Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an amendment to the agreement with Catholic Charities of Central Texas to provide legal filing fee assistance in Austin and Travis County, to add one 12-month extension option for a term ending September 30, 2027, to increase the amount by $126,720, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $579,920. Funding: $126,720 is available in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Operating Budget of Austin Public. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
De
Lead Department
Austin Public Health.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $126,720 is available in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Operating Budget of Austin Public Health. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Prior Council Action:
August 28, 2025 - Council authorized negotiation and execution of an amendment to the agreement with Catholic Charities of Central Texas to provide legal filing fee assistance, to add one 12-month extension option ending on September 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $140,800, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $453,200. The motion authorizing the negotiation and execution of an amendment to the agreement with Catholic Charities of Central Texas was approved on consent on a 10-0 vote. Council Member Qadri was absent.
August 29, 2024 - Council authorized negotiation and execution of an amendment to the agreement with Catholic Charities of Central Texas to provide immigration filing fee assistance, to add one 12-month term ending on September 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $110,000, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $281,600. The motion authorizing the negotiation and execution of an amendment to the agreement with Catholic Charities of Central Texas was approved on consent on a 9-1 vote. Council Member Harper-Madison was absent.
For More Information:
Adrienne Sturrup, Director, 512-972-5010; Laura LaFuente, Assistant Director, 512-972-5077; Akeshia Johnson-Smothers, Social Services Agreements Administration Manager, 512-972-5567; Juanita Jackson, Business Process Consultant, 512-972-6163.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
March 23, 2022 - City of Austin Joint Inclusion Committee, Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission, and the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission advocated for increased funding for immigration legal service in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget via Recommendation No. 20220323-005a.
Additional Backup Information:
This social services agreement was awarded as a result of a solicitation process referred to as Austin Public Health Department’s Request for Proposals 2023-004 Immigration Legal Services. This program's target population is immigrants with low-income or family members of immigrants in City of Austin/Travis County who qualify for immigration benefits, legal status, or protections. The agency covers application filing fees for eligible immigrants unable to pay for the application fees. This program addresses key community needs identified in Austin Public Health’s Community Health Assessment.
The program’s City Business Plan outcome goal is that clients will obtain and maintain public benefits as a result of receiving services through this Health Equity Social Service Contract.
Services began on September 1, 2023, for an initial 12-month term ending on September 30, 2024. The agreement was renewed from 2023 to 2026, including Amendment No. 1 through 3. After the clerk's office approved Amendment No. 2 for $110,000, $30,800 in additional funds became available and were added to the agreement without an additional recommendation for Council action, because $30,800 was below the council limit.
|
Term |
Extension Option |
Agreement Change Amount |
Total Agreement Amount |
Not to Exceed Amount |
|
Initial |
n/a |
n/a |
$110,000 |
$110,000 |
|
Amendment 1 |
n/a |
$61,600 |
$171,600 |
$171,600 |
|
Amendment 2 |
1/1 |
$140,800 |
312,400 |
$312,400 |
|
Amendment 3 |
2/2 |
$140,800 |
$453,200 |
$453,200 |
|
Amendment 4 |
n/a |
-$14,080 |
$439,120 |
$453,200 |
|
Proposed Amendment 5 |
3/3 |
$126,720 |
$565,840 |
$579,920 |