Travis County Commissioners Court
November 18, 2008
Item 4
>> [ applause ] number 4 is to approve resolution recognizing November 15th through 21st, 2008 as national hunger and homelessness awareness week in Travis County. If somebody had that original resolution?
>> the one on homelessness?
>> yeah. Item no. 4.
>> yes. Right here. Should I read it?
>> it reads whereas the local plan planning partnership has gathered the support and participation of many organizations and individuals to commemorate national hunger and homelessness awareness week in Austin, Travis County. Whereas the purpose of the proclamation is to increase community awareness about issues of hunger and homelessness. Whereas there are many organizations committed to sheltering the homeless and providing supportive services, such as meals and food supplies, whereas it is estimated that there are more than 3,000 homeless persons in Austin and Travis County on any given day. Approximately 7,000 homeless individuals and families receive services in Austin, Travis County. Or received them in 2007. And nearly 2,000 Austin independent school district students were affected by homelessness and hunger in 2007. Whereas the local theme of national hunger and homelessness awareness week 2008 is "a community firstly -- fiercely focused on ending homelessness". Whereas the ending community homelessness echo coalition, the local community partnership to address issues of homelessness recognizes that hunger and homelessness continue to weigh heavily on the lives of many individuals and families in Austin, Travis County. And whereas the intent of national hunger and homelessness awareness week is consistent with the activities of more than 70 organizations and community members of echo. Now there ever be it resolved by the Travis County Commissioners court that all residents of Travis County are urged to observe November 11 through 21st, 2008, as national hunger and homelessness awareness week and to recognize that many people do not have housing and need support from their fellow citizens and private and public non-profit service organizations. I move approval.
>> second.
>> my name is rick rivera. With me is chris lennonburger, helen, jo kathryn and donna carter, all members of the echo group. We would like to thank the court for the proclamation recognizing November 15th through the 21st as hunger and homeless awareness week. National recognition. Locally we always celebrate the week before thanksgiving. This week began on the 15th with the stand down, which was an event to provide resource to -- to homeless individuals and families -- provide an opportunity for them to find out about resources and receive -- and receive resources at that event. Also on that day was the very first day of arts in the streets. If you haven't had an opportunity to attend arts in the streets, a great art sale, art for sale that goes directly to the artists who are all homeless or formerly homeless. Sunday the summarize homeless memorial took place. House the homeless always hosts that. They provided a list of all of those who are homeless who perished on our streets during the past year. Thank you, jennifer, for passing that to me. Also it was the second day of -- of art from the streets. Art from the streets, is a two day event. That will always happen the -- the Saturday -- not Saturday before, but the Saturday the week before thanksgiving. Monday was the kickoff to our blanket drive for the homeless. Conducted by front staff. So we would ask everybody in our community to go ahead and provide -- go ahead and take your donation of a blanket to front steps which is located at 500 east seventh. Sorry, I'm so weird at doing these things. Tonight, actually, one of the things that we're doing is at the animal -- alamo draft house south, 1120 south lamar, we are having a movie. For $10 you can see two features. The first one is kicking it, which is about homeless soccer, basically the homeless soccer world cup, with the next world cup, a member of our local homeless soccer team will be going to that. Snow cone, written, directed and produced by a local producer, director and writing who himself formerly was homeless. Tomorrow we want to recognize turn hunger -- hungry holidays into happy holidays. We ask the community to go ahead and donate night their time, food and money to the capital area food bank, caritas of Austin, other food banks in your church or neighborhood. Thursday's events, we're going to -- if you are out and about during the noon hour, from noon to 1:30, we will have volunteers holding up signs which are there to further educate the community about issues facing the homeless and issues of hunger as well. The city council, Austin city council will be reading their proclamation and recognition of this week as well. Friday, we are inviting the community to come out and learn and help us think through the issue of homelessness. We are having a -- hosting a community forum at st. David's episcopal church located at 8th street and san jacinto, depending on how you pronounce it, your personal preference. But we are asking people to go ahead and participate in that. Find out more about that in our website www.austinecho.org. And then we went ahead being texans we always want to go ahead and make things bigger. We wanted to recognize that Saturday on the 22nd is turkey distribution day from 11:30 a.m. To 1:30 p.m. At the mexican american cultural arts center, river street, an important event which provides much needed thanksgiving festivities to those who can't otherwise afford it. But once again I would like to thank this court for all of the work that you have done in the past. To address the issues of homelessness and hunger in our community, for all of the work that we will be continuing to do together, thank you.
>> thank you.
>> any additional comments?
>> he said it all.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you very much. We appreciate the work that you do.
>> [ applause ]
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:38 PM