Austin City Council renewed two contracts with Catholic Charities of Central Texas on Thursday, committing about $2.6 million to immigration legal services, counseling and help paying application fees. The combined amount is roughly $300,000 more than the nonprofit received for the programs in the previous fiscal year, and the renewals extend through next September. City staff evaluations released the same day said the nonprofit’s programs met performance expectations and addressed community needs. The reports identified one compliance concern: Catholic Charities had difficulty reaching some of its priority population. Staff said some clients were worried about going to court or leaving home to access services, but that people who did participate were seeing positive outcomes within the city’s allowable variance. The two agreements support immigration legal services and counseling, as well as assistance with filing fees. Catholic Charities Executive Director Allison Cavazos said people seeking help often face multiple needs and can benefit from guidance through a complicated legal system. The nonprofit served about 700 people through its immigration programs last year, Cavazos said. City staff also found that about 20% of Catholic Charities’ current clients cannot afford U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services application fees, which increased in January 2023. Cavazos said the nonprofit works to connect families with resources to cover those costs. Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela said before the vote that Austin’s immigrant community needs support. No one spoke against the contracts at the council meeting, despite criticism online, according to the meeting coverage.