A Starting Point for Texas Students

Representative Ellen Troxclair is the proven conservative voice for Texas House District 19, the heart of Hill Country. Elected in a decisive victory in 2022, she served in the 88th Legislative session and subsequent special sessions on the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, Culture, Recreation, & Tourism Committee, House Select Committee on Community Safety, and Select Study Committee on Sustainable Property Tax Relief. She is devoted mom, non-profit leader, and small business owner who is grateful to represent Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie, Kendall and western Travis Counties.
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Q: How is the state supporting initiatives to combat addiction among the vulnerable such as homeless individuals or those involved in the criminal justice system?

When I evaluate initiatives to help Texans facing all sorts of challenges I keep in mind the essential work that our private philanthropy, churches, and our dedicated families provide. Or could provide if they could afford it. When we use taxpayer funding to fuel even worthy programs, it represents opportunities allocated to efforts government workers choose. Texans are generous and we do best when we don’t stand in the way of their charity and their choices. Lowering red tape, expensive bureaucracies, and the taxation burden that we feel is a top priority, if we are to free the potential for prosperity and for charity, in Texas.

q: What are some steps being taken to reduce the barriers to treatment such as lack of insurance coverage or stigma associated with seeking help?

Last session we passed several bills that we hope to be effective in removing stigma and helping ensure good medical care. One such measure was freeing school districts to welcome chaplains to work or volunteer in schools and bring that God-based option to schoolchildren whose families share those values. Another key program we passed was record funding for the Thriving Texas Families program, a statewide network of support to promote healthy childbirth &  pregnancy, including counseling, classes, medical care coordination, and housing.

q: How are you able to address the problem of miscommunication and inconsistencies about the extent of previous natural disasters affecting those in poverty without access to media resources?

We have learned a lot at all levels of government and in our agencies about how to best communicate and assist residents in natural disasters after Hurricane Harvey and the historic freezes. Our Texas Department of Emergency Assistance works closely with partners on the local level across the State, who know their populations and their needs best.

Q: Would you consider extending the amount of aid an individual can receive in this time span, in efforts to get them to a point of food stability? Why or why not?

The roots of homelessness spring, as Alan Graham of Mobile Loaves and Fishes has said, in the devastating loss of family. He has demonstrated over many years that a supportive community with good stability and healthy boundaries can help our homeless recover from their wounds and losses, and have beautiful lives going forward. Particular aid programs are important pieces of this puzzle, and which also includes the worthy work of private charities of all sorts. We must constantly evaluate and audit taxpayer funded aid programs for effectiveness over time, as each one represents just one option along a spectrum of possibilities, and we aim for an optimal solution.

Lulu Flores is a longtime champion of equality and social justice. She rose through the grassroots ranks to serve as President and CEO of the National Women’s Political Caucus, the longest serving institution committed to increasing women’s participation throughout the political process. Likewise, Lulu’s leadership can be seen at all levels, from being elected a National Delegate for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, to Chairing the Austin Arts Commission, to serving as Chief of Staff to the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas House, Representative Irma Rangel.
Learn more about Rep. Flores

q: What are some steps being taken to reduce the barriers to treatment such as lack of insurance coverage or stigma associated with seeking help?

Ensuring that those in our communities facing poverty have access to health care is a key responsibility of all levels of government and this is an area that the City of Austin and Travis County are really helping pick up the State’s slack, particularly with the massive post-pandemic unwinding of Medicaid that caused 1.7 million Texans to lose insurance coverage. 
Read the full response

Q: Would you consider extending the amount of aid an individual can receive in this time span, in efforts to get them to a point of food stability? Why or why not?

Yes. I try to support expanding SNAP whenever I can. In the best country in the world, we should be able to ensure our citizens have some of their basic needs met, and food is on top of that list.

This past session, I supported a bill that recalculated how income is calculated for SNAP benefits. Your vehicles value counts towards your income, and we all know in a State like Texas, a car is practically necessary for day-to-day functions, and more so when you’re looking for work. We also know cars aren’t cheap. If you had a car valued over $15,000 it hurt your SNAP calculation. I was happy to support increasing it to $22,500. A reasonable amount, about the cost of a Honda Civic. The goal of SNAP is to be a temporary assistance, but folks need some time to find work and need a means to get around time. Ensuring reasonable limits aims to balance the priority of helping those who need help and limiting abuse of the program.

Further, SNAP is one of the most efficient government programs, and I believe most people do not want to be on SNAP. It is a program that gets a bad rap from very, very few abusers and when the program is being used, it is being used at high rates. That is because there are usually outside economic factors that have caused a drastic decrease in jobs, therefore increasing SNAP applications, which is exactly when a program like that should exist. I think the government has responsibility to help feed its citizens who need help through difficult times and 3 months is just too short for folks to get back on their feet.

Resources

• SNAP Is Effective and Efficient

State Representative Brad Buckley is currently serving his third term in the Texas House of Representatives and represents House District 54, which includes half of Bell County in Central Texas. He was first elected to the Texas House in November of 2018 and was the Texas House Republican Caucus's Freshman of the Year in the 86th legislature. He is the Chairman of the House Public Education committee and is honored to lead on important policy that affects professional educators, the 5.5 million school children in Texas, and their families. He also serves on the House Land and Resource Management Committee.
Learn more about Rep. Buckley

q: How is the state supporting initiatives to combat addiction among the vulnerable such as homeless individuals or those involved in the criminal justice system? 

Texas partners with numerous programs across the state aimed at supporting initiatives to combat addiction among the most vulnerable. Each legislative session, we approve funding for a range of treatment services for individuals struggling with addiction through public health facilities, private treatment centers, or community-based organizations.

q: What are some steps being taken to reduce the barriers to treatment such as lack of insurance coverage or stigma associated with seeking help? 

Texas offers a 24-hour hotline for access to community resources, including insurance, health, and more. No matter where someone lives, residents can contact 2-1-1 Texas, the state’s free, anonymous social service helpline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

q: How are you able to address the problem of miscommunication and inconsistencies about the extent of previous natural disasters affecting those in poverty without access to media resources? 

Addressing miscommunication and inconsistencies about previous natural disasters' impact on impoverished communities without media access requires a boots-on-the-ground strategy. This involves tapping into local community networks for firsthand information, conducting thorough field surveys, and partnering with local organizations to ensure transparent and accurate information dissemination. 

q: Would you consider extending the amount of aid an individual can receive in this time span, in efforts to get them to a point of food
stability? Why or why not? 

The average homeless person is homeless for 1-2 years. SNAP only provides benefits for 3 months over a 3-year period.

Collaborating more closely with local or regional assistance organizations could enhance wraparound support for people experiencing homelessness, addressing their broader needs beyond food assistance.