The Travis County Commissioners Court on June 27 approved a measure funding an affordable housing contract for Foundation Communities, a nonprofit provider of affordable housing and subrecipient of the Juniper Creek development contract.
The money is sourced from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, and the amount awarded is “not to exceed” $6.5 million, according to resolution language.
The project funds the construction of 110 units, according to the county. Juniper Creek Apartments are at 11630 N. Lamar Blvd. next to Laurel Creek, and construction is slated to start in July and end in 2025.
“They’ll serve residents experiencing homelessness, low-income adults and residents making at or below 60 percent of the area median income,” said Pilar Sanchez, county executive for Health and Human Services.
Twenty-two units – one-fifth of the apartments – will be set aside for those experiencing homelessness.
“The focus at Juniper Creek is families with children,” said Walter Moreau, executive director of Foundation Communities. “We have a lot of experience working with families and kids that are exiting from SAFE or Passages and really need that next step to get out of the shelter into their own apartment and provide really intensive services.”
The developer will provide a full-time case manager with the Children’s Home Initiative, youth programming, adult education classes, a food pantry and on-site case management, Sanchez said.
“We’re super excited and really grateful. We could not break ground and start this project without the investment from the county with interest rates, inflation and construction costs,” Moreau said.
Commissioner Brigid Shea asked whether it’d be possible to provide more than 22 units devoted to formerly homeless individuals.
“Is there a potential for more than 20 percent or is it a fixed limit?” Shea asked.
Moreau said that the family projects tend to stay around 10 to 20 percent, but that after a few years, it would be possible for that percentage to go up.
He added it would be possible the percentage of units devoted to homelessness could be greater than 20 percent, although it was not likely in the first two years, since this particular project was focused more on families rather than transitional housing.
Shea applauded the fact that all of the units were at or below 60 percent of area median income, because that’s where housing advocates have said the greatest need exists.
County Judge Andy Brown also commended the effort, describing the benefits that a hypothetical low-income family could experience living at this development.
“(They) could live there and would have access to parks, safe play areas, and (the) kid would have after-school tutoring options. (The parent) would have access to financial planning classes, exercises and other supports very close to home,” Brown said.
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affordable housing: This general term refers to housing that is affordable to Austinites, with or without subsidy.
Travis County Commissioners Court: The legislative body for Travis County. It includes representatives from the four Travis County Precincts, as well as the County Judge. The County Judge serves as the chair of the Court.
