Starting today, applications are being accepted for the City of Austin Housing Department’s I Belong In Austin rental assistance program. If you or anyone you know is struggling to pay rent or is at risk of eviction, you can check your eligibility and apply at www.austintexas.gov/rent. The program will be administered by El Buen Samaritano, which will prioritize applicants 50 percent or below AMI and provide financial assistance with rent, moving, storage and relocation costs for tenants at risk of eviction. As part of the 2024-2025 budget, City Council approved $3.6 million in funding for the IBIA program. “Rent assistance for low-income households is one of the first tools that cities can use to prevent displacement and homelessness,” stated Nefertitti Jackmon, the City’s Community Displacement Prevention Office. El Buen will work closely with the City, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) and Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) to provide eviction prevention support and emergency rental dollars to communities in need. Last year, the rental assistance program served approximately 1,700 households at an average of $5,265 per household, with $11.6 million allocated for the public launch of the IBIA program. As with past programs, recipients will be chosen using a lottery system to ensure equity in access. Residents who have applied for assistance in the past will need to resubmit an application – either online; in person at El Buen Samaritano at 7000 Woodhue Drive, Austin, TX, 78745; or by phone at 737-214-7406.

Creek Show, the site-specific luminescent art installation that has cropped up at Waller Creek for the past 10 years, is back for its annual spectacle, aiming to raise awareness and public support for the creek’s transformation into a series of restored urban parks and trails. This year, the work of Austin-based architects, landscape architects, artists and designers will include theme nights with highlights like a market for local vendors, Verde Night presented by Austin FC, yoga for veterans and a guided nature-centered tour emphasizing design principles and sustainability. The full lineup of events is available at creekshow.com. Creek Show will require an online reservation to attend and offers a variety of free and low-cost admission options. All proceeds from Creek Show benefit Waterloo Greenway, whose mission is to create and maintain a new 35-acre urban park system in partnership with the city.

Carrying the celebration of Dia de los Muertos through most of November, four fiberglass skulls painted by four Austin-based artists Ruben Esquivel, NIZ, Carmen Rangel and Ryan Runice will be on view for free Nov. 9-24 at Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St. The art installation “Las Calaveras de Republic Square” came about via a partnership between Mexic-Arte Museum and the Mexico City-based Colectivo Última Hora. “These artists have created imagery relating to Republic Square’s history, a central point for the city’s diverse communities. … Through Las Calaveras de Republic Square, we acknowledge and highlight the Mexican, Mexican American, and Black communities, as well as the Tonkawa tribe,” reads a statement from the museum. For more details on the artists’ work on the calaveras, click here.

Due to weather, the dates of this exhibition have changed. This whisper has been updated accordingly.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is inviting Texans to participate in an online survey to help shape two comprehensive transit plans for the state’s future: the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan (SMTP) and the Statewide Active Transportation Plan (SATP). The plans will outline a unified vision for transit and active transportation through 2050, helping to guide a range of mobility options from buses and trains to walking, cycling and e-scooters. TxDOT aims to address challenges and strategies that support increased connectivity and diverse transportation choices statewide. The survey is available online and will remain active through Nov. 4.

TxDOT will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its I-35 Capital Express Central Project on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and those opposed to the road’s expansion through Austin’s downtown will be on hand to protest its official launch. Rethink35 has filed a lawsuit with 14 community partners against the project, saying it violates the National Environmental Policy Act and expects to see it play out in court in the coming months. The group has also filed a civil rights complaint against TxDOT. “TxDOT’s proposed I-35 expansion will waste billions of dollars to commit grievous harm to our city and region,” says Rethink35 Board Member Miriam Schoenfield in a statement to the press. “Despite overwhelming opposition from residents, elected leaders, and candidates for local office (81% of which oppose the expansion), TxDOT intends to steamroll over our community for a project that will destroy homes, businesses, and parks and worsen congestion, pollution, safety, and quality of life for generations to come.” The protest will begin at 1:30 p.m., with the groundbreaking scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Austin Community College District (ACC) will host the Positive Women’s Coalition’s Women’s Health, Motivation & Empowerment Conference this Saturday. The annual conference is in its 14th year, and is designed to support women looking to change their professional and personal lives for the better. The event, which is free and open to women of all ages, will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the ACC Eastview campus and will feature sessions on health and wellness, motivation and empowerment, as well as a fashion show. Interested attendees can RSVP here. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary will hold its Festival of Trees “Home for the Holidays” event on Friday, Nov. 10. The festival features an auction of trees decorated by the group, board members and volunteers, with all proceeds going to families in need during the holiday season. In addition, the festival showcases carols, treats and the opportunity to donate. Online bidding on the trees begins on Nov. 8, and the event will take place on Nov. 10 from 3 to 6 pm at Area Command (4700 Manor Road).

Austin City Council is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the five-member Municipal Civil Service Commission, with the term extending through May 2027. The commission handles appeals on disciplinary actions involving non-exempt city of Austin employees, including suspensions, demotions and dismissals. Serving on the commission requires about 20 hours per month, with hearings typically lasting a full business day twice per month. Candidates must be Austin residents, qualified voters, and ideally have expertise in human resources, labor relations or employment law. Applications are open until filled, and interviews may be conducted by City Council’s Audit & Finance Committee. Interested applicants can apply online.

The Capital Delivery Services Department is hosting its second “Building Austin” event on Nov. 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Dove Springs Public Health Facility on Palo Blanco Lane. The series aims to keep the community informed about key infrastructure projects shaping the city’s future. The upcoming session will focus on transportation and flood risk reduction projects in Southeast Austin, including updates on the Brassiewood flood reduction, Slaughter Lane and William Cannon corridor improvements, and the Williamson Creek wastewater interceptor. The hybrid event will feature presentations and an open house format, and attendees will get a chance to meet with project teams. Registration is available online.

Chess in the Park is back at the 2024 Chris Riley Memorial Wooldridge Square Tournament. The event, which will feature a K-12 student section and an open section for all ages, will take place on Nov. 3. The tournament has been officially renamed after former City Council Member Chris Riley, who passed in July and was a dedicated supporter of community chess, volunteering to organize matches most Saturdays at Wooldridge Square Park from 2003 to 2023 and co-founding the project. This year’s tournament will take place at the park  from noon until 5 p.m., with registration required. That registration is now open and can be found here.

This Saturday, Oct. 26, Travis County and the Drug Enforcement Administration will collect unwanted prescription drugs from the public as part of National Take Back Day. The day helps people safely dispose of expired, unused or unneeded medications in an effort to help make communities safer. According to a press release from the county, “the misuse and improper disposal of expired and unwanted drugs is a growing problem nationwide and also threatens local water supplies.” On Saturday, residents can drop off medications (barring syringes) anonymously and at no cost at any of the five Travis County Constable Precincts between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

If you’re contemplating launching a small business, or transitioning your existing online business to brick-and-mortar, the city is here to help. BizAid Business Orientation, a program of Austin’s Economic Development Department, is “an introductory class designed to equip aspiring business owners with the knowledge and resources to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey seamlessly.” The class will help you to “navigate the intricate landscape of city, state and federal regulations and gain invaluable insights” into the city’s development process. Sounds like a no-brainer to us. Register on Eventbrite. 5202 E. Ben White Blvd., Suite 300, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 9-10:30 a.m.