Consider and take appropriate action to approve the Public Defender's Office use of departmental funds on an ongoing basis to maintain a coffee station and healthy snack food pantry for the department's indigent clients in accordance with the Travis County Non-Travel Meals and Related Expenditures Policy. (Commissioner Howard)

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

All Public Defender clients are members of the public who qualify as indigent based on local and nationally recognized income indicators. The PDO serves thousands of clients a year and a simple meal, snack, and some coffee can mean the difference between a client staying in our office working with their advocate or leaving due to hunger and discomfort. Many of the clients we serve are under the age of 18, when food and nutrition insecurity can have the most harmful impacts. None of the funds are intended to go to county employees.