The Brookings Institute has released a research brief on The Growth and Spread of Concentrated Poverty, 2000 to 2008-2012. The report finds that poverty has become more concentrated in high-poverty and distressed neighborhoods. Brookings defines a "high-poverty" neighborhood as a census tract where at least 20% of the people live below the poverty level and a "distressed" neighborhood as a census tract where at least 40% of the population live in poverty. 

While the poverty population is growing at the fastest rate in suburban areas, a majority of poor people still live in cities. The Brookings data for the five county Austin-Round Rock MSA show interesting differences in concentrated poverty between the suburban and urban poor.  Almost 83% of all the urban poor live in high-poverty or distressed neighborhoods. Comparatively, only 43% of the suburban poor live in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty.

The Austin Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) has constructed an analysis of the relative success of Austin's Permanent Supportive Housing policy.  In 2010, the Austin City Council approved a resolution prioritizing affordable housing funds for permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable among the homeless population. 

Housing First

Housing First is a model to house chronically homeless people by providing housing, without condition, and then offering supportive services to those who need and want them.  Austin Travis County Integral Care is hosting an information session on Tuesday, September 9th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that will feature two national experts in the Housing First model. Representatives from DESC and Pathways to Housing will share how this concept is being used to end homelessness in other communities and save public dollars in incarceration and hospitalization. The event is free, but registration is required. 

The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) will open its wait list for Housing Choice Vouchers for eight days from October 22nd to October 29th. Pre-applications for the wait list will only be accepted on-line. At the end of the eight-day period, 2,500 applicants will be randomly selected by lottery and added to the wait list.  In adherence with federal policies, people nationwide will be able to apply for housing in Austin.  Due to extensive federal budget cuts, adequate funding is not available to serve all people who are qualified for housing assistance.   

HACA serves 5,800 families through the federally funded Housing Choice Voucher program. For more information about the qualifications for this program, visit www.haca.net or follow HACA on Facebook. 

Austin Energy will host a free, family-friendly event to help people get "plugged in" to valuable resources and social services.  Make plans to attend Austin Energy's annual Community Connections Resource Fair on Saturday, October 18th, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Montopolis Recreation Center, 1200 Montopolis Drive. Austin Energy will have over 50 local vendors providing information about social services in our community in addition to local businesses seeking job applicants. There will be free food, prizes and activities for the whole family. For more information, email CommunityConnections@austinenergy.com.  

The Peterson Brothers Band will perform.

Improving student attendance is one of the most important ways communities can support schools. When students miss school, they miss out on learning and their schools loose funding. E3 Alliance and Central Texas school districts will host an attendance rally on the lawn of the Long Center on Wednesday, September 3rd from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Hear a live performance by the Peterson Brothers Band. These Bastrop brothers have opened for for B.B. King, Willie Nelson, and Los Lonely Boys. The Rally will feature remarks by Dr. Paul Cruz from Austin Independent School District, Bobby Jenkins of ABC Home & Commercial Services, and students from Del Valle Independent School District. Enter a drawing on-site for a chance to win an iPod Nano from Yellow Cab (must be present to win!). 

Last year, the City of Austin formalized its commitment to being a welcoming, immigrant-friendly community when it became one of the first cities in the country to  become a Welcoming City.    

The City of Austin, along with other partners, will host a Festival of Unity, the One Human Race - Welcoming America Festival on Wednesday, September 17th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Asian American Cultural Center, 11713 Jollyville Rd.  The free event is open to the public with live performances from local international groups and information and services relevant to the immigrant community.