budget to support the new LGBTQ+ and Community Liaison program. ● Funding should support written responsibilities, specialized training, community listening sessions, outreach materials, performance measures, backup coverage, and long-term continuity. Ask: Provide the new liaison with the resources and structure needed to create long term viability and meet the Chief’s stated goal of making this a full time role. 4. MPox, HIV/STI, and Vaccination Programs ● Follow Austin Public Health’s recommendation to maintain and expand MPox vaccination, HIV/STI testing, prevention, treatment navigation, outreach, and community-provider partnerships. ● These proven services save lives, prevent avoidable harm, and reduce the need for more expensive medical treatment later. This is truly an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure. Ask: Fully fund Austin Public Health’s recommended service levels for MPox vaccination and HIV/STI prevention and ensure these essential programs are not reduced. 5. Safe and Proud Entertainment Corridor Support Stop the Bleed training, CPR/AED access, venue coordination, and emergency preparedness along Bettie Naylor and West Fourth Street. (The alarm component is not included.) Ask: Fund these safety measures and assign clear departmental responsibility for implementation. 6. LGBTQ Entertainment District and Micro-PID ● Move the LGBTQ Entertainment District from planning to implementation, with a lead department, timeline, and first-year funding plan. ● Continue development of a Micro-PID to support district identity, safety, improvements, programming, and long-term management. Ask: Direct the Economic Development Department and Transportation and Public Works to provide an implementation plan, funding options, and next steps for the Micro-PID.