Family SupportHealth & Human Services
Emergency Assistance
- rent/mortgage,
- utilities
- food vouchers
- groceries
- burials
- transportation
- prescriptions
- clothes and blankets
Family Support Services
The Family Support Services Division of HHS&VS is the largest provider of basic needs emergency assistance in Travis County. Services are provided at 7 community centers - two of the sites are located in central Austin while the other five serve the rural areas of the County. Visit www.centralhealth.net for information on eligibility screening for the Medical Access Program (MAP).
Many co-located services such as Community Care clinics, Women Infants and Children (WIC) offices, senior lunch programs, and computers to support employment searches are available at select locations. All sites offer case management services
.
The funds for direct emergency assistance come from a variety of sources. In FY 2008, Travis County contributed almost $922,054 from the County General fund. Additionally, the County administers the following grants:
- Comprehensive Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP)
- Emergency Family Shelter Program (formally FEMA)
- CAPS (City of Austin)
- Texas Utilities (TXU)
- Perdenales Electric Services (PEC).
In FY 2008 the total amount of grant assistance administered through the county totaled more than $1,254,737. The county distributed more than $2.1 million in direct cash assistance.
FSS provided emergency cash assistance to approximately 11,549 unduplicated households; non cash supports including groceries, clothes, coats, fans, fresh foods for families, and blankets to 7700 duplicated households. An additional 1226 household were screened out or denied services because they did not meet the eligibility guidelines.
