June 5th Council Agenda, Items 78, 82, and 83

[Jose Velasquez]

Good morning, Colleagues,

Next week, I will be bringing forward three resolutions—Items 78, 82, and 83—that collectively aim to strengthen critical support systems for families and survivors of violence, improve housing stability, and enhance our approach to violence prevention. In the name of efficiency, I would like to offer some background on each item and invite your thoughts and support ahead of next week.

Item 78 – Establishing a Family Justice Center
Family Justice Centers (FJC’s) are nationally recognized models that co-locate services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. They provide trauma-informed, client-centered support under one roof. Austin has the organizational capacity, professional expertise, and community needed to make this vision a reality.

Working in close collaboration with the Travis County Attorney’s Office and dedicated community-based organizations, my office has assessed the feasibility and framework of an FJC in Austin. This resolution formalizes our collaboration and ensures strategic planning as we move towards the creation and long-term sustainability of a Family Justice Center.

Notably, the Travis County Attorney’s Office has committed to providing a facility for the center, demonstrating a significant investment in this joint effort.

Item 82 – Expansion of Home Repair Programs
Access to safe and stable housing is a foundational need, and many of our residents—especially seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families—face significant barriers to maintaining their homes. Current displacement prevention programs offer valuable tools, but as needs have changed, so must our resources so that we can better support our community.

This resolution seeks to identify and address program gaps, explore potential partnerships (including with Travis County), and ensure we are leveraging available resources effectively. I look forward to working with you to develop a coordinated, equitable approach to housing preservation in our community.

Item 83 – Strengthening the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP)
Established with the foresight of our previous Council, the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) has already begun laying important groundwork in addressing violence through public health strategies. This resolution seeks to bolster those efforts by directing the City Manager to develop a comprehensive implementation plan that aligns with local, county, and community-led initiatives.

The OVP represents an important shift—toward addressing the root causes of violence, rather than reacting after harm has occurred. The work of our community partners, Austin Public Health, and Travis County has been essential in shaping this vision, and this resolution will help ensure we continue to move forward with coordination, intention, and shared accountability.

I am deeply grateful to the co-sponsors of these items and the many individuals and organizations who have helped bring these proposals to this point. I welcome your feedback and look forward to our continued discussion.

Item 78 - https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 082742.pdf
Item 82 - https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 082848.pdf
Item 83 - https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 082929.pdf

Thank you,
Council Member José Velásquez