Austin Interfaith Commends Mayor and Council for Reforming Ordinances That Negatively Impacted People Experiencing Homelessness
Austin Interfaith commends the Mayor and City Council for addressing the negative impact of ordinances that criminalize many of the everyday activities people experiencing homelessness need to do to get by. Austin Interfaith clergy and leaders have long expressed concern about the precarious conditions experienced by people facing homelessness. During the elections last fall, at our accountability session, Austin Interfaith leaders called on the mayor and City Council to change these ordinances.
Passing the proposals last night is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
[Photo from footage by CBS Austin]
Video of Testimony at City Hall
Austin's Police Chief Says New Homeless Laws Will "Fundamentally Change" Enforcement, CBS Austin
CTI Leaders Protect Capital IDEA Funding in Rapid Response
On Thursday, June 6th, Central Texas Interfaith (CTI) and Capital IDEA leaders successfully protected a $319,000 increase in workforce funding the Mayor and City Council committed to this past summer. In response to the Texas Legislature passing legislation this session that places a future 3.5% cap on property tax increases, a move was made to reevaluate and potentially reverse this $319,000 investment and other budget items that were set for approval yesterday.
CTI and Capital IDEA leaders mobilized to call and write their council members while Rabbi Alan Freedman, of Temple Beth Shalom and Co-Chair of the CTI Clergy Caucus, explained to the Mayor and Council how even a short delay could postpone and jeopardize the recruitment and enrollment of 50 new students.
When a motion was made to delay the Capital IDEA funding, it did not receive a second. Council Member Alison Alter made a counter motion to immediately award the funding for Capital IDEA, and it received unanimous support. Kudos to all the Council Members who supported this funding, and to Rabbi Freedman, CTI leader and Capital IDEA Board Member Joy Penticuff, and Capital IDEA Executive Director Steve Jackobs, and all the CTI leaders who worked on this intensively in less than a 24 hour period!
Nonprofit Funds OK'd Despite Flannigan Questions, Austin Monitor [pdf]
Click links below for videos about two Capital IDEA graduates:
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Recognizing the Stranger Strategy Persists with Twelve Institutions
Spanish-speaking Catholic leaders from 12 parishes across the Austin Catholic Diocese participated in Central Texas Interfaith “Recognizing the Stranger” training today on a rainy Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
The follow up session was conducted in partnership with the Austin Catholic Diocese and Catholic Charities.