[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6701473,"mediaKeyId","2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596","parentId",2111923,"title","City expands cold‑weather shelter activations, adds shuttle service and hotel rooms for families","audioSeconds",571,"startMs",1425000,"endMs",1996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596&start=1425&end=1996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596/thumbnail_1425000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6701473/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-expands-coldweather-shelter-activations-adds-shuttle-service-and-hotel-rooms-for-families","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701473-772e69c9e1bc62d8b1a82d80f83058fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205166&Signature=gxUvo4homWaVk3I8JDlrIv1sg78W2BK~6krYa2izKppfd7LLKSJbmQWtmvfTULHpSQZ0QX0Svzi3pCiCxRczZUuGvZsle0HNK9D1Dhmuk5D6dGQEpJvNIBrsdiVc8IiVzEoNe0xpQE8dpelD2QcJJtFttbBDkBbnKoR7J8HDxgaa8Y4Y7S5AD~P-W0ZtCj16cof0A27Rgn9tAMJuVWnpCMxKvKvPbw41Ta~ZO8Hg~kOkMNHctDIKRBzUfJMvv~cWoyO6rhHZ7k3jrH2YehJGcMF~9Tc6Lu21GgReoKvC-MqBsFiSQHWXYzEJSKa5u1oo0eKKLGFc4XDKWcV2h3KhIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","David Gray, the City of Austin’s homeless strategy officer, told the Community Development Commission on Jan. 14 that the city adjusted how and when it opens cold‑weather shelters this season and added services to improve access and safety.

Gray said the city simplified activation criteria so shelters are opened when the forecasted temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit or below. \"If the temperature is forecasted to be 35 degrees or below, we will activate cold weather shelters,\" he said. He told commissioners the change has increased the number of activation nights this winter and given more people the chance to come inside.

The changes grew out of feedback from last winter’s operations, Gray said. The city now: announces activations up to 24 hours in advance rather than on the day of activation; arranges hotel rooms for families with children and for unaccompanied minors instead of placing them in recreation centers; provides an after‑hours shuttle service so people who miss the 6–8 p.m. registration window can still get to shelters between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.; and has worked with vendors to improve meal quality and dietary options.

Gray described the registration and transport process. He said people register for shelter at One Texas Center between 6 and 8 p.m., where CapMetro provides free transport to shelter sites. The Austin Area Urban League operates the city’s first three sites under contract and was initially resourced to support the first 300 people per night; Gray said that threshold was raised to 375 during last week’s severe weather response and that the city can open additional shelters as needed.

Gray gave data from recent activations: typical nightly counts range from about 100 to 150 people; during a recent night the count was 137; last week’s cold spell produced a peak near 425 people and the city has recorded a past high of about 500 during an earlier winter storm. He also said last week’s operations provided roughly 1,500 bed nights and about 4,000 meals.

Gray described a text alert system that sends emergency notifications in English and Spanish to almost 5,000 registrants (with a roughly 70% delivery rate) and said earlier notices improve partners’ and clients’ ability to plan. He said funding for the increased effort was appropriated by city council to the Homeless Strategy Office, and that other city departments and community partners contribute staff time, facilities and food when activations expand.

Commissioners asked about capacity and funding: Commissioner Longoria asked about typical per‑night numbers and peak counts; Gray said there is no hard cap and that the city accommodates anyone who seeks shelter. Several commissioners praised the changes, asked for annual updates and requested HSO return next January with a year‑in‑review.

The Homeless Strategy Office said it will keep the commission informed about shelter operations and noted that earlier activations will not be rescinded if temperatures later rise: once activated, services remain available for the duration of the activation.

Ending: Gray emphasized that the changes are intended to reduce harm, expand access and coordinate partners earlier in the activation cycle. The Homeless Strategy Office will return next year for an annual briefing and continue to provide monthly operational updates as requested by the commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Community Development Commission - Jan 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office said it activated cold‑weather shelters more frequently this winter after changing activation thresholds, added hotel placements for families and an after‑hours shuttle to bring people to shelters.","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},6701453,"Votes at a glance: Commission approves minutes for Nov. 12 and Dec. 10, 2024",108,892000,1000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596&start=892&end=1000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596/thumbnail_892000.jpg","/articles/6701453/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Commission-approves-minutes-for-Nov-12-and-Dec-10-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701453-7c44d875e41a64744221d6f3ebb3a77b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205166&Signature=LXIv~J1t4p8Q0G~Sy4E-wXh3GP8DesKf-RyS1IObHR~j5Flp6zDidtAIsVBRePBdDwAgQujIQ29YbJwC7CCR0v791~Ez7ahbP75TwC9sghR7BC63J-VsvqwY0CDbchHylBwIIOkd-UF4EWLp~AZk~VeQvzrbFB2d8r3BV-LexpAPmLdLMlZcUDB3AFwL4TTt-oqlcf4lAmtq~sN3CJ0tMbC9e3q28Did4P5Afbfsmptr~rkHGvA7fggqptHv6a~FbFRjQQ6rijdPp5oA4-QKkgw0oAF4PkzPJZVaVM326Qtl~52zVtEjTBTeR6EHMjkIF7n~CdRuYyRq4WGSZ~2qLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission took two formal votes during its Jan. 14 meeting.

A motion to approve the Nov. 12, 2024 meeting minutes was moved by Commissioner Longoria and seconded by Vice Chair Elias; commissioners voted unanimously to approve.

A motion to approve the Dec. 10, 2024 meeting minutes was moved and seconded (mover not specified in the transcript); the recorded tally was eight in favor and one abstention. The commission clerk recorded the vote and the chair announced the motion carried.

Ending: The commission proceeded to its discussion items after the votes.","The Community Development Commission approved minutes for its Nov. 12 and Dec. 10, 2024 meetings. The Nov. 12 minutes passed unanimously. The Dec. 10 minutes passed with eight yes votes and one abstention.",{"_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},6701460,"Neighborhood services reports CSBG progress: food distribution, rent assistance and volunteering remain high",186,1077000,1263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596&start=1077&end=1263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596/thumbnail_1077000.jpg","/articles/6701460/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Neighborhood-services-reports-CSBG-progress-food-distribution-rent-assistance-and-volunteering-remain-high","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701460-535fb4d2d2622722bbe725b4a93aa106/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205166&Signature=gOx2EaLdbOam05vMpp6MfR1xdo7-f6GBTqn0h7OD2NoD1XR4lVEfR9xz12PB-LLrddcn86~Wrl9QmwSHl~5rfxpZ1O38JhP-uph1CxGhdLipaayxZy9JnFWw-NxnjKI8d3zSDDIS1kjlkB~9pPK~j4~a5ckCnlU9hyNg6mIBARjDtBh4dAHfsXA-dhWNCZQ8ib7CTNVRjiBBlWYr06iihKoVx9~eTjxXpN65K0K~Mzde7SeQDXDrhIc5SM5j4fkiWj-87t0CXuDEsUO-VPMsZJPy~FYeEoMyYCgixNJ8XF2UCR-b0703TqUKrIz0-eOo36nQxTyUH5mpejjBFgnr7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sanchez Zambrano, Neighborhood Services Unit manager at Austin Public Health, reported monthly CSBG performance to the Community Development Commission on Jan. 14.

Zambrano described the unit’s mission to connect Austin and Travis County residents experiencing poverty to services including basic needs, public‑health nursing, employment supports and case management. He said the department had expended about 70% of its 2024 contract budget and noted there is an extension through March 2025 to finish spending the award.

Zambrano highlighted outcomes: he said the program met its transition‑out‑of‑poverty goal for the past year, reported nearly 90,000 unduplicated people served through food distribution (about 170,000 if duplicates are counted), and said staff assisted roughly 1,200 households with rent payments. He also emphasized the unit’s volunteer resources: about 25,100 volunteer hours reported.

Operational updates included an expected reopening of the South Austin Neighborhood Center in February, ongoing renovations at Rosas Zaragoza Neighborhood Center, and that the Dove Springs Neighborhood Center has opened and began food pantry operations. Zambrano said public‑health nursing services have run outreach clinics at several community sites and that staff are preparing for low‑income seat elections for the commission.

Ending: Zambrano asked commissioners to publicize seat elections in their neighborhoods and encouraged commissioners to visit neighborhood centers to see services in person.","City staff reported Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) activity: officials said the neighborhood services unit has spent roughly 70% of its contract budget, served many thousands with food distribution and rent assistance, and expects center re‑openings and elections for low‑income seats.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6701465,"Housing department reviews FY22–23 CAPER results, HUD grants and upcoming action‑plan timeline",276,4834000,5110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596&start=4834&end=5110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596/thumbnail_4834000.jpg","/articles/6701465/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Housing-department-reviews-FY2223-CAPER-results-HUD-grants-and-upcoming-actionplan-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701465-f73c26828359076455c3f03823600df5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205166&Signature=WVj055C1Uz~qjHGeR3m4aHOmjuGiAchpaTsC978AqNZRmeljVyBY2-8KzmSxZWf~RyPrKJwj97iWIqwHsjOlis1uAb3aS7b6j~gmZHrvIyDJSTMjCSNfKqY7Xou3Y0gGM-0Xs2J~YJJWpInkNnRqBaCrMAFIAVZkycMFBkR2TlET3bHWVMH151whZ2ZuWl95iw3IFhz45PqjXBOIsu2adXpbNHAeT4UpYPED6n5KSDmh7-EngY5nwjI9flWLP3Fm41xSzhPtRWzjuzj3QDGqahd9KaWZZz9OO-Xwz3eQSBH-relKqsc8RFzheVPamxBy0coiaStJgTnw0aFVcbV4-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rocio Pena Martinez, the Housing Department’s grants program manager, and finance staff presented the department’s CAPER — the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report — and walked commissioners through how the consolidated plan, annual action plan and CAPER fit together.

Pena Martinez described the federal planning and reporting cycle: the consolidated plan sets five‑year investment categories; each year the department produces an action plan that budgets anticipated federal funds; and the CAPER reports results back to HUD for the prior action‑plan year. Chase Clemons, financial manager, and Interim Director Mandy DeMaio provided program highlights and answered commissioners’ questions.

Staff summarized FY22–23 action plan results across program categories. As an example of the type of variance the CAPER documents, Clemons pointed to a category where the department budgeted $3,480,745 for a set of activities, estimated serving 970 people or units, and reported actual results of $2,210,185 expended serving 817. Clemons and Pena Martinez said variances occur for many reasons: timing of construction, multi‑year projects, project draws, and the federal reporting cadence.

Staff reviewed specific program results and operating notes: the HOME program and down‑payment assistance served 29 households in the past year with assistance levels up to $40,000; minor home repair and homeowner rehabilitation programs continue; tenant‑landlord mediation (previously contracted with Austin Tenants Council) now sits with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid after organizational changes; and the city uses a variety of federal and local funds to support housing, including general‑obligation (GO) bond proceeds allocated in voter‑approved measures. DeMaio summarized prior GO bond authorizations: 2006 ($55 million), 2013 ($65 million), 2018 ($250 million) and 2022 ($350 million) and noted the department is implementing a multi‑year spend plan for bond proceeds.

Commissioners asked for clarity about tenant rights and eviction legal assistance; Nephertiti Jackman, community displacement prevention officer, explained that the tenant‑landlord contract funds mediation and that other eviction prevention legal services are administered separately with different funding sources. Commissioners also discussed program timelines, HUD spending/timeliness ratios, and the department’s plan to provide a clear calendar of planning, budget and reporting deadlines — staff committed to present a calendar and timeline at the commission’s next meeting.

Ending: Housing staff said they will return with a clear, shareable calendar of consolidated‑plan / action‑plan / CAPER milestones and noted that the upcoming FY2025–26 action‑plan process will begin in spring with public engagement and an adoption target in summer for an Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.","Housing staff briefed the Community Development Commission on the consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER) for the prior action plan year, summarized results for HUD formula grants (CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA), and outlined timing for the FY2025–26 action plan and public engagement.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6701470,"Housing Department shortens affordability rules, releases liens from older home‑repair and down‑payment loans",1332,2418000,3750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596&start=2418&end=3750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2111923-43f6854d46ac7fcda41995c878d45596/thumbnail_2418000.jpg","/articles/6701470/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Housing-Department-shortens-affordability-rules-releases-liens-from-older-homerepair-and-downpayment-loans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6701470-fb3911a9bc6264f420d4ea20977f687c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205166&Signature=giT1SIkeiivanIDff0FtF7DX4nBFkkVpLDwdNQTtrubiorCLvsmJdEBVSbcNEYo6iO7ep7f6KMHnkX-pV8rvT4~4hkT8l2G1dFdz~R29nfrFq5P7HNP9A0Sq8bUeSv4OAO5SQEhzsjD0Jpdwdk8RUhLyl2TECBnHcWsBUWlNCgSTuZ23u3xFmzaR1yB2mH5iwtFTIdbn4PwuISmXvJ0TwRBJtRBc4KM38uwlWsDrGN~-njg4RqnARQ6RZaPJKycOgpVxihrIYBgPwJ-hGbyTQBxN5Ke6hRkZr2eTQOE4iqVXRWkefj72T-SgxWmyiJex9~qXRO0rOALhrwSW7Hq7uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leticia Brown, division manager for the Housing Department, told the Community Development Commission on Jan. 14 that the department completed a project to align the city’s loan lien periods for home repair and down‑payment assistance programs with federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidance.

Brown said the “Legacy Project” adjusted city liens that had been longer or more restrictive than HUD required. \"We decided to go back and modify all of the liens that we had on properties that exceeded HUD's affordability period,\" she said. Brown said the department had previously applied shared‑equity terms in some loans that required homeowners to repay a prorated loan amount plus a portion of appreciated equity when they sold or refinanced; that provision prompted complaints from homeowners.

Brown described program mechanics and figures from the loan portfolio. She said loan amounts historically ranged from about $1,500 to $129,000, and that the city’s previous affordability periods exceeded HUD’s minimums in many cases. Brown said the city released 799 liens as part of the alignment work and modified approximately 1,000 other liens; she said the releases and modifications were vetted with HUD, the law department and corporate finance to check tax or other implications. The department said roughly $9,000,000 in liens were forgiven or reduced through the action and that releases should be recorded with Travis County in January 2025.

Brown said the decision to align with HUD rules was made in 2023 and was intended in part to avoid the perception that the city was taking a share of homeowners’ appreciation. \"People didn't feel like, we deserve a part of their equity,\" she said, explaining the reason staff pursued change.

Interim Housing Director Mandy DeMaio and staff answered questions about program budgets and next steps. DeMaio said the department’s larger HOME program budget is roughly $3 million and that down‑payment assistance served 29 households in the last year (with assistance levels up to $40,000). DeMaio confirmed that down‑payment assistance no longer uses a shared‑equity requirement; shared‑equity remains limited to certain demolition/rebuild cases.

Commissioners asked when the policy change was made, how many liens already paid off would not be retroactively refunded (Brown said loans already paid off would not be repaid), and whether homeowners had to sign modifications (Brown said positive modification notices were mailed and did not require homeowner signatures). Several commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring the program and to track future funding implications because the shared‑equity repayments had previously provided some program income the city used to support future loans.

Ending: Housing Department staff said the Legacy Project is intended to reduce an equity‑sharing burden households found objectionable, to bring the city’s loans into alignment with HUD requirements and to free some households from longer liens. Staff asked commissioners to publicize upcoming low‑income seat elections for neighborhood representation and said release recordings would proceed in Travis County.","Austin’s Housing Department said it aligned its loan affordability periods with HUD rules, altering shared‑equity terms and processing releases or modifications for nearly 1,800 affected loans; staff said the change was approved in 2023 and releases began processing for recordation in January 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City expands cold‑weather shelter activations, adds shuttle service and hotel rooms for families

Votes at a glance: Commission approves minutes for Nov. 12 and Dec. 10, 2024

Neighborhood services reports CSBG progress: food distribution, rent assistance and volunteering remain high

Housing department reviews FY22–23 CAPER results, HUD grants and upcoming action‑plan timeline

Housing Department shortens affordability rules, releases liens from older home‑repair and down‑payment loans