AUSTIN, Texas — Dozens of Austin organizations will have the chance to apply for grant funding this year through the city of Austin's Office of Equity.
"Focusing on three main categories this year: one, immigrant inclusion; another, solidarity with unhoused people; and third, anti-displacement or displacement prevention," Rocio Villalobos, the immigrant affairs program manager with the Equity Office, said.
This year, the Equity Mini Grant program is offering a total of $400,000 to organizations.
Villalobos said immigrants make up a big portion of Austin population. Meanwhile, a report from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) estimated that 5,000 people experience homelessness on any given night.
"There is a big need to address all those areas," Villalobos said.
One of the organizations that received funding in the past and will apply again is El Buen Samaritano.
"[The organization has a] focus on health care, education and essential needs such as food," CEO Rosamaria Murillo said.
The group has a focus on helping the immigrant community.
"Just everything we do is about including our immigrant community within Austin – all the way from serving youth first grade through high school, to English as a second language courses," Murillo said.
The organization can receive up to $30,000 from the grant.
Last year, the grant program helped 80 organizations. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15.