As part of our coverage leading up to the elections, KUT News is taking a closer look at each of the Austin voters will see on their ballots in November. Prop 17 shores up the city鈥檚 efforts.
The $11 million outlined in Prop 17 would pay for several facilities-related projects, including renovations at Austin鈥檚 women鈥檚 and children鈥檚 shelters.
The offers showers, laundry facilities, counseling and shelter to 鈥� men, women, and children. But overnight accommodations are only available to men. That鈥檚 where Prop 17 comes in.
鈥淭he bond proposition put forth will allow for construction or the expansion of an existing shelter over on the East Side,鈥� says Jennifer Denton. She鈥檚 with , which runs the ARCH via a contract with the city. 鈥淭hat will provide a space not only for more women and children, but for the single women on the street that at the moment have nowhere to go.鈥�
Bob Corona is with the Health and Human Services Department. He says the funding provided by the bond package would also go toward a neighborhood center, a clothes closet, an emergency food pantry and for senior nutrition 鈥� if the proposition passes in November.
鈥淲e feel very fortunate that we鈥檝e gotten this far in the process,鈥� Corona says. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e very hopeful that we鈥檒l be able to provide some of these services and activities much needed [by] clientele we have in some of these areas.鈥�
Other projects that would benefit from Proposition 17 include infrastructure improvements at the Betty Dunkerley campus, and parking lot improvements at the Far South and Montopolis clinics.
The City of Austin鈥檚 seven bond propositions are a part of Austin voters will decide on this fall, including changes to the city charter.
