Date: October 1, 2025
To: One Voice Central Texas Members, Community Partners, and Supporters

One Voice Central Texas (OVCT) is a coalition of 80+ member organizations dedicated to empowering and supporting health and human services nonprofit executive leaders by providing the resources, advocacy, and collaborative opportunities necessary for their organizations to effectively serve their communities. Following discussion around the City of Austin’s upcoming Property Tax Measure (Prop Q), OVCT members agreed through a majority vote to support the Proposition as a coalition. Our concern lies in the health, safety, and resilience of all Austinites and preserving their access to the resources they need.

Prop Q supports this by investing in public health, housing, and frontline services that most directly affect our underserved neighbors.

Why does this matter?

As nonprofit leaders, we know how critical it is to invest in the people and services that make Austin safe, healthy, and resilient. Prop Q strengthens our homelessness response system and preserves access to crucial health and human services. These investments protect our most vulnerable neighbors and ensure nonprofits can continue their vital work. While this is not our first choice for funding, it is the option before us to sustain the systems that keep our community strong.

Nonprofit organizations are your social safety net

Every single day, One Voice organizations and other health and human service organizations in Austin serve as the social safety net for individuals and families by providing the direct and indirect services that address their needs.

Did you know that in one single day across 44 organizations, One Voice Central Texas organizations:

• Collected 9,500 diapers for the Austin Diaper Bank
• Offered refuge to 10,992 individuals who are experiencing homelessness
• Provided daycare for 2,815 children to ensure their guardians could go to work
• Connected 2,903 individuals with mental health and crisis counseling
• Sheltered 634 individuals utilizing victim services
• Mentored 150 children impacted by parental incarceration
• Distributed books to 881 children living below the poverty line
• And so, so much more.

Imagine the detrimental impact it would have if health and human service funding is not preserved and these services are cut off.

One Voice organizations are already grappling with an uncertain future in Federal funding, making long-term planning and consistent service delivery increasingly difficult. In February, One Voice surveyed its members to assess potential risks if Federal support were to be withdrawn. Of the 22 member organizations that responded, over $80,000,000 in federal funding is at stake – jeopardizing services for at least 465,935 clients and putting 1,526 employees at risk. While a complete cutoff in funding is unlikely, the current climate of uncertainty is deeply destabilizing.

Call to Action

One Voice Central Texas stands in support of Prop Q, and we encourage Austinites to vote Yes.

Early voting starts on October 20 and ends on October 31. Election day is November 4. Please visit Vote Texas to make sure you’re registered and see voting locations.

Other Community Supporters

Love Austin Campaign (Link to website)

Care Not Cuts Coalition