FAQs

Family Stabilization Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The first round of Family Stabilization Grant Payments have been disbursed. Earlier this year, the City of Austin's City Council approved $1.3 million in funds and contracted with UpTogether (previously FII or Family Independence Initiative) to manage the program. 

Can residents apply for this assistance?

Due to the limited number of families supported by this program, the City of Austin, UpTogether, and partnering organizations are not utilizing an open application process for the general public to enroll and select families. Instead, the expertise and relationships of several community partners will be utilized to enroll participants who meet the eligibility criteria.

If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 2-1-1 or look up resources on FindHelp.org

For the Family Stabilization Grant in 2024, the City of Austin's Equity Office successfully partnered with several local organizations in collaboration with UpTogether. The selected organizations that are disbursing funds for the Grant can be found below. 

How will the participants be selected, or what is the vetting criteria?

The vetting process will prioritize households/families who have been directly impacted by substantial economic hardship. Eligibility criteria include:

1. Have a household income at or below 80% AMFI.
2. Did not receive funding through the previous UpTogether pilots (specifically the 2021-22 Central Texas 12-month Pilot and the 2022-23 Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot)
3. We will focus on (but not require) applicants with dependents in their household.

4. Experienced economic hardship, as defined by two or more of the following:

   • Live in opportunity zip codes within the Eastern Crescent
   • Missed housing and/or utility payments due to financial difficulties
   • Displaced within the past 2 years
   • Inability to afford quality childcare
   • Children or dependents enrolled at Title 1 schools
   • Lack of access to affordable, quality healthcare
   • Un/under employment; not earning a living wage

   Additionally, the primary participant must be at least 18 years old.

What are the specific success metrics we're looking for in the key impact areas?

The Equity Office worked with UpTogether to determine key performance indicators and benchmarks. Some of those metrics will be guided by capacity assessments of participants throughout the program including their ability to afford basic necessities, to establish savings, caretakers’ ability to support family such as children, people with disabilities, and elders, and ability to earn more or achieve both short- and long-term career and life goals. Participants will engage in surveys and interviews to help the City of Austin identify focus areas to better serve the most impacted residents in Austin and to understand and address quality of life needs. 

How long is the program? How many families?

The length of the program is 12 months and funds will be provided for 96 families at $1,000/month. 

What organizations will disburse funds for the grant?

• Go Austin Vamos Austin (GAVA)
• A New Entry
• allgo
• Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI)
• Austin Area Urban League
• Saffron Trust

When will the funds begin going out to families?

The first payments went out the week of June 3, 2024. 

Who is UpTogether?

UpTogether is a national nonprofit organization that, for over two decades, has partnered with governments, philantrhopy, and community organizations to distribute cash directly to families while learning how they work together in community to reach their personal goals and achieve financial security. 

"We look forward to continuing our work with the City of Austin to directly invest in families," said Ivanna Neri, UpTogether's Senior Director of Partnerships. "Our work in Austin has shown us these investments are an important tool to address poverty, as families use a majority of funds on basic needs such as housing and food. We thank city leaders for their commitment to this approach."

Background

From Action taken by the City Council during the meeting of: Thursday, April 18, 2024

"City Council 31. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for family stabilization grant program services with FII-National d/b/a Family Independence Initiative, in an amount not to exceed $1,336,000. [Note: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established]. Approved on Consent"

Read the City of Austin Recommendation for Action on the Family Stabilization Grant Program here

On August 16, 2023, Austin City Council adopted the FY23-24 Budget, which included a budget amendment in the amount of $1.3 million for the family stabilization grant program, which is meant to build off of the successful guaranteed income pilot that concluded August 2023. Results from the pilot program can be read here. The contract for the administration program was approved at the Thursday, April 18 Council meeting.