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El Buen Samaritano Grounded in Mission to Serve Austin Latino Communities
Founded in 1987 to improve access to food and health services, El Buen Samaritano, Austin, focuses on systemic factors and social determinants of health which negatively affect Austin Latino communities.
El Buen is committed to recognizing the dignity of all. The nonprofit aims to ensure access to healthcare, education, and essential needs leading to healthy, productive, and secure lives.
Accomplishments for 2022 include:
Food provided to over 20,000 individuals using drive-through pantry, mobile pantries, and prepared meal distribution.
Health and coordinated care services provided over 2,800 households with access to COVID-19 resources and vaccines, reproductive health, adolescent health, and family health care through our Coordinated Care Network. COVID-19 vaccinations were supplied to 2,101 individuals.
Financial provisions: Over $1.5 million in financial and rental assistance through eviction prevention, cash assistance, and access to public benefits through application assistance.
Education and workforce development programs served over 700 individuals through youth services, English as a Second Language, digital literacy and leadership classes for adults, and community health worker training and certification.
El Buen’s equity and access efforts traverse Central Texas. The organization’s work spans over a five-county area. A high percentage of clients live in Austin’s eastern crescent, which has the area’s highest rates of poverty, unemployment, and uninsured individuals. Through partnerships,
El Buen implements a strategic and coordinated effort to reach deeper into multiple and diverse communities. Ten of El Buen’s key partners include AVANCE, Todos Juntos, Austin Area Urban League, Community Coalition for Health, Dell Valle Community Coalition, Hays Latinos United, Vivent Health, Saffron Trust Pflugerville, St. James’, Austin, and San Francisco de Asis, Austin. El Buen’s formal collaborations with the City of Austin and Central Texas Food Bank have been critical to its community engagement and ability to provide access to basic needs.
