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Housing
Thousands of potential units in projects certified so far under Affordability Unlocked program
A city bonus program to spur more affordable housing has already played a role in several income-restricted projects across Austin. Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department staff and affordable housing developers provided an update on the Affordability Unlocked program to…
Housing • By Daniel Salazar • Sep 9, 2020
City unveils affordable housing and transit dashboard ahead of Project Connect
With a historic investment in public transit and affordable housing on the Nov. 3 ballot, the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department has launched an interactive map to track proximity of income-restricted housing stock to potential stations along the city’s…
Housing • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 9, 2020
The CDC has banned most evictions. Here's what Central Texas renters need to know.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an order last week that could protect renters who’ve lost wages or work hours from eviction until Jan. 1. Why did the order come from a public health agency? The CDC argues…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Sep 8, 2020
Thousands are out of work, but home sales in Austin are doing fine — better than fine. What gives?
Blake Taylor wants to be rid of the house she hardly leaves. Taylor lives with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and is terrified of what it would mean if she caught Covid-19. She’s been extra careful. When she heads to HEB…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 25, 2020
Applications for rent assistance are opening (again) in Austin: Here's what you need to know
The city of Austin will begin accepting applications for a second round of rent help for tenants affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Applications open here at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19. “The coronavirus endures, the economy struggles (and) renters…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 18, 2020
City prepares to launch second round of rental assistance in August
City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee heard an update Tuesday on the city’s next round of Covid-19 rental assistance, known as the RENT program. The Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department hopes to help even more households and cover a…
Housing • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 22, 2020
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Housing department seeks to move unused home repair funds toward homelessness
The city will likely redirect a $2.6 million unused Community Development Block Grant intended for home repairs to create more housing for the homeless in the next budget year. Last week the Community Development Commission voted 9-2 to approve the…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 20, 2020
City evaluates rental assistance program, prepares for round two
Back in May, the city’s Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants program disbursed $1.2 million in emergency rental assistance to 1,680 families across the city. This week, the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department, in conjunction with the Housing Authority of…
Housing • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 10, 2020
Travis County $10M mortgage and rental assistance program to go live June 29
After spending a month working through the details of a proposed rent and mortgage assistance program for Travis County residents impacted by the economic fallout from Covid-19, the Commissioners Court unanimously voted to allocate $10 million of the county’s $61…
Housing • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 18, 2020
Residents of North Austin mobile home park now own the land they live on
A parade of cars, horns honking, rolled slowly through a mobile home park in North Austin Saturday evening. The drivers, the majority of whom live in the neighborhood, had written words and phrases in Spanish on their windows: “Felicidades, “Sí…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 1, 2020
Housing committee talks scaling rental assistance program
The city’s Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants, or RENT program, which was announced last month, will be distributing $1.26 million in direct payments to landlords by Friday, May 15. The one-time relief will cover rent payments for at least…
Housing • By Ryan Thornton • May 13, 2020
Travis County approves $10M for direct rental and mortgage assistance
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the allocation of $10 million for direct rent, mortgage and utility assistance. The rental assistance will be available to Travis County residents. This one-time cash assistance was complemented by a $2.4…
