Proposed Budget Riders
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:06 am
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100403.pdf
Colleagues:
Attached is a budget rider I intend to bring with my cosponsors - Mayor Adler and CMs Tovo, Fuentes, and Vela
The purpose is to continue the successful HEAL Initiative at the same level and avoid a drop in services when the Northbridge Shelter is converted to PSH later in the year. The rider is funded with a combination of already dedicated ARPA Funds, General Funds, and CIP funding.
The City Manager is directed to continue the HEAL Initiative, serving at least 200 additional individuals by the end of FY 2022-23, drawing from a total of $3 million in ARPA funds currently dedicated for HEAL Rapid Rehousing through FY2025.
The Rider also adds acquisition and operational funding to maintain bridge sheltering capacity for the HEAL initiative at or above current levels as the 60 rooms at the Northbridge property are converted to permanent supportive housing (PSH) units.
As you all are aware - the HEAL Initiative is intended to compassionately close the most unsafe encampments in our city by offering people experiencing homelessness a direct pathway to crisis shelter and opportunities to attain stable housing, sustainably reducing public camping in unsafe areas.
The program was created by City Council in February of 2021, and the first encampment relocation occurred in June of that year. Since that time, 9 encampments have been addressed, with a tenth currently in process. Approximately 90% of individuals offered transfer to the City's two bridge shelters have accepted; this has resulted in 327 persons moving into the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters. To date, 94 people have exited to permanent housing, primarily through dedicated Rapid Rehousing programs run by community service providers such as Family Eldercare.
Thank you so much for your consideration of this Rider. The Council has been a strong supporter of services for our unhoused neighbors, including the HEAL Initiative in previous years.
Best
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5
Colleagues:
Attached is a budget rider I intend to bring with my cosponsors - Mayor Adler and CMs Tovo, Fuentes, and Vela
The purpose is to continue the successful HEAL Initiative at the same level and avoid a drop in services when the Northbridge Shelter is converted to PSH later in the year. The rider is funded with a combination of already dedicated ARPA Funds, General Funds, and CIP funding.
The City Manager is directed to continue the HEAL Initiative, serving at least 200 additional individuals by the end of FY 2022-23, drawing from a total of $3 million in ARPA funds currently dedicated for HEAL Rapid Rehousing through FY2025.
The Rider also adds acquisition and operational funding to maintain bridge sheltering capacity for the HEAL initiative at or above current levels as the 60 rooms at the Northbridge property are converted to permanent supportive housing (PSH) units.
As you all are aware - the HEAL Initiative is intended to compassionately close the most unsafe encampments in our city by offering people experiencing homelessness a direct pathway to crisis shelter and opportunities to attain stable housing, sustainably reducing public camping in unsafe areas.
The program was created by City Council in February of 2021, and the first encampment relocation occurred in June of that year. Since that time, 9 encampments have been addressed, with a tenth currently in process. Approximately 90% of individuals offered transfer to the City's two bridge shelters have accepted; this has resulted in 327 persons moving into the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters. To date, 94 people have exited to permanent housing, primarily through dedicated Rapid Rehousing programs run by community service providers such as Family Eldercare.
Thank you so much for your consideration of this Rider. The Council has been a strong supporter of services for our unhoused neighbors, including the HEAL Initiative in previous years.
Best
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5