Laura Morrison
City Council Member
Austin, Texas
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A City of Prosperity &
Vibrancy…
◦ Best City for the Next Decade
◦ Best City for Small Businesses
◦ Best for Jobs and Economic
Growth
◦ Top Creative Center
◦ Top Startup Cities
◦ Greenest Cities
◦ Fittest Cities
◦ Most Bookstores per Capita
◦ Major Cultural Festivals
◦ Self-proclaimed “Live Music
Capital of the World”
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Relatively Low Unemployment
◦ Austin (6.8%)
◦ Texas (8.5%)
◦ US (9.1%)
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More than 1 in 5 Austin residents live at or below the
federal poverty level
Approximately 36% of County households are
“housing cost-burdened”
Only 50% of Austin ISD graduates are considered
“college-ready”
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Families and children, neighborhoods and schools
are critical to the growth, diversity, vibrancy, and
economic vitality of Austin
Affordable, family-friendly housing is a basic
requirement for attracting and retaining families
Core values for affordable housing include
geographic dispersion, long-term affordability,
deeper affordability
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Urban Core Demographics
◦ # of Households Increasing
◦ # of Dwelling Units Increasing
◦ Family Size Decreasing
Urban Core Losing Children
Escalating Housing Costs
◦ Between 1998 and 2008, Median
Home Price Increased almost 90%
($129,900 to $240,000)
Children’s Optimal
Health
&
ACCESS
Austin Community
Collaboration to Enhance
Student Success
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Taking Collaboration to the
Next Level
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◦ School Board President & 2
Trustees
◦ County Judge & 1
Commissioner
◦ Mayor & 2 Council Members
Leveraging Related Efforts
◦ City of Austin: Families &
Children Task Force
◦ AISD: Community Committee on
Neighborhoods and Schools
Elected Officials’ Membership
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Participating Chief
Administrators
◦ School Superintendent
◦ County Judge
◦ City Manager
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Educational Impact Statement (EIS)
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Housing Stability for Students
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Connecting the Dots
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Literacy Campaign
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Judicial Support Services
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Impact on Existing
Residential Units / Families
# of New Residential Units /
Bedrooms
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Projected Affordability
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Parkland Dedication
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Transportation Linkages
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Moving to Chase Free Rent
Doubling Up
Eviction
Utility Costs
Inconsistent Child Support
Job Loss
Catastrophic Events
Teen Parents – Need Shelter
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Joint Subcommittees Partnership Programs In-Work
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“Imagine Austin” Comprehensive Plan Vision
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Grant Opportunities
◦ Academic Rigor and Relevance
◦ Workforce Development
◦ Reversing the Demographic Trends in the Urban Core
◦ “Education is the hope for Austin’s future…Networks of
community partnerships support our schools and ensure that our
children receive the resources and services they need to thrive and
learn.”
◦ Foundation Communities 21st Century Grant
◦ Austin Achievement Zone
Council Member Laura Morrison
Email:
Laura.Morrison@austintexas.gov
Phone:
512-974-2258
Address:
PO Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767
http://www.cityofaustin.org/council/morrison.htm
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Joint Subcommittees Resolution
Families and Children Task Force
Community Committee on Neighborhoods & Schools
Educational Impact Statement
Connecting the Dots
Community Action Network Dashboard
Children’s Optimal Health
Links available at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/morrison_issues.htm