At its weekly meeting March 31, Austin City Council plans to consider and vote on several proposals that could affect Austin's low-income residents.
Social services funding
In 2014, City Council agreed to consider annual social services funding increases to reflect the rising area cost of living and also voted to increase social services funding by $15.8 million within three to five years. With those goals in mind, council will consider increasing funding up to $2.3 million for 13 different social service agencies through 2018.
Council will also vote on a proposal to help finance programs at six local organizations that aim to reduce health disparities and health inequity across Austin's various demographics.
"Despite the fact that Austin is frequently cited as one of the fittest cities in the United States, disparities continue to persist for African Americans; immigrants; Latinos; Asians; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) people of color," a city staff report said. "These populations continue to experience higher rates of death and disease. For example, incidence rates for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV infection, infant mortality and premature and low birth-weight babies for African American and Hispanic populations in Austin and Travis County continue to be higher than that of other ethnic groups."
The organizations and programs being considered for one year of funding not to exceed $1.05 million are:
- Catholic Charities, immigration legal services and counseling services
- University of Texas, maternal health equity program
- Sickle Cell Association of Texas, Marc Thomas Foundation
- University of Texas, Alliance Wellness African American health program
- Meals on Wheels services for the elderly
- allgo, LGBTQ people of color sexual health and wellness program
- Austin Revitalizatoin Authority, African American Health outreach and community service program
Cielo development affordable housing waiver
Developers behind the incoming Cielo housing community at Plaza Saltillo hope to pay a fee instead of building the number of affordable units required to qualify for the city's density bonus program, which allows developers to build a denser project with more square footage or height. The fee, totaling around $93,000 would be put into the city's Housing Trust Fund to be used for an off-site affordability project. In addition, developers also offered to bury utility lines, which would allow a nearby Austin Habitat for Humanity condominium development to expand by 4,000 feet without footing the cost of the utility burial, Habitat Director of Operations Greg Anderson said.
Some council members expressed concern with not requiring the full number of affordable units be built on-site at Cielo; the full council will vote on the matter Thursday.
