Panhandling in austin

It’s no secret, panhandling has become a hotly debated topic among city officials. Austinites seem to have varying and passionate opinions about the matter, as well.

Current Austin city ordinance applies to only certain areas of the city, including the downtown business district. Recent actions taken to expand the ordinance throughout Austin have been declared unconstitutional for the second time in less than three years, upholding the right to constitutionally protected speech.

According to research, as many as 1 in 7 buy alcohol and drugs with money they panhandle. So giving money often perpetuates the circumstances that have led to homelessness. Don't misunderstand - not all panhandlers are homeless, nor are they all drug abusers or alcoholics.

In an interview for KXAN, Wayne Krause with The Texas Civil Rights project was quoted as saying, “It’s important not to attack the symptoms, but to get to the roots of the problem of homelessness.”

So what should the city do to make real change? First off, the media need to continue to bring attention to the issue, because that creates awareness, which leads to activism. Secondly, a program is needed to educate tourists and residents about panhandling and an alternative means to help. I propose that Austin city officials model a program put in place in Portland, Oregon, called “Real Change, not Spare Change”. The program, a service provided by the Portland Business Alliance, offers education and an opportunity to interact with panhandlers through a voucher program, while supporting service agencies. It’s a win-win situation for those in need and helps tourists and families feel more comfortable.

By redirecting donations from panhandlers to targeted social service/treatment response systems, strengthens the capacity of agencies to provide food for the hungry, shelter and housing for the homeless, mental health support services, and substance abuse recovery services for those challenged by additions.

The Portland program uses decommissioned meters placed in various places throughout downtown, in which change can be deposited. The funds are collected on a monthly basis and directed to the service agencies. Also, a voucher program is in place, where citizens can purchase vouchers that can be redeemed for showers, transit and clothing. The vouchers are 25 cents, are available in books of four, can be purchased at various locations around the city, and given to panhandlers instead of spare change. Critical to such a program’s success is constant education and renewed efforts to publicize the program.

The idea is not to drive the homeless out of our city, but to address the problem in such a way that gets everyone involved. After all, this is our city.

$1 billion error caused cash crunch

Austin's toll roads definitely help decrease commutes for many Austinites. I don't use them frequently, but on the occasions that I do, I really appreciate their existence.

One might assume that since the toll roads opened last year, TxDOT is well on their way to paying for their construction. However, in an announcement made early last month, TxDOT stated that they will not accept any new contracts. This sent up a red flag to Texas legislators. Four days later, the department's executive director, Amadeo Saenz, Chief Financial Officer James Bass and three transportation commissioners spent three hours answering questions in an unusual, out-of-session joint meeting of the Senate Finance and the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security committees.

TxDOT officials told lawmakers that agency planners mistakenly counted $1.1 billion of revenue twice, which caused them to commit to more road projects than the agency could handle. The balance sheets and data provided by TxDOT left legislators perplexed and suspicious. The state auditor's office is expected to act quickly.

One of the interim charges of the Texas State Senate Committee on Finance is to "Study the effectiveness of cash management strategies of the state." Well done, Senators; this is a fabulous example of accountability. Despite his hostility during the stern questioning, former Austin Mayor, Senator Kirk Watson, was really paying attention! I love to see my tax dollars hard at work. Thank you to our legislators for giving us something to applaud them for. Austin's toll roads are a lovely addition to our growing city, so let's make sure that the entire project is successful from beginning to end.

To see Ben Wear's article in the Statesman, click here: $1 billion error caused cash crunch

Texas food stamp applications delayed

Now this is an article I can relate to! Not only is it worth reading because it's about other humans, but also because it's an example of bureaucratic injustice. The Statesman's article Texas food stamp applications delayed should be called State's inability to retain new employees cause families to starve to death!

There are 3.7 million Texans on public assistance (Medicaid, food stamps, etc.). The process goes something like this: a need is identified, resources located, appointment made, paperwork filled out, meeting with caseworker, information turned in, verification process, case number assigned, data entry, benefits approved or denied. The best one can hope for when they find themselves in this situation is seamless execution. But what if there are not enough employees to process the applications? Such is the case in Texas, where 676 out of 800 new workers hired since September 2007, have left. The consequence of this is twofold. First, families have to get emergency food from places like SafePlace, Texas Food Bank and churches. Second, available funds to feed deserving hungry families are sitting in the bank! We are paying twice, once with our tax money to fund social services like the food stamp program, and again when we participate in can food drives through the mailman, local scouts and clubs, or donate money to our churches.

The issue addressed in the Statesman glazes over the agencies attrition issue and goes in depth about the ups and downs of the new computer system, TIERS. The state's solution to retain workers? Give 6,000 employees raises and promotions. Ummm, wait a minute. How about incremental raises throughout the year, or wages based on the number of applications processed?

Thankfully, the federal government has standards in place to hold states accountable for timeliness. 95 percent of applications must be processed in 30 days. Right now the data shows that less than half - 48 percent- of Texas applications are being completed within that time requirement.

The Department of Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner, Albert Hawkins, states that benefits are retroactive to the date the person applied. Great. To which Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, replied: "How do you go back and feed a hungry child last month."

While I was enlightened by learning about the old and new computer systems and their efficiency or inefficiency to facilitate benefits for low-income families, this article was found under Public Services, not in the Technology section of the Statesman. I look forward to hearing more on this topic and the progress of public assistance programs to administer help to those in need.

Texas drafts bill of rights for foster children

TheTexas state government is responsible for approximately 17,000 foster children . More specifically, the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS)—is charged with protecting these children from abuse and neglect. Last year a bill of rights for these young citizens of Texas failed to pass the legislature, so now the agency charged with protecting them is bypassing the politicians in order to guarantee these children some rights.
SB 805 passed during the last legislative session but in the House (HB 1752) the identical bill was left pending in committee. And there it died. House State Representative Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, herself a foster parent, took issue with two of the provisions in the bill and it was derailed.
It's great that the agency is taking matters into their own hands to ensure their clients are granted rights, but shouldn't the entity that created the agency ensure the rights of its own citizens/future voters? According to State Representative Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, and the author of the House bill, the bill of rights would have been stronger as a law than just a rule from a state agency.
These poor children have had everything taken from them, their homes, families, and now we want to keep from gauranteeing rights? This should have been a no-brainer for legislators.
This article is worth reading because these kids matter. What they are entitled to is no more or less than you would expect for yourself and/or your own children. They need a voice, a set of expectations for their care and some recourse if they are not cared for properly. Afterall, our tax money pays for these children's foster care.
Texas drafts bill of rights for foster children
For the provisions of the bill of rights see:
Texas Legislature