Bill Text: TX HR663 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Honoring Back on My Feet Austin for its humanitarian endeavors.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-01 - Reported enrolled [HR663 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR663-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Honoring Back on My Feet Austin for its humanitarian endeavors.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-01 - Reported enrolled [HR663 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR663-Introduced.html
84R11077 BK-D | ||
By: Dukes | H.R. No. 663 |
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WHEREAS, Members and staff of Back on My Feet Austin are | ||
gathering at the State Capitol on February 25, 2015, and their visit | ||
provides a fitting opportunity to recognize this outstanding | ||
organization; and | ||
WHEREAS, Affiliated with the national nonprofit group Back on | ||
My Feet, the Austin chapter uses the activity of running to help | ||
persons facing the challenge of homelessness to achieve | ||
self-sufficiency and stability in their lives; the organization | ||
evolved from a running club that Anne Mahlum started in | ||
Philadelphia in 2007 for men living in a local shelter; Ms. Mahlum | ||
believed that consistent participation in the group could help | ||
members to turn their lives around by gaining confidence in | ||
themselves as disciplined, hardworking, reliable individuals; her | ||
faith proved well founded, as those who committed to the regular | ||
morning runs began to develop a healthy self-image; moreover, | ||
through the support and encouragement they provided each other, the | ||
runners began to experience a welcome sense of community; and | ||
WHEREAS, In a short time, volunteers were enlisted in the | ||
cause, and connections were made with local employers to help those | ||
who were ready to take steps toward independent living; the program | ||
now enables participants to attend financial literacy and | ||
skill-building courses offered by corporate and nonprofit | ||
partners, as well as receive assistance with job placement and with | ||
securing housing; to date, nearly half of the homeless participants | ||
have attained employment, housing, or both through the program, and | ||
close to 75 percent have collaborated with staff to devise a plan of | ||
action for attaining those goals; and | ||
WHEREAS, Back on My Feet now has 11 affiliates nationwide; | ||
the chapter in Austin was launched in January 2013, and since that | ||
time, it has seen notable progress, with 78 members having gained | ||
employment, 33 having found homes, and another 19 having received | ||
access to educational programs; and | ||
WHEREAS, By taking part in Back on My Feet Austin, | ||
participants are working to build for themselves a brighter future, | ||
and it is a privilege to commend all those who have pledged to | ||
undertake that journey, as well as the caring staff members who have | ||
stood beside them; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby welcome members of Back on My Feet Austin to the | ||
State Capitol and extend to all program participants sincere best | ||
wishes for continued success; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
House of Representatives. |