The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a new contract Tuesday with nonprofit El Buen Samaritano to help more Travis County families stay in their homes.
The contract is one part of the county’s response to rising eviction rates. In addition to supporting El Buen Samaritano – also known as El Buen – the county offers rental assistance and works with the Austin Tenants Council and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid for eviction mediation, counseling, legal representation and referrals.
El Buen Samaritano pays property owners, utility companies, and storage facilities on behalf of eligible families. It also works closely with community partners Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Volunteer Legal Services, among others.
The county’s new two-year, $6.3 million contract with El Buen Samaritano will use pandemic recovery funds to serve Travis County families who haven’t been eligible in the past, said Dr. Rosamaria Murillo, El Buen Samaritano’s chief executive officer.
“We just initiated the ‘I belong in Austin’ city-funded financial rental assistance for about 450 applications. Twenty percent are coming from Travis County areas not currently eligible. But now they will be,” Murillo said.
During the presentation to commissioners, Travis County senior planner Nathan Fernandez listed the services provided by the organization, including relocation coordination, rent assistance, food and basic needs., The organization’s focus is on residents with a gross income at or below 80 percent of area median income.
Goals include serving 450 households or 1,000 clients annually, and 200 settlements annually with a maximum of $6,000 per settlement for rent relocation and storage facilities, he said.
The organization hopes to help 90 percent of the households it works with avoid eviction. It plans to help 70 percent of households maintain stable housing six months after a negotiated settlement, Fernandez said.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion said the housing assistance provided by El Buen Samaritano is one part of the solution.
“I think it’s critically important as we come out of the pandemic,” he said. “However, what is also important is that you are providing more ‘wrap-around’ services as well. It’s not just a home. It takes a number of things for a family to be stable. Food, after-school care, child care, how close they are to transit.”
Murillo said El Buen’s approach does factor in the many needs of families.
“We conduct comprehensive social determinants of health assessments for the families that we’re serving,” she said. “And right now what we are seeing is exactly what you are saying – the need for food, for utilities, making sure that we’re connecting people to child care and mental health,” she said.
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Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: This nonprofit provides free legal services to those in southwest Texas who cannot afford it.
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.
