Acting on stories from people desperately needing medical equipment, DAI leaders launched a Durable Medical Equipment Initiative to acquire, sanitize (according to state code) and distribute gently used medical equipment. This would provide residents with wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers.

Last spring, initial budget recommendations had slated Capital IDEA, Prime Time after School, ESL and other important programs normally supported by the city for ZERO funding. Since then, Council members approved a revised budget recommendation that expands funding for the highest rated programs at 70% of requested funding. If approved, Capital IDEA would receive continued funding at current levels of over $1,000,000 and other programs like Prime Time After School Program would also be funded. More than 100 Austin Interfaith leaders have been to City Hall this month to show their support for these programs. In addition to advocating for human development programs, AI leaders created a stir about the anti-lobbying ordinance preventing public participation in this process.

Leaders of Valley Interfaith succeeded in expanding sewage infrastructure into the colonias of Donna, for the first time bringing first-world drainage to its residents. Before this expansion, people relied on septic tanks which would overflow during the rainy season, causing numerous health problems for families.

Article and radio segment available here

Dallas Area Interfaith Says It's Raining, Use State's Savings to Ease Cuts, Dallas Morning News

Religious Leaders Come Together Against Anti-Immigration Laws, ABC News

Foro de Interfe de la Frontera Enfoque en la Inmigracion, Votacion, El Paso Times

"Austin Interfaith's Sunday night accountability forum easily will be the largest vetting this election season and probably the toughest crowd any Council candidate will face when choosing to say "no" to a particular issue...."