[{"_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",6477065,"mediaKeyId","5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87","parentId",5713523,"title","Public Health Committee to schedule interviews for Sobering Center board; appointment planned Oct. 1","audioSeconds",64,"startMs",3670000,"endMs",3734000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87&start=3670&end=3734","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87/thumbnail_3670000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477065/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Public-Health-Committee-to-schedule-interviews-for-Sobering-Center-board-appointment-planned-Oct-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477065-a3039bb4c6e2a726e0d3830fc89dc1c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578078&Signature=ixc2PdF9rJ0pgrTkMJgnVhIWWr3RW2QFmscXbd-UHVPEExOxO-0FNlSCcJWvpdQAgrJ84zdC7B-hNdOa7mUZfnfWExmsp437MA7oEUiSN4UKZatmCMhBXFtEoj0HuGaxtVSxSptYSnNAuWiKeM9A0bHwzhPl9-Lj6WoPOAJMt~7tUKVTeFRY0d2WFy2pIdpwx8G5ZLxFpNN5e2faoIa2CBVIvPAjmsdeGc0UJViM5osfiTl7TqbjKidp0PaDOQobV-AhmQzQCMjfI31EH~9oXaZJ-59rZZ6XlbbQzOHwTzZJ1qxGqquX~Vsc5NCNsGMVcSV2zziewlJe~63pJfjtKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin City Council Public Health Committee concluded an executive session on Sept. 3 to discuss appointments to the Sobering Center Board of Directors and said it will schedule interviews and intends to appoint at least one member at the Oct. 1 Public Health Committee meeting.

Chair Vanessa Fuentes told the committee that, \"In closed session, we discussed the personnel matters related to item number 5.\" After emerging from the executive session, Fuentes said the committee had \"decided to move forward and schedule interviews, and that'll be with the intention to appoint a member at the October 1 public health committee meeting.\" The committee did not name any candidates during the open meeting.

The chair read the statutory authority to go into executive session under Texas law before the closed deliberations. \"Pursuant to section 551.074 of the government code, the committee will discuss personnel matters related to item number 5,\" Fuentes said when moving into closed session.

Ending: No appointment was finalized in open session; the committee scheduled interviews and signaled an intent to appoint at the Oct. 1 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Public Health Committee","oneSentenceSummary","After an executive session on Sept. 3, the Austin City Council Public Health Committee announced it will schedule interviews for candidates to the Sobering Center Board of Directors and intends to appoint a member at its Oct. 1 meeting.","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},6477069,"Austin Public Health outlines uncertainty as several federal grants pause or end",1456,1880000,3336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87&start=1880&end=3336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87/thumbnail_1880000.jpg","/articles/6477069/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Public-Health-outlines-uncertainty-as-several-federal-grants-pause-or-end","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477069-cb72f6c4effef2a2336ebeb803811c0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578078&Signature=clVFmfXtdqrsItwCeUwekvzB-dhW4ZT~avNgIDgOSyrPBDRWHGL4~0faYu1c~kLd-ycP065g2Rc8QcvpBWIsRZ9AFZ72wT0ZnisSf1UpAV-U3i2xn5WEmD1r0IAscPSBwGfaihvuxH90exdRh4e1Ignh6GEETLUCgMLrJ7v5cgza-WLjxHPQ4qNaBFyXWiepa8Kc-Tb3w~UBi8-AxweBkbk2yyYOn37Oz44SeuKpn0U-Jr9Eu5e~jUPOT545G1tEEwPJSE5kbLodzyJsAPIAZFjIBJ3zlvdB-Ys1VheSjNJEC6maYQxlJy7ZmlCfGJZi3tyYviBoLpJW5hcj3aGerQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin Public Health officials told the City Council Public Health Committee on Sept. 3 that multiple federal grants that support local services have been paused, reduced or ended, producing uncertainty about service continuity and staffing.

\"I think the conversation now is less about cuts and more about uncertainty and instability,\" Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Stirrup told the committee as she reviewed grants the department considers at risk. Stirrup and Deputy Director Cassandra De Leon outlined specific programs affected and short-term measures the department is pursuing.

Stirrup said the refugee medical services subcontract (APH is a subcontractor to USCRI) had a funded contract ending Sept. 30, 2025; USCRI issued a no-cost extension through Dec. 31, 2025, and APH has proposed a shoestring budget to the city manager's office to keep staffing and services running through that extension. APH staff said the clinic historically operated on variable funding tied to the number of resettled refugees; current funding cited in the briefing was $5 million, though staff noted the clinic has at times operated on less than $1 million.

BioWatch/air-monitoring support received a no-cost extension through Oct. 31, 2025, APH said; the program previously employed three staff who checked monitoring equipment, but staffing reductions have left one employee reassigned and two positions scheduled to end Sept. 19, 2025. APH said it is assessing remaining contract spending and will make a recommendation to city management about accepting the extension.

Stirrup listed previous abrupt endings or reductions in federal funding that already affected APH operations, including an $8 million mobile vaccination (MOV) contract that ran across five years and averaged about $1.7 million per year but was abruptly canceled in March 2025, and a COVID-19 epidemiology and lab-capacity grant that ended in March 2025 although it had been slated to run to July 2026. APH said those changes reduced mobile outreach capacity and data modernization staff for disease reporting.

Other grants cited as ended, reduced or not awarded for fiscal year 2025 included tobacco control funding (targeting tobacco cessation outreach to LGBTQIA+ communities), an HIV prevention grant that was not awarded for FY25, and substance-use disorder outreach funding that previously supported Narcan distribution and community training. APH said settlement dollars and other city resources have helped sustain some work, but capacity is down and community partners face strains as well.

Stirrup emphasized the public-health infrastructure grant as particularly consequential because of its flexible nature; she said APH is working with its project officer to meet new requirements but characterized the grant as uncertain. APH is coordinating with the Texas state health department, regional peers and national coalitions while asking staff to prepare contingency budgets.

Committee members asked for clarifications on contract totals and wait-list numbers. APH said it currently has a small refugee clinic wait list — under 50 referrals — and that demand has decreased compared with earlier in the year. Deputy Director De Leon said a policy change at the federal level reduced the special refugee insurance window from 12 months to four months for arrivals beginning in May, which complicates access and scheduling of care.

Stirrup told the committee the department believes it can still mobilize for a future public-health incident but that its reach would be reduced because of staff losses and the time needed to recruit and train replacements. \"We need to become a department of Swiss army knives,\" she said, explaining APH must rely on more cross-trained staff to respond with fewer specialized positions.

Ending: APH said it will continue contingency planning and provide updated financial details to the city manager’s office. The committee asked APH to follow up with corrected grant totals and additional detail on the HOPWA and other multi-part grants.","Austin Public Health told the Public Health Committee on Sept. 3 that a set of federal grants have been paused, reduced or ended, creating operational uncertainty. Department leaders described no-cost extensions, staffing impacts and which programs are at risk, including the refugee services clinic and BioWatch air monitoring.",{"_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},6477074,"Family Elder Care outlines services aimed at preventing homelessness among older Austinites",1006,156000,1162000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87&start=156&end=1162","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713523-f399f254d51e97973f561a6165631b87/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/6477074/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Family-Elder-Care-outlines-services-aimed-at-preventing-homelessness-among-older-Austinites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477074-2de8e0052f90064b246eea87dbf183ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578078&Signature=V30JWiTTuVxDGAQCZ8YlEE1uif917PFhuiH95FgytaIlQF7BAce36QRBnGJvg-n5h45hFsBOAwxTB1TcdsTaEu07aXwGxhjGdrO~qTcWUNL1Wu8igfNg1ouemOUULBGVRV8Yyr88FyZFCxXC2mVwBfyUENDJb2doO0j~HEPUpMdis8MLLqhPuI6UEDNGta5Sbod4c9M9CQTjcLIBeaATQimK7yDjANPMwfa~uqu48wGIRWi8qQMXg27knBa5I13XZR95lqbb8NrhIcvNPEC2~P9h7-atHhtcR7Xycb5QVzfClHA6SSE6ae1KTZ2OUGbkMX7vZswP4a-IxuTRgYvzKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Family Elder Care presented its programs and outcomes to the Austin City Council Public Health Committee on Sept. 3, describing a multi-pronged effort to prevent and end homelessness among older adults in Central Texas.

The presentation, delivered by Dr. Erin Alarcon, chief executive officer of Family Elder Care, and by program staff, outlined four core program areas: service coordination, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing (PSH) and financial advocacy. \"First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for the invitation to present,\" Dr. Alarcon said, and summarized the organization's 42-year history serving older adults and people with disabilities.

Family Elder Care said it served more than 16,000 individuals last year through 12 programs across four departments. Service coordination operates on-site at low-income senior housing properties to connect residents with benefits, transportation, medical appointments and crisis support; the agency reported assisting about 1,014 residents in fiscal year 2024 and 677 year-to-date in 2025. Program staff said service coordinators helped roughly 412 residents obtain government benefits and engaged 79 residents in eviction prevention and housing retention services.

The agency described its rapid rehousing program as a trauma-informed, individualized program that provides short-term rental assistance, housing identification and case management, with assistance available up to 24 months. \"We're not just doing the minimum for what our contract says,\" a Family Elder Care representative said, describing a level-of-service assessment the agency uses to tailor supports and smooth transitions out of homelessness.

Family Elder Care detailed three PSH offerings: Downtown Austin Community (DAC) project, which includes 46 scattered-site efficiency units; Pecan Gardens, a 78-unit site converted from the Austin Motel with on-site case management; and a HUD-funded PSH program (2022) providing 37 scattered-site units in partnership with Central Health. The agency said PSH services are grounded in housing-first and trauma-informed care models.

On financial advocacy, Family Elder Care reported serving 640 clients in 2024; 358 were age 55 or older and 345 identified as a racial or ethnic minority. The program manages benefits and household funds for clients, and staff said they pay about $200,000 per month in housing expenses using clients' benefits to keep households stable. The program also reported that 94% of surveyed clients said services helped them live independently and that 100% obtained or maintained public benefits.

Committee members asked about program eligibility and referral sources. Family Elder Care clarified that services are for people age 55 and older and for adults with disabilities; rapid rehousing and PSH referrals largely come through ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition), with the exception of the DAC project, which takes referrals directly from DAC. The agency said it provides on-site service coordination in facilities where it holds contracts; it had previously provided service coordination at the Lady Bird facility but that contract ended for financial reasons.

Committee members also pressed staff on differences between scattered-site PSH and congregate models. Family Elder Care said scattered-site housing offers clients flexibility to live across the community, while congregate sites such as Pecan Gardens provide immediate access to staff and services and foster resident community.

The presentation included individual success stories — for example, a 70-year-old resident who obtained Social Security disability after staff helped gather medical documentation, and another client who avoided eviction when an account navigator assisted with paperwork and housing placement — which Family Elder Care used to illustrate program impacts.

The committee did not take formal action on the briefing. Chair Vanessa Fuentes thanked the presenters and opened the floor for questions before moving on to other agenda items.

Ending: The committee scheduled further discussion items for future meetings but took no funding or policy votes on Family Elder Care's programs during the Sept. 3 briefing.","Family Elder Care told the Austin City Council Public Health Committee it provides rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, financial advocacy and service coordination that helped hundreds of older adults keep or regain housing; agency leaders detailed program outcomes and service limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public Health Committee to schedule interviews for Sobering Center board; appointment planned Oct. 1

Austin Public Health outlines uncertainty as several federal grants pause or end

Family Elder Care outlines services aimed at preventing homelessness among older Austinites