Travis County Commissioners Court
January 26, 2010,
Item 4
Number 4 is to approve resolution designating the month of January 2010 as poverty awareness month in Travis County.
we see a lot of our nonprofit organization leaders with us today.
>> I'd like them to join us, please.
my name is katie nevine, the vice-president of work force development services at will and chair of the basic needs caw coalition.
we understand you have a proclamation.
shall we read it or would you like to read it?
>> either way fine with me.
>> I think you did a great job.
>> I'll just read it.
>> thank you.
>> this is my opportunity to shine, by the way.
>> absolutely.
>> it reads, whereas an estimated 144,336, that is 15 percent, Travis County residents were living in poverty in 2008, higher than the national poverty rate of 13 percent, whereas 47,723, that is 19 percent, of children under the age of 18 in Travis County were living in poverty in 2008, whereas boys raised in poverty are twice as likely to be arrested and three times as likely to be incarcerated, whereas girls raised in poverty are five times as likely to bear a child out of wedlock prior to the age of 21, whereas many researchers and policy makers agree that a family must earn at least twice the federal income poverty guideline or 34,42,400 for a family of four in 2009 to meet basic needs, whereas Travis County 23578 list living in poverty did not receive any type of cash assistance and 72 percent did not receive food stamps in 2008, whereas the demand for services to help individuals and families transition out of poverty continues to increase, and whereas poverty has many tangible costs for neighbors and community, now therefore be it resolved that we the Travis County Commissioners court do here by proclaim the month of January 2010 as poverty awareness month in Travis County and encourage all our citizens to increase their awareness of poverty by enengaging in activities and supporting programs designed to impact and reduce the effects of poverty in our community.
and the gist is that in addition to been aware of poverty, help us do something about it.
i move approval.
>> second.
>> thank you very much.
i left hard copy of our of our materials that we developed.
it can be found on our website, www.basic needs coalition.org.
i'm here representing the basic needs coalition and efforts to offer a safety net and ladder up for people living in poverty.
we're a collaborative group of 40 plus nonprofit entities, smaltsmall and large, nonprofit service providers, faith based entities and the city county and governmental agencies.
we're all focused on eliminating poverty and all concerned about poverty and that is why we bring to everyone's attention poverty awareness month.
we do have to work on this all year long.
but we want to put a spot light on it this month.
we are particularly grateful for the support from the county health and human services department, research and planning has provided much of the data, has assisted with the production of our materials in providing data.
our family, your family support services in particular, andrea cobuse has chaired the housing stability committee for many years and done a great job with that.
and of course the financial support we receive for the best single source, which was founded in 2004, continues to serve many families in poverty with a case management wrap around service mold--model.
as of this past year our success rate with that program is 86 percent.
but we have had the support and the understanding of our county and we really appreciate that.
>> how do you measure that?
>> we measure that--
>> the wrap around, you say 86 percent.
>> we measure that by looking at the number of families who have had to seek assistance again after their initially support.
so 86 percent in the term of a year did not have to go anywhere else to seek additional assistance.
we were able to stabilize them and move them into more stable housing situations after the support that they were given.
>> okay.
and several folks sitting there, I don't know how y'all interrelate.
>> we are all part of the basic needs coalition.
>> okay.
i know you interrelate but I didn't know what of the basic coalition as far as the viewing public.
you hear one person speaking but there are others there that tie into all of this.
i think it's pretty significant because there are more than one group here addressing the basic needs desperately sought out in this community.
i didn't want to pick on one person.
i wanted to see public how you interrelate as far as the connectivity.
>> one of the things we do is work collaboratively to seek solutions and then work collaboratively to seek and implement funding solutions.
and there are several grant sources out there right now where people are working together so that we can bring all of our particular expertise to a problem and provide all the wrap around services, particularly in one place.
so that is the make-up of the basic needs coalition and that is our intent and our purpose, is to work collaboratively.
>> in the past y'all have had tours throughout the community to show where the different populations will.
those were really really informative.
and certainly had an opportunity to get up close to see where the pockets of poverty are.
are y'all planning more of those tours?
>> we are probably not planning them for this year but they are in our plans for next year's poverty awareness month.
if that was significant and meaningful to you--
>> was.
>> that is very good informatio.
>> it really was.
and the picture is worth a thousand words.
>> absolutely.
>> it was very much worth doing the tours.
>> okay.
we'll put that on the agenda for next year.
>> thanks.
>> is there any way, Commissioner, you brought up a good point.
i think the last tour that was offered, I think you and I and others were on that tour.
we actually were able to see firsthand exactly how you ceng to the people.
but the reason why I pull the question, even though Commissioner Gomez and I and others on this court have probably worked with you, the public really may not understand exactly what you do.
that is why I pose these questions, not to try to embarrass and you put you in a posture where by you don't feel comfortable.
no, that is not it.
but it is the intent of my questioning, to ensure that the public know what we are talking about here.
>> absolutely.
and again, I would ask people to go to our website, the basic needs coalition.org, and also to the community action network website.
they have a link to us and explain some of the collaborative efforts.
i also would be happy to introduce the other agencies that are here.
>> thank you.
>> but let you know that we are all representing over 40 agencies that participate in the basic needs coalition.
>> right.
>> , let me see who is here.
beth from caritas is here.
ellen from n 10 in the background.
jan hood from meals a wheels and more.
lee mad ford from aid services of Austin, julia span from safe place.
and Karen markham is representing the faith based community and has worked on advocacy muent and presented many of 250 these materials.
and sherry flemming is here.
and anne dra calandabuse.
we all have worked together in solving some of these problems.
the reason we have poverty awareness month, think oftentimes we see poverty in other parts of the country and the world.
and we need people to know that it's also right here in Travis County.
>> exactly.
>> there are people working on it, but we definitely need more help.
>> right.
>> in the spirit of educating, is this information that you passed out available in electronic format?
>> it is.
>> I would like to send it out through my e-mail network.
>> great.
it is on our .
website.
and I can send it direct ly to you.
would you like that?
>> sure.
>> also in reviewing this and documents provided with regard to the annual report on poverty, one thing astounding, unfortunately I was not unaware of it, but it still is astounding every time I look at it.
even though our poverty rate is at 15 percent, I don't think many folks really understand what the definition, the technical definition of poverty is.
could you tell us what the technical definition of poverty is from a federal poverty guideline standpoint.
>> for a family of four, that would be $21,000 a year.
>> I would challenge anyone in here or listening to try and raise a family on $21,000 a year in this region.
>> right.
>> and then with regard to our anne out update--annual update, could you refresh me on the number of individuals living at 200 percent of poverty, which is $42,000 for a family of four, which still, I mean, $42,000, you are getting by.
but if one thing goes wrong, you are in the dog house.
and that was 30 percent of our population?
>> yes, one third of our population is living at 200 percent.
absolutely.
absolutely.
>> that is a lot.
very alarming.
>> we appreciate all of you and all that you do.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you all.
keep up the good work.
you're doing a great job.
real appreciate.
>> judge, move approval.
>> all in favor.
that passes by unanimous vote.
ms.
porter, do you have copies?
all right.
may want to let them know when you change the system.
>> thanks so much for all you do.
>> thank you for everything you do.
appreciate it.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 2:15 PM
