Last week, City Council and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin announced the Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) program, a lottery program that will help Austinites at risk of losing their rental housing due to the pandemic. “In the wake of this terrible virus are anxious families without money for rent […]
Nina Hernandez
Posted inCity Council
Library Commission punts fine-free initiative amid Covid-19 uncertainty
The Library Commission pledged to keep working on its Fine-Free Libraries program Monday, with the understanding that it may take a year or more to win City Council’s approval due to the budgetary uncertainty caused by Covid-19. “I think there is somewhat of a sense that maybe now is not the time to continue this […]
Posted inAustin
City, county to work with business on reopening Central Texas
County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, Mayor Steve Adler and Austin Chamber President and CEO Laura Huffman announced the formation of the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force in a Zoom press conference on Thursday morning. The county, city and chamber are teaming up to work out ways to reopen the local economy while continuing to […]
Posted inCity Council
Adler urges Austinites to stay at home despite state rollback
When Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that he would gradually begin to reopen the state, confusion began to mount about what that means for daily life. Is the stay-at-home order lifted? Should we begin to go back to life as it was before? Austin Mayor Steve Adler told the Austin Monitor on Monday night […]
Posted inAustin
In ‘survival mode,’ Austin Pets Alive! flooded with community support
Visitors to the Austin Pets Alive! website are greeted by a pop-up message that says, “We are in survival mode and need your help.” The message redirects to a donation page called “Save Pets in Sweats,” which encourages community members to donate, purchase APA apparel or attend a virtual event. The past month has brought […]
Posted inAustin
Faith organizations take services online during the Covid-19 pandemic
The city’s stay-at-home order suspended in-person religious services, but that hasn’t stopped churches, mosques and synagogues from reaching their congregations during the pandemic. With all physical gatherings banned, faith communities are going online to practice. Congregation Beth Israel still hosts services every Friday night, with the rabbis reaching the congregation from their homes via Zoom. […]
Posted inAISD
AISD officials discuss Covid-19 response
Austin Independent School District officials spoke at an Austin Justice Coalition panel Wednesday night, discussing how the district and its students are coping during the Covid-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home order that has shuttered schools. Speakers included AISD Board of Trustees President Geronimo Rodriguez, AISD Chief Equity Officer Stephanie Hawley, Education Austin President Ken Zarifis, […]
Posted inAustin
United Way announces ongoing volunteer opportunities
Each year, United Way for Greater Austin hosts a communitywide Spring Day of Action. This year, with the Covid-19 crisis, United Way decided a change-up was in order. The organization is now hosting a Spring Season of Caring and putting together a list of friendly volunteer opportunities with stay-at-home orders in place. “In light of […]
Posted inEMS
Texas first responders need equipment to tackle Covid-19
Two-thirds of emergency service district first responders reported they have been unable to procure a sufficient amount of the necessary personal protective equipment since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study by the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts (SAFE-D). “It is clear after the early weeks of combating Covid-19 […]
Posted inAustin
Local groups call for $10 million to help struggling families
Last Thursday, a coalition of community groups called on City Council to allocate $10 million in emergency spending to be distributed to families struggling financially due to the Covid-19 crisis. “By allowing impacted families experiencing financial hardship brought by Covid-19 to help supplement lost wages,” the letter reads, “we are inviting others to respect people’s […]
Posted inWhispers
Doggett introduces legislation to create special enrollment period for ACA
As we shelter-in-place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett has introduced bipartisan legislation to require a special ACA enrollment period in times of a public health emergency. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced the legislation in the Senate. “The Affordable Care Act is an invaluable tool in combating the coronavirus pandemic. […]
Posted inPublic Health
Central Texas counties echo Travis, issue stay-at-home orders
While the city of Austin’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the headlines, surrounding counties are also working to keep their communities safe. Alongside the news of its first presumptive coronavirus case, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra issued a state of disaster in conjunction with the city of San Marcos on March 15. Then, […]