Community Overview

March, 2006

Updates on economic, demographic, and social changes in Austin-Travis County

ECONOMY:

LOCAL

• According to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, by the second quarter of 2005, Austin ’s cost of living index was at 97.1% of the national benchmark of 100%, while Dallas was at 94.4%. The cost of living index for housing in Dallas was 79.4% while Austin ’s was 92.9%. Austin ’s healthcare cost of living index was at 106.3% compared to 101.9% in Dallas . ( http://www.austinchamber.org/DoBusiness/GreaterAustinProfile/costs.html#table1 .)
• The number of Travis County homes posted for foreclosure during 2005 fell 7% from 2004. Postings in Williamson County fell 8% and postings in Hays County fell by 5%. (Austin American Statesman, 11-23-05 .)
• A record 24,539 homes in Central Texas were sold in 2005, an 18% increase from a year earlier. The inventory on houses dropped 14 percent, driving the median price up 6 percent to $164,000, also a record (Austin American Statesman, 1-24-06 .)

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STATE

• State sales tax net collections deposited to general revenue totaled $1,573.7 million in December 2005. Compared with the $1,357.7 million collected in December 2004, this represents an increase of 15.9 percent. ( http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/salestax/.)

According to a 2006 national study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Institute in Washington, DC, Texas has a wider income gap between its richest and middle class than any other state in the U.S. Texas also ranks second in its income gap between its richest and poorest residents. The study also indicates that these gaps will continue to grow (Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau, 2006.) http://www.cbpp.org/1-26-06sfp.htm

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NATIONAL

• There are currently 3.3 workers for each Social Security beneficiary. By 2031, there will be 2.1 workers for each beneficiary ( http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/basicfact.htm.)

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EMPLOYMENT:

LOCAL

The December 2005 unemployment rate in Travis County was 4.0 percent down from 5.2 percent in December 2003. (http://www.tracer2.com/cgi/dataanalysis/labForceReport.asp? menuchoice=LABFORCE.) In October 2005, the Austin-Round Rock MSA added 3,200 jobs.   State and Local Government employment increased by 2,400 jobs as schools continued to hire staff for the new school year.  Retail Trade gained 700 jobs and Professional and Business Services expanded by 400 positions.   (Worksource, November 2005.)

• In 2005, 1,824 people were laid off in the Greater Austin Area, according to numbers collected by WorkSource – Greater Austin Area Workforce Board. Of those layoffs, approximately 58 percent were in three industry sectors: manufacturing, professional and technical services, and public administration. There were 2,122 layoffs in 2004. (WorkSource, January 2006.)
• During 2005, the three WorkSource Career Centers received a total of 422,440 customer visits. (WorkSource, January 2006.

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STATE

• State employment in December 2005 was 9,684,100 up from 9,530,600 in December 2004. (http://www.tracer2.com/cgi/dataanalysis/cesReport.asp?menuchoice=ces)
• The unemployment rate in Texas in December 2005 was 5.1%, down from 5.9% in December 2004 and 6.5% in December 2003. ( http://www.tracer2.com/cgi/dataanalysis/AreaSelection.asp?tableName=Labforce)

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NATIONAL

• The national unemployment rate was 4.9% in December 2005, down from 5.4% in December 2004. (http://www.bls.gov/.)

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DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES

• By 2040, adults age 60 and older will account for 27% of the population of the ten-county region that includes TravisCounty, up from 11% in 2000. Altogether, there are projected to be more than 730,000 adults age 60+ in 2040 compared to about 149,000 in 2000 ( Texas Demographics: Older Adults in Texas, Texas Department on Aging, Office of Aging Policy and Information, Austin, Texas, 2003.)
• Out of the 79,950 students enrolled in AISD in 2005, 54.7% were Hispanic. 22.7% of students were considered English language learners (Just for the Kids, www.just4kids.org.) 

• According to the US Census Bureau, in July 2005, there were 78.2 million people who were of the Baby Boomer generation. Baby Boomers were born between the years 1946 and 1964 ( http://www.census.gov/popest/national/.)

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DEMAND INDICATORS:

Basic Needs:

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Housing:

• The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) has 4,406 people on the waiting list for one of their 1,928 units in public housing and 1,067 people on the Section 8 wait list (HACA, 2006.)

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Physical and Mental Health:

• In TravisCounty, people with a physical disability are 1.5 times more likely than the general population to live in poverty. Residents with a mental disability live in poverty at almost twice the general rate (2004 American Community Survey.)

Reductions in funding for mental health services, restrictions in eligibility for those services, and statewide shortages in psychiatric hospital beds have created acute problems for health care providers in the Austin/Travis County community. Effective February 1, 2006 there will only be between 54 and 58 beds available at Austin State Hospital for persons needing inpatient psychiatric treatment (Austin/ Travis County MHMR, January 2006.) The rate of infant mortality has increased in Travis County by 33%, from 4.8 in 2000 (per 1,000 births) to 6.4 in 2003. African Americans face a greater risk of infant mortality at 13.8 (per 1,000 births) compared to Caucasians at 5.8 and Hispanics at 5.7 ( Texas Kids Count, 2003. )

• The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced they will provide Medicaid prescription coverage for low-income Texans who are inappropriately denied medications under the new prescription drug plan (http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/news/release/012506_RenewsMedicaid.shtml.)
• Safe Place continually has waiting lists for many of its services for adults and children affected by rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence. In January 2006, there were 96 youth and 62 adults on waiting lists for counseling services (Safe Place , January 2006.)
• The first Annual Report from The Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force Monitoring Committee (MMHTFMC) was presented to the City Council on February 2 nd. This report delineates community accomplishments and plans for 2006 to advance the goal of becoming a nationally recognized “mentally healthy community.” The MMHTFMC’s web site is www.mmhtfmc.org (Austin/ Travis County MHMR, January 2006.)
• A study by the National Institute of Mental Health finds that 26% of the general US population reported they had symptoms sufficient for diagnosing a mental disorder during 2004 and 2005. According to the Mental Health Association in Texas , it is likely that these findings are low (The Mental Health Advocate, Summer 2005.)
• The National Institute of Mental Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in August of 2005 that nationally, suicide attempters who participate in cognitive therapy are 50% less likely to reattempt suicide within 18 months of the treatment (The Mental Health Advocate, Summer 2005.)
• As of November 2005, there were 16,663 children enrolled in CHIP and 82,431 children enrolled in Medicaid in Central Texas (Insure-A-Kid.)

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Early Education and Care, Education, and Workforce Development

• Fourteen percent (97 of 691) TravisCounty childcare providers met quality standards in December 2005(Austin/Travis County HHSD – City of Austin, January 2006.)
• For the fourth straight year, the Austin School District leads the state with more National Board Certified Teachers than any other school district in Texas . Nearly a third of the 33 statewide teachers who earned certifications in 2005 were Austin teachers (AISD, 2005.)
• According to a new study by Central Connecticut State University of most literate cities, Austin was ranked 16 th most literate of all U.S. cities with a population of more than 250,000. In last year's study Austin was No. 22 in the US . In Texas , Austin ranked number one. ( http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=150951&.)
• Results of AISD student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress were released in December, 2005.  According to AISD, the results show that Austin fourth and eighth graders tied with Charlotte-Mecklenburg for the highest math scores among 11 participating urban school districts across the country.  Austin students also outperformed the nation and large central city schools (cities with populations of 250,000 or more) in math.  In reading, Austin students outperformed all urban districts at grade 8, and all but one in grade 4. (AISD, November 2005.)
• In 2005, 81.8% or 55,657 TravisCounty students 3 rd through 11 th grade passed the TAKS Reading and English section. Additionally, 70.3% or 47,855 students passed the TAKS Math section. On the reading/English section, the 3 rd grade had the highest number of students pass at 94.4% and the 10 th grade had the least amount of students pass at 66.9%. More fifth graders passed the math section than any other grade at 88.5% and the grade with the least amount of students passing was the 9 th at 57.1% ( http://www.cppp.org/factbook05/county_profile.php?fipse=48453.)
• According to the Texas Education Agency, slightly more than half the number of third graders in Texas who fail the TAKS test still advance to the fourth grade, despite the educational standard that asks them to repeat the grade again. Parents of students who do not pass the test can appeal the policy that requires students to repeat the third grade. In 2004, 53% of Austin third graders who failed the TAKS test three times still advanced to the fourth grade. Del Valle had 100% of failing students advance, Hays had 10% move forward, Manor had 33%, Pflugerville had 33% and Round Rock had 71% of failing third graders advance to the fourth grade (Austin American Statesman, 11-21-05.)
• In 2005, 12.7% of students in TravisCounty were considered special education and 17.6% are in bilingual ESL programs ( http://www.cppp.org/factbook05/county_profile.php?fipse=48453.)
• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 21.4% of 8 th graders have used an illicit drug, along with 38.2% of 10 th graders and 50.4% of 12 th graders. The study also showed that 75.1% of high school seniors, 63.2% of 10 th graders and 41% of 8 th graders had tried alcohol. (http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/05/NR12-19a.html.) 
• According to the University of California Santa Cruz , children are 6 to 8% more likely to graduate from high school if they have access to a home computer. 50.6 % of African Americans and 48.7 % of Hispanics have access to home computers compared to 74.6% of Caucasians. Of those with computers, 40.5% of African Americans and 38.1% of Hispanics have Internet access at home, compared with 74.6% Caucasians (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=5999.)

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Public Safety:

• According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, about 1/4 of students surveyed in Texas schools said that sexual orientation and gender identity are the most common reasons they are bullied. Thirty-six percent of students said looks and body size were the reasons they are bullied. (Austin American Statesman, 1-24-06 .)
• During TravisCounty’s 2005 fiscal year (ending in September), there were 58,260 intakes into the County jail. The average daily jail population was2,536 ( Travis County , January 2006.)

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RESOURCES:

• The Community Tax Centers that are run by Foundation Communities and offer free tax assistance to low-income families and individuals are now open. This year there are six locations. All the sites and eligibility can be found at http://www.communitytaxcenters.org or by calling 211(Foundation Communities, January 2006.)
• CPW, a fee-for-service Medicaid program, offers case management to children under age 21 with health conditions or health risks, and high-risk pregnant women of any age. Potential   clients may be referred to 1-877-THSteps and for further information about CPW contact, Eileen Walker at (254) 778-6744, ext. 2415 (Texas Department of State Health Services.)
• Easter Seals of Central Texas has published a comprehensive directory for children with special needs and disabilities. The directory can be accessed by using the following link: http://centraltx.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=TXCA_Resource_Guide_Home (Easter Seals of Central Texas .)
• In Winter 2005, Safe Place received several grants from longtime funders including an $18,901 grant from the Lola Wright Foundation, for servers and  other network hardware; The William Knox Holt Foundation awarded  $20,000  to  support  Safe Place’s array of services for sexual and domestic violence survivors; and Target Stores awarded $8,000 in support of counseling  services for adult domestic violence survivors. The agency also received  $7,000 from the Theodore P.  Davis Charitable Trust for the Stockton-Hicks Family Tree Child Development Center, which provides childcare to children living in  Safe Place ’s Family Shelter and transitional housing (Safe Place , January 2006.)
• GovBenefits.gov (www.GovBenefits.gov) is the official benefits website of the U.S. government. The site provides a central location to find more than 1,000 federal and state benefit programs. It includes information for disasters or other emergencies, employment services, small-business loans and more. Contact Curtis Turner at 202-693-4219. (US Department of Labor.)
• In October 2005, Easter Seals Central Texas received a HUD Community Block Development Grant from the City of Round Rock to provide sliding fee scale services to children 3 to 18 years of age who are uninsured or underinsured (Easter Seals Central Texas.)
• St. David’s Community Foundation will more than double its annual gifts to local nonprofit groups that provide health care, social services and other programs to needy people in 2006. The total will be $6.3 million with nearly a third going to the foundation’s dental program (Austin American Statesman, 12-02-05.)
• El Buen Samaritano met its goal of 975 turkey baskets donated to needy families this past Thanksgiving (News 8 Austin, 11-22-05 .)
• A HUD commissioned study is now available, which identifies and documents communities that have implemented effective and well-targeted community-wide homelessness prevention strategies and have data to illustrate their effectiveness. The report is available as a free download at http://www.huduser.org/publications/homeless/prevent_homelessness.html or in print for a nominal fee by calling 1-800-245-2691 (Policy Research Associates Inc.)
• Several funders from the Austin area are working together to assist local non-profits through financial support needed as a result of their efforts to meet the needs of hurricane evacuees. To apply, please visit the Austin Area Funders site through the Austin Community Foundation at http://acf.austincommunityfoundation.org/?nd=reliefdetails.
• United Way Capital Area has invested $190,000 in hurricane and recovery efforts in the following 10 local nonprofit direct service providers: Capital Area Food Bank, Catholic Charities of Central Texas, Family Eldercare, Foundation Communities, Foundation for the Homeless, Indigent Care Collaboration, People's Community Clinic, Samaritan Counseling Center, True Light Day Care, and WorkSource - Greater Austin Workforce Board ( http://www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/newsandevents/index.cfm#Grants.)
• The Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas received several grants in the last quarter, including $100,000 from AMD, $42,450 from the Georgia D Lucas Fund, $50,000 from the Austin Community Foundation, $100,000 from the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas, $40,000 from Applied Materials and a pledge from the United Way of America of $450,000.

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KATRINA AND RITA COMMUNITY IMPACT

• Insure-A-Kid serves as a resource for Katrina evacuees needing health care services, setting up appointments and providing referrals to clinics.  As of December 12, 2005, Insure-A-Kid received 1,871 calls from 1,635 evacuees needing assistance finding healthcare (Insure-A-Kid.)
• According to the Community Action Network, there are more than 1,811 units/apartments rented in the Austin/Travis CountyArea by hurricane evacuees. Zip codes with the highest number of dwelling units are 78741 with 220 units, 78723 with 175 and 78758 with 117 units. A unit could equal a family or one person. (CAN, 2005.)
• School enrollment in the Austin/Travis County area was at 1,307 evacuees in January 2006 (Austin/Travis County HHS&VS.)

• FEMA had received 12,325 applications in the Austin/Round Rock area by January 2006 (CAN and Austin/Travis County HHS&VS.)
• January deadlines for evacuees included the following:
  • 1/11/06 – DRC at Rundberg closed
  • 1/11/06 – Hotels/motels required an authorization code for continued evacuee check-in
  • 1/30/06 – Deadline for evacuees to receive an authorization code and provide it to a hotel
  • 1/31/06 – Deadline for evacuee Medicaid application under relaxed guidelines
• March 2006 deadlines include:
• • 3/11/06 – Deadline to apply for FEMA assistance for Katrina/Rita evacuees
  • 3/11/06 – Deadline to apply for SBA (Small Business Administration) Loan
• According to a recent survey, Katrina and Rita evacuees reported 54.3% plan to stay in Austin , 12.7% don’t know, 6.7% plan to return to Louisiana , 1.5% plan to leave town, and 24.8% did not respond (City of Austin HHS, 2006.)

Resources for Evacuees

• Once the Katrina Medicaid coverage ends, evacuees can call Insure-A-Kid at (512) 324-2447 for a Medicaider screening as a Central Texas resident and for assistance applying for medical coverage (Insure-A-Kid.)

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WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

• Choose a local social service agency to support financially.
• Copy and distribute this document to help increase public awareness.
• Support the local economy by shopping at local businesses.
• Give to the United Way Capital Area’s Community Fund or the Austin Community Foundation’s Urgent Issues Fund.
• Contact the United Way Capital Area’s Volunteer Center (Hands on Central Texas ) at 211 or search for volunteer opportunities on United Way Capital Area’s website at http://www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org.
• Also see the 2001 CAN Urgent Issues Action Plan and other documents at caction.org for additional information about community-wide approaches to addressing these issues in our community.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Community Overview was researched and written by the Community Action Network, with assistance from numerous individuals in the community. We attempted to include all those who had a part in this undertaking, but if we have inadvertently omitted anyone, we apologize and ask that you inform us so that we may recognize you appropriately as the process continues.

LEAD WRITER:

Julia Cuba, Community Action Network

CONTRIBUTORS:

George Brown – Basic Needs Coalition
Malisa DiGiacomo – Safe Place
Courtney Fitzgerald – Travis County HHS&VS, Research & Planning
Foundation Communities
Jan Hames, United Way Capital Area
Insure-A-Kid
Leanne James and Cristela Perez – WorkSource
Glenn Like, Travis County Criminal Justice Planning
Lawrence Lyman – Travis County HHS&VS, Research and Planning
Miriam Nisembaum, Easter Seals Central Texas
Mildred Vuris – ATCMHMR Center
Andy Welch, AISD
Veronica Wood, Housing Authority of the City of Austin
Fred Butler, Sam Woollard, Brenda Ahrns – Community Action Network

COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK PARTNERS:

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