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Many families priced out of the Austin housing market
Only ten percent of Austin home listings with two or more bedrooms are affordable to families who earn 75% of the area's median family income. Governing Magazine's November issue features an article comparing family housing affordability in the 25 largest U.S. cities. The article finds many families are priced out of the housing market. Governing calculates the percentage of homes with two or more bedrooms that are affordable to families earning the median income and also the percentage that are affordable to families earning three-fourths of the median income. The article reports that 40 percent of homes in Austin with two or more bedrooms are affordable to families earning the median income of $76,809 per year. For families earning 75% of the median income, or $57,607 per year, only 10-percent were affordable.
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AISD students outperform peers in large urban districts on Nation's Report Card
AISD students continue to outperform their peers in large urban school districts on the Nation's Report Card, ranking among the top in both math and reading. The Nation's Report Card is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. State assessments began in 1990, and the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) began in 2003. AISD is one of twenty-one urban school districts participating in the 2015 TUDA for math and reading at grades 4 and 8. AISD has participated in the TUDA since 2005. According to this year's report, AISD students ranked second in fourth and eighth grade math, second in eighth grade reading, and fifth in fourth grade reading.
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EPA raises ozone standards, Central Texas likely to remain designated in ozone "attainment"
On October 1st the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened its National Air Quality Standard from 75 ppb to 70ppb to increase protections for human health and the environment. According to the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), the new ozone standard may not have a significant impact on Central Texas, since the region's peak ozone levels have averaged 68 ppb from 2013 to 2015. If the region's ozone levels were to increase, Central Texas would be at risk for being designated in nonattainment, which could cost $24 to $42 billion in economic losses for the region.
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Mobility ATX releases report based on findings from six-month "crowdsourcing" search for Austin transportation solutions
MobilityATX, a six-month "crowdsourcing" search for solutions to Austin's transportation woes, released a 31-page report this October listing the ten "most popular ideas" to improve mobility in the City of Austin. The report and the list are based on the preferences of 1,039 people who voted in an online forum managed by Glasshouse Policy, a nonprofit that helped generate the opinions through a variety of means, compiled the results, and produced the report using a combination of private money and in-kind contributions from the City of Austin and Capital Metro. Survey respondents were not a statistically valid sample of Austin residents.
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CAMPO seeks public input on adding projects to 2015-18 Transportation Improvement Plan
Three projects on I-35 in Travis and Williamson counties could receive funding from the second allocation of Proposition 1 dollars voters approved in 2014. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) invites residents to review and comment on proposed amendments to the CAMPO FYs 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The public comment period is open through November 6, 2015.
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ACA helps bring child uninsured rate down to record low, but Texas still ranks last in the nation
The Center for Public Policy Priorities recently shared a report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families on Children's Health Insurance rates in 2014. According to their analysis, from 2013 and 2014, the uninsured rate for Texas children declined from 12.6 percent to 11 percent, falling from an estimated 888,305 uninsured children to 783,938. Even with the rate of uninsured kids declining, Texas still ties for last in the nation for having the highest rates of uninsured children.
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Information on supporting flood, tornado and wildfire relief for Central Texas
Support the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team:
City announces resources for flood-affected residents:
United Way for Greater Austin is also accepting donations to support flood and tornado relief:
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Neighbors United for Progress Affordable Housing Forum
The good neighbor group, Neighbors United for Progress, is hosting an affordable housing forum on Saturday, November 14th, from 11am to 1pm at the Southwest Key Programs Community Room. Join panelists Dr. Fred McGhee, community member, Hilary Andersen, Neighborhood Liaison, Neighborhood Housing & Community Development - City of Austin, and Ramon Valeriano, Sr. Vice-President, Community Wheelhouse for a discussion on what is happening in Austin regarding affordable housing and how the community can get involved in the process.
Free childcare will be provided for children ages 2 to 10. Free bilingual interpretation services will also available.
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Communities in Schools of Central Texas documentary screening
Communities In Schools of Central Texas is hosting a limited-engagement screening of Paper Tigers, a powerful documentary film that explores the impact of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress on students. The film follows a school that has become a promising model of how to break the cycles of poverty, violence, and disease that affect families though the practice of trauma-informed educational strategies. The screening will take place on Monday, November 16th at Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane.
Link to purchase tickets
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UT Opportunity Forum Presents Uniting Our Divided City: Address Health Disparities
Travis County and the City of Austin have the reputation of having a healthy population, but many residents are being left behind, unable to share in the benefits of good health. Join the UT Opportunity Forum on Friday, November 13th, at 12:00pm for a discussion on addressing health disparities in the City of Austin. Attendance is free but seating is limited and an RSVP is required.
This month's panelists include Christie Garbe, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Central Health, Dr. Miyong Kim, Associate Vice President for Community Health Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. William Lawson, Associate Dean of Health Disparities, Dell Medical School, and Sal Valdez, Chief Operating Officer, The Latino HealthCare Forum.
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Expanding Opportunity: A Central Texas Regional Summit on Bridging the Economic Divide
CAN is working with partners from throughout the five-county Austin-San Marcos-Round Rock Metro area to host "Expanding Opportunity: A Central Texas Regional Summit on Bridging the Economic Divide." The event will take place Wednesday, November 18th from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Bastrop Convention Center. Leaders in business, government, non-profit and community organizations from across the five-county region are invited to participate.
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CAN Board of Directors
The CAN Board of Directors' October meeting featured a panel presentation by the Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative. The Collaborative works to re-connect youth between the ages of 16 to 24 to school or employment. A copy of this, and other presentations shared at CAN Board of Directors meetings, can be found at www.canatx.org/CAN-Councils/Board_of_Directors/Presentations/. The November meeting of the CAN Board will be devoted to planning for 2016.
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CAN Community Council
The CAN Community Council hosted "Building a Person-Centered Community: A Participatory Summit" at the AISD Performing Arts Center on October 21st. About 90 people came together to share ideas and insights into how we can integrate person-centered approaches into our organizations and work. At their November 16th meeting, the Community Council will review what was learned at the summit and how it may influence the Council's work in the coming year. The Community Council will also elect new members and a Vice Chair for 2016. The meeting will be from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Multipurpose Room B of 700 Lavaca.
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CAN is a partnership of governmental, non-profit, private and faith-based organizations which leverage mutual resources to collective improve social, health, educational and economic opportunities in our community.
CAN Partners: Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Community College, Austin ISD, Austin Travis County Integral Care, Capital Metro, Central Health, City of Austin, City of Pflugerville, Community Justice Council, Del Valle ISD, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Greater Austin Asian Chamber, Greater Austin Black Chamber, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber, Huston-Tillotson University, Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT), Manor ISD, One Voice Central Texas, Seton Healthcare Family, St. David's Foundation, St. Edward's University, Travis County, United Way for Greater Austin, University of Texas at Austin, and Workforce Solutions - Capital Area
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