Lulac Project Amistad

Aging and disability resource center: the aging, disability & transportation resource center (adtrc) provides information on long-term services and support, as well as affordable, accessible, and integrated housing options. The adtrc is considered a one-stop shop, community-based center that can help to locate and provide guidance counseling to understand a comprehensive range of resources available for veterans and active duty. Staff is trained and certified to provide the following services: utility payments, locating affordable and accessible housing, enrollment into the medicare savings programs, processing tanf, snap, medicaid applications, guidance counseling, referrals for home modifications for persons with disabilities, visitation and safe exchange for families of domestic violence, mental health services, guidance on services and supports for veterans & their beneficiaries, persons with disabilities, elderly, families in distress, offer volunteer mentorship opportunities and financial, educational courses for individuals with intellectual developmental disability (idd), and process marketplace insurance enrollment applications. Amistad's adtrc is one of 28 adrcs within the state of texas. In fy24, the adtrc answered a total of 13,868 calls, processed 1,662 various applications, assisted 1,055 veterans & beneficiaries, and assisted 22,150 individuals with marketplace inquiries and enrollments.

Guardianship, money management, and homeless initiatives: project amistad remains one of the most important community resources for persons who have been deemed by the court system to be unable to care for their health and welfare. Our guardianship team works diligently to ensure that the persons under guardianship, approximately 429, have appropriate shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and mental health treatment. The program currently serves individuals ranging from young adults to persons 101 years old. Amistad was selected to provide homeless initiatives, which are 365/24/7. Amistad has a close association with several federal, state, city, and county entities along with community-based agencies to provide high-quality professional care. Money management services are provided to persons who are unable to manage their finances and who need a representative payee. Money management services are an important part of project amistad's efforts to ease burdens for persons served. The program is funded by a grant from the community development block grant (cdbg) program through the city of el paso. Project amistad clients who have been identified as needing assistance in managing their finances are provided comprehensive and professional money management assistance by a case manager. Among the referring sources were the probate court, adult protective services (aps), and the social security administration (ssa). There are currently 61 clients in the program. Also, amistad is a hub for unhomed initiatives. The el camino a casa program, funded by the city of el paso, aims to address homelessness in the community by providing rapid rehousing, homeless prevention, and street outreach. In fy24, 242 clients were engaged through street outreach. Services provided include case management, meals, snacks, and hygiene items. Clients are assisted in locating an emergency shelter to avoid spending the night in a place not meant for human habitation. Amistad also provided permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless individuals through funding from the u.s. Department of housing and urban development (hud), funneled through the continuum of care, serving 10 individuals. In this program, clients are provided with long-term rental assistance along with intensive case management to help them regain stability.