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Austin CSBG report: most funds spent, rental assistance helped hundreds and immunizations rose to a seasonal high
Summary
Angel Zambrano told the Community Development Commission the Neighborhood Services Unit had expended about 76% of Community Services Block Grant funds through Oct. 31, had assisted 245 households to avoid eviction with roughly $715,000 in rent payments, and administered 517 flu vaccines this season.
Angel Zambrano, program manager in Austin Public Health’s Neighborhood Services Unit, told the Community Development Commission on Dec. 9 that the department expects to fully expend Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds by January 2026 after reporting about 76% of funds spent through Oct. 31. Zambrano said the CSBG‑funded programs help people experiencing poverty by connecting them to basic needs, preventive health services and employment supports.
Zambrano said the unit exceeded a state goal for transitions out of poverty, reporting 45 transitions to date against a goal of 41 for the performance period she cited. She also highlighted public‑health outreach during the fall: the unit administered 400 vaccinations through October and reported a season total of 517 flu vaccines, the highest seasonal total the Neighborhood Services Unit has recorded.
On food assistance and holiday efforts, Zambrano said the program served nearly 70,000 unduplicated people this year and that November holiday events assisted 1,987 households — about 4,656 residents — with meals and shelf‑stable items after a temporary SNAP disruption.
Zambrano outlined the city’s modest rental assistance program, saying that from January through November the program helped 564 people (245 households) avoid eviction and that rent payments totaled about $715,000. She said average assistance this year has been “almost $2,000,” though larger payments up to several thousand dollars have been issued for clients who qualify. Funding for the rental assistance program comes from City of Austin general funds (about $775,000 annually), with the Austin Area Urban League serving as the fiscal agent to process payments.
Commissioners asked about access and timelines. Zambrano said residents call on Monday mornings to secure a slot, the unit reaches applicants within 24 hours, and if applicants submit paperwork promptly their landlord typically receives funds within about two weeks. She said the unit also offers referrals to self‑sufficiency case management when appropriate.
The commission did not take formal action related to the CSBG briefing; Zambrano closed by thanking staff and wishing commissioners happy holidays.
