Since the Austin Monitor published the story last month detailing problems some Austinites have had with contractors hired by the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development department to rehabilitate their homes, more people have come forward with their own horror stories. This time, the contractor in question is Camilo Garcia Construction Inc. of San Antonio. This […]
City of Austin Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department
This city department provides housing and community development services for Austinites. To that end, they administer programs, provide grant services, and work with non-profit and agencies to provide housing for eligible residents. The department also provides small business development services.
Posted inCity Hall
Home rehab loan saga continues
After the publication of the Austin Monitor story describing problems facing some homeowners who took out loans under the city’s Home Rehabilitation Loan Program, the city responded. Rosie Truelove, the director of the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department, said via email, “After our conversation … our team got together to make sure our process […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council members blast city savings program
Members of the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday expressed outrage over the lack of oversight exercised by the city’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department in administering a program designed to help low-income residents learn how to handle money. As reported by the Austin Monitor, the audit performed by the Office of […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit: Lax oversight in city savings program
City employees overseeing a program to help low-income residents pay for school, buy a home or start a business failed to provide the oversight necessary to prevent waste of city and federal dollars, according to a draft audit from the Office of the City Auditor. The program, called the Matched Savings Account, allows participants to […]
Posted inHousing
Housing bonds may be put to work early
Proponents of three proposed low-income housing projects are looking forward to Thursday when the board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will announce which projects have been selected to receive housing tax credits. Two of the three projects ranked most highly on the TDHCA’s list of local projects that might receive funding will […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Don’t say that
Yeah, OK, on the record, then… During the May 9 meeting of the Community Development Commission, commissioners took up the issue of developing Levander Loop with affordable housing. After a bit of misunderstanding, Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Assistant Director Rebecca Giello told commissioners that the city had every intention of moving forward with Levander […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Bills threaten Austin’s land use plans
Brie Franco, the city of Austin’s chief legislative strategist, gave City Council a brief update at Tuesday’s work session before rushing off to do some last minute lobbying. The city is facing a number of legislative attempts to curb its powers in the area of land use, Franco explained. That includes House Bill 2959 and […]
Posted inHousing
Planning Commission unanimously votes to recommend Strategic Housing Plan
It would be a stretch to call Tuesday nightâs vote a confident one, but the Planning Commission nevertheless unanimously passed a motion to recommend the Austin Strategic Housing Plan to City Council at its meeting Tuesday night. The plan, if approved, will become an appendix of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, providing an outline of […]
Posted inHousing
Council seeks more details from long-term housing plan
Some City Council members felt underwhelmed with the latest version of the cityâs Strategic Housing Plan, one puzzle piece in an assortment of plans and codes city leaders are hoping will help solve Austinâs affordability and transportation woes over the next 10 years. Presented at Thursdayâs Council meeting, the plan that was an update of […]
Posted inPlanning
Grove affordable housing plan explained
If approved on third reading, the new plan for affordable housing for the Grove at Shoal Creek will not only increase the amount of affordable housing available but will also save Austin Water more than $5.3 million over 20 years. These changes are due in large part to a lawsuit filed by local activist Brian Rodgers […]
Posted inCity Hall
Report details more accusations at Neighborhood Housing and Community Development
A report on 15 separate allegations involving current and former management-level employees of the city’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department shows that Betsy Spencer, the department’s former director, made numerous decisions in an apparent attempt to shield one employee, Steve Ritchie, from complaints about his behavior. The report, written by attorney Connie Cornell and […]
Posted inCity Hall
Complaint filed against former housing director
The chief of investigations for Austin’s Office of the City Auditor filed a complaint late Wednesday against Betsy Spencer, the former director of Neighborhood Housing and Community Development, with the city’s Ethics Review Commission. In that complaint, Chief of Investigations Nathan Wiebe alleges that Spencer knew about a conflict of interest involving one of her […]