DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Status of Poverty in San Antonio - Report Recommendations for Transportation and Mobility Committee of the City Council
SUMMARY:
This item provides a briefing to the Transportation & Mobility Committee on the findings and recommendations provided in the report “Status of Poverty in San Antonio.” The recommendations of the report will be presented to begin discussions around promoting and investing in inclusion and equity and to consider investments that increase equitable access to asset-building services and resources. Future work on access to asset-building should focus efforts on high need zip codes.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In September 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest American Community Survey 1-year Estimate data. The data, which was from 2018, provided state and local estimates for factors such as poverty, income, and education. According to the report, among the 25 most populous U.S. Metropolitan Areas, the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Area ranks highest for poverty. Since 2013, the overall poverty rate for the City of San Antonio has remained at 18-20%, indicating that about one in five individuals are experiencing poverty, which is one of the most important determinants of health, longevity, and quality of life.
The “Status of Poverty in San Antonio” report, developed by the City of San Antonio’s Human Services Department and Metropolitan Health District, builds on previous reports and community conversations and provides recommended strategies included in a recent Asset Funders Network report, to focus investments and increase collaboration around poverty alleviation initiatives. The City’s report is structured around eight major frameworks: Employment and Income, Education and Skills Development, Wealth and Assets, Business Entrepreneurship, Affordable Housing, Homelessness, Physical and Mental Health, and Access to Transportation.
ISSUE:
Staff will provide a briefing on key data findings in the report, including population data analysis and a summary of the current funding toward City efforts to alleviate poverty. For the area of Transportation and Mobility, the Status of Poverty report recommends promoting investment in inclusion and equity for residents living in high need zip codes, including equitable access to asset building services and resources. In addition, staff will review the recommendations of the report specific to the charge of the Transportation and Mobility Committee, including to increase investment in VIA transit routes serving high need zip codes including 78202, 78207, 78208, and 78211, including frequency of buses on those routes and hours of service, in order to improve access to all community services including employment, schools, financial institutions, social service providers and Financial Empowerment Centers.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only. Fiscal impact will be developed upon recommendations from the community engagement process along with Mayor and City Council input.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff will present a briefing on this item subject to possible action by the Committee.