Austin City Council on March 31 approved a collective $800,000 boost in funding to 13 area nonprofits. The charity organizations will receive a 6 percent funding increase as part of an annual review of social service funding to reflect the rising area cost of living. City Council decided in 2014 to review social services for the purpose of increasing funding.
If City Council continues to pass a series of funding increase extensions over the next six years, the total social services funding increase amount could be up to $80.6 million, according to city documents. The $80.6 million figure is a projected cost and is not a funding commitment, District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo said.
The organizations and programs receiving part of the nearly $800,000 increase 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 Revitalization Authority, African-American health outreach and community service program
Some council members expressed concern that there were not objective performance metrics outlined for the social service organizations receiving a funding increase or a measurable way to assess the effectiveness of the additional funding.
“I’m dumfounded we would be asked to ... give up [$80 million] of the taxpayers' money with absolutely no evidence it will [be effective]," District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman said.
Other council members and city staff members said area nonprofits work hard to ensure the most positive outcomes possible but that performance metrics for social service organizations are not as black and white as they may be in other industries.
“Outcomes are critical for all of these organizations ... these are responsible nonprofits; they are working toward achieving outcomes," District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen said. "I trust they will look at the appropriate amount of [funding] increase.”
Cielo development affordable housing waiver
Developers behind the incoming Cielo housing community at Plaza Saltillo will be able to pay the city a fee instead of building the number of affordable units required to qualify for the city’s density bonus program after a March 31 City Council vote.
Density bonus programs allow developers to build a denser project with more square footage or height in exchange for providing affordable housing.
The fee, totaling around $93,000, will be put into the city’s Housing Trust Fund to be used for an off-site affordable housing project.
In addition, developers also offered to bury utility lines within and around their project, which will allow a nearby Austin Habitat for Humanity condominium development to include several dozen more units without footing the bill for the utility burial.
“This is a really great example of where industry and a nonprofit in the city can partner together," Gallo said of the project. "I’m delighted to support it.”
