[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6615614,"mediaKeyId","2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3","parentId",2861079,"title","Votes at a glance: committee approves March minutes and recommends appointment to Sobering Center board","audioSeconds",218,"startMs",906000,"endMs",1124000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3&start=906&end=1124","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3/thumbnail_906000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6615614/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-March-minutes-and-recommends-appointment-to-Sobering-Center-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615614-da0b655bd45e5c42bce0eff31bb349a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092779&Signature=YmKVLwlmN8CBaFXlJkv0VJfN80MV6xjw~S5JlUtXMX0ARo1opIAB2Rlms7Fd28HdZDKizH6wjO8--UzDMhgmL9kwM2o7DqDD1jKjESuNJQPwecjPGSB4zmtK8BHme2F4tBQmP~Uk2Kw~Ja6IAjzHGhytiN1VzysMlE-ZsRW2sC0noRzyl7xVEkzme-M3oa6TLYbPQUHmBkX2uxQRH7flpPngSSIhmyBbo6wwTXjoaMODDN5J3Q0Y400IVOr5KNnbjkjIh2mfoInbBaMV4Q9XS0aZ41yEmYehOT~gdEYIy24coSh1pU6KytrNUzwUBupoqQHnNnaht1vNBMNZldvZCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin City Council Public Health Committee took two formal actions at its April 2, 2025 meeting in City Council Chambers.

Approval of March 5, 2025 meeting minutes

Motion: Approve the March 5, 2025 meeting minutes as presented.
Mover: Vice Chair Duchin.
Second: Council Member Jose Velasquez.
Outcome: Approved; no objections recorded. Tally: 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain (Mayor Pro Tem Fuentes; Vice Chair Duchin; Council Members Zoe Caudrey, Ryan Alter, Jose Velasquez were present and part of the vote).

Recommendation to appoint to the Sobering Center Board of Managers

Motion: Move to appoint Judge Lori Isolo to the Sobering Center Board of Managers (committee recommendation to full council for appointment and consideration).
Mover: not specified on the public record excerpt.
Second: Council Member Kathie Kadri (recorded as second in the meeting transcript).
Discussion: The committee interviewed two applicants during executive session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code and returned to public session to make a recommendation. The committee chair called for a vote after no discussion was offered in open session.
Outcome: Motion approved; no opposition recorded. Tally: 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain.

Provenance: Both actions are recorded on the April 2 Public Health Committee transcript during the public session following the public comment period and the committee’s executive session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Public Health Committee - Apr 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 2 meeting the Austin City Council Public Health Committee approved March 5 meeting minutes and recommended a nominee for appointment to the Sobering Center Board of Managers.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6615619,"LifeWorks: youth homelessness rising in Austin; agency urges prevention and more housing",383,3004000,3387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3&start=3004&end=3387","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3/thumbnail_3004000.jpg","/articles/6615619/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/LifeWorks-youth-homelessness-rising-in-Austin-agency-urges-prevention-and-more-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615619-b20d9c1fb36eec7b81e6f138217eca6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092779&Signature=QlK2VflwhH37-y3Q6EzFF54Oc~XpNE1~9MmCxO2Mqgu~nh2BQzRVPE9onoP3zSsjbHApSIb679eOzDAYCRVyEy6PrPGYqCwukFjP9uATJRD3JWQPEW0COWSyeG9atRFPac1abAbNQZ5gZu4d5S1ZyOg7ap4Q2qKpg6uhtmbYS6U--g3Qze9rk0Xce1hatGe46xDyA8vSa0ojWm9xvxXmya1JNicLJyBBoVGuypXCpKQYP3smNML7FtWp6aIoBhEy32ZrTo7FpYabginFsbH5xLKpBSYrk90sBzzFFGD9QMvw8ATh2CeyN~sR-xQnHyr8rb2vJSB0Lfm70FKtXO-6xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liz Schoenfeld, chief executive officer of LifeWorks, told the Austin City Council Public Health Committee on April 2 that youth homelessness in Austin and Travis County has risen notably since 2020 and that the community must scale housing, prevention and supportive services to change the trend.

Why it matters: Schoenfeld described youth homelessness as a distinct phenomenon from adult chronic homelessness with different causes—family instability, foster care and juvenile justice system involvement—and said early intervention and tailored supports can prevent long‑term homelessness.

What LifeWorks presented

- Scale and scope: LifeWorks served about 2,700 young people last year across 19 programs. The organization said the youth cohort represents roughly 10 percent of the community’s homeless population (people ages 18–24). Schoenfeld presented by‑name list figures showing the youth count on that list has more than quadrupled since October 2020 and said the by‑name list stood at about 1,020 youth in the most recent month presented.

- Characteristics and risk factors: Schoenfeld said a high share of young people experiencing homelessness have histories of systems involvement. In a 2016 study with Chapin Hall, 76 percent of youth had foster care or juvenile justice histories; LifeWorks now estimates the combined share of youth with systems involvement at about 67 percent. She reported that roughly 57 percent of youth on the by‑name list have foster care histories and about one‑third have juvenile‑justice histories. Schoenfeld also said nearly 85 percent of youth reported primarily sleeping outdoors; two‑thirds met the federal definition for chronic homelessness, and nearly half had been continuously homeless for 12 months or more.

- Housing and program responses: LifeWorks operates housing and outreach programs, including street outreach and rapid rehousing funded in part by the city. Street outreach served more than 750 youth in the past fiscal year (compared with an expected 325). Rapid rehousing supported 277 youth in FY24, with 72 percent exiting to permanent destinations. LifeWorks said it administers about 85 percent of the community’s Foster Youth to Independence vouchers.

- New and planned investments: The agency said Works 3, an affordable housing project set to break ground later this year, will provide 120 units for youth, with 96 earmarked for youth transitioning from the by‑name list. LifeWorks also described prevention initiatives including a deflection program in partnership with the district attorney and the Excellence Project, a flexible assistance pilot that provided cash stipends (average <$3,500 per client) and a recent five‑year federal grant to expand services.

Committee discussion and priorities

Council members praised LifeWorks as a key local provider and discussed diversion, prevention and the need to invest in both housing and wraparound supports. Council Member Ryan Alter cited a diversion program that previously achieved about a 60 percent exit rate from literal homelessness to permanent housing and called for investment in front‑end solutions. Schoenfeld emphasized workforce services, community‑based counseling, peer support and case management as crucial wraparound services for youth.

Ending

LifeWorks and the Homeless Strategy Office said they have launched a task force to address the foster‑care to homelessness pipeline and will produce a report with policy proposals and financing options later this year.","LifeWorks told the Austin City Council Public Health Committee that youth homelessness has increased since 2020, the by‑name list has grown substantially, and the nonprofit is expanding housing and prevention programs while urging more targeted investments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6615622,"Austin Public Health warns federal grant cuts already costing staff and services",1326,1041000,2367000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3&start=1041&end=2367","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2861079-713247db696dcfb351576bb7ed3596b3/thumbnail_1041000.jpg","/articles/6615622/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Public-Health-warns-federal-grant-cuts-already-costing-staff-and-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615622-57c4f201416e9ae85d4eab46a69b71a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092779&Signature=fhe7BZQFZaWd~ZcIHSb5pAVSY3xPoKoyKIkGknnHBRNYQRLb8fi9Ss9Xs3qJK3MoLVnejo4PuWtvt2FKe01E23HTiu6UbvxxBOqczFYxGg~8~cEcQK7AydZTVecXLk96XJedty6EEKxHJksdYPgAGdLd-ZRmp6ujvTDkucED-tjQyQLn8sWs5ujyokX1JnkXm2-QtstvDph2b4pZ9xKXkuFJwN689Wxa0FJauHC3OhrQXz88qvRtuyO7fTKEHObD7b7Naewo5qwdQ9zwvtkjS31TDEe8xPOHeu9t2Yw4GN8-xn7wGhvj5ALL20NlAXHUS3eRJwKWSdWitACe7~wZPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin Public Health Director Adrian Sturrup told the Austin City Council Public Health Committee on April 2, 2025, that the department has already experienced roughly $15,000,000 in immediate federal funding losses that have affected staff and services and that additional grant funding remains at risk.

The presentation, given in City Council Chambers at 10:01 a.m., laid out the department’s fiscal picture for fiscal year 2025: a total budget of about $131,000,000, with roughly $92,000,000 in general fund support (about 70 percent of the department’s budget) and nearly $39,000,000 in grant funding. Sturrup said grant-funded positions make up a disproportionate share of the department’s full-time equivalents (FTEs): grant dollars represent about 30 percent of the dollar budget but support roughly 51 percent of APH FTEs.

Why it matters: Sturrup and Deputy Director Cassandra De Leon said federal and state notices have left local public health agencies uncertain about reimbursements. The department reported having absorbed some earlier reductions but said new cancellations have forced program closures and staff impacts. Sturrup described the situation as ‘‘death by a thousand cuts’’ and said the department is prioritizing statutory responsibilities while seeking community and philanthropic partners to preserve core services.

Key details from the briefing

- Immediate losses and staffing: The department reported approximately $15,000,000 in immediate federal funding reductions already realized, affecting about 50 positions (a mix of full-time and temporary). Sturrup said earlier grant reductions in fall 2024 affected 35 positions; APH absorbed 23 of those by reassigning staff or using vacant positions.

- Programs and staff named as lost or at risk: among items Sturrup listed as cut or canceled were the refugee medical services clinic (13 staff), a tobacco cessation program (Breathe with Pride — 2 staff), the GoATX youth employment program (about 25 summer interns and 3 full‑time staff), COVID vaccination staffing (7 staff), and a diabetes care program (2 staff). The department also identified potential additional at‑risk funding of about $7,800,000 that would affect roughly 57 more FTEs if it were lost; Sturrup said those at‑risk projects include health equity work, some HIV/STI programming, youth programs, and COVID‑19 surveillance work used for other communicable disease response.

- Service impacts and caseloads: De Leon reported specific patient impacts tied to the refugee clinic contract: between February and July the department had 595 scheduled initial refugee clinic appointments, 8,647 scheduled screenings, 1,608 scheduled vaccine appointments and 883 unscheduled referrals for people assigned to Austin and Travis County. Sturrup said the refugee program represented about $5,000,000 of funding.

- Public‑health responsibilities emphasized: Sturrup stressed that some work is statutorily required (disease surveillance, communicable disease investigation, food safety inspections, environmental health), while other services are contract or grant funded and may be candidates for handoff, partnership, or community support. He noted the department’s work identifying measles cases, coordinating labs, and conducting behind‑the‑scenes surveillance, citing how pandemic-era funding had been used to ‘‘right‑size’’ capacity and respond to emergent needs.

Committee reaction and next steps

Committee members thanked APH leadership and described the cuts as a challenge that will affect upcoming city budget deliberations. Council Member Jose Velasquez said programs ‘‘save lives’’ and urged creativity in filling gaps. Council Member Ryan Alter and others emphasized that community testimony earlier in the meeting had ‘‘put a face’’ on services supported by APH grants.

Sturrup said APH is developing recommendations for the city manager’s office that prioritize statutory duties first, identify services that could be shifted to partners, and list services the city may no longer be able to support without outside help. He also said the city manager had authorized extending employment for affected staff for 30 days while the department explores options for reassignment or alternative funding.

What APH requested or proposed

Sturrup asked for time and ‘‘space of grace’’ as state and federal notifications continue to shift. He said the department is in active conversation with local foundations and other partners about how best to protect core services and employees and will present refined recommendations to the city manager and council.

Ending

Committee members said APH’s briefing will inform upcoming budget hearings. Sturrup and De Leon said information is evolving and the department will update the council as new federal or state guidance arrives.","Austin Public Health told the City Council Public Health Committee on April 2 that $15 million in immediate federal funding has been cut, costing positions and programs and putting additional grant-funded services and staff at risk without clear federal guidance on reimbursements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: committee approves March minutes and recommends appointment to Sobering Center board

LifeWorks: youth homelessness rising in Austin; agency urges prevention and more housing

Austin Public Health warns federal grant cuts already costing staff and services