Austin Passes Stimulus Package

On April 9, the Austin City Council passed a $15 million stimulus package. The package is supposed to provide direct assistance to residents who have been damaged by the COVID-19 crisis.

 

The Council voted to use $15 million from the City’s reserve funds to create the RISE (“Relief in a State of Emergency”) Fund. The plan is to have the money sent out to local non-profits in 2-3 weeks.

 

Specifically, the funds are to go to “social service providers” in Austin that help residents in need. Council members requested that half of the $15 million be used to help nonprofits that have seen an increase in the demand for their services. The other half will go to nonprofits for one-time direct cash payments to residents. Council members asked that the money be prioritized to people who were not benefitted from Congress’s CARES Act, such as people who are undocumented.

 

Its not clear yet if any of that money will go to nonprofits helping residents who are struggling to pay rent. But as we get more details, we will update this article.