After working with our sister organizations across the state to successfully pass the restoration of CHIP in the 2007 legislature, member congregations worked to sign up their congregants.  In cooperation with the Seton Healthcare Network, Dolores, San Jose , Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. James, Sacred Heart, Santa Barbara , and St. Ignatius provided assistance with applications to their members.

Late last fall, Austin Interfaith Pastors and leaders asked the Public Housing Authority to hold off on its plan to demolish all public housing complexes in Austin. (The plan was to redevelop this land to commercial and mixed-use facilities, and give residents section-8 vouchers). One Eastside Alliance school has over 50% of its children living in these complexes. Leaders involved in housing issues testified at public hearings, and the Housing Authority agreed to take 1-2 years to look at the impact of the issue.

Austin Interfaith has always known that Capital IDEA is a stellar job training program, and two awards this year help demonstrate that fact.  Executive Director Steven Jacobs won the Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the year, and Capital IDEA received an award from the Austin Chamber of Commerce.