'A big deal': Austin approves $15 million relief fund that includes cash assistance for residents
Austin City Council members have approved a $15 million relief fund to aid residents affected financially by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I think this is a big deal and I’m really proud of this council,” Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza said before the vote Thursday.
The money will be funneled through nonprofits, some of which have existing contracts with the city. Council members are asking that half the $15 million be used to help nonprofits meet increased demand for services they currently provide, such as help for survivors of domestic abuse, rental assistance and food access.
Some social service providers have reported a spike in demand; El Buen Samaritano told KUT it has seen a more than 400 percent increase in weekly visitors to its food pantry.
Read more: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2020/04/a-big-deal-austin-approves-15-million-relief-fund-that-includes-cash-assistance-for-residents/