City awards $16.5 million for ‘Community Initiated Solutions’ near Project Connect

As part of a $300 million plan to prevent displacement along Project Connect corridors, the city’s Housing Department and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (which is made up of City Council members) have awarded $16.5 million to 12 community organizations. “This is an important milestone for Project Connect. Our desire is to create positive outcomes for our community as transit access expands in Austin,” Rosie Truelove, director for the Housing Department, said in a statement to the press. “These investments will get us closer to accomplishing that goal by providing resources to mitigate potential displacement pressures. Together with our Community Initiated Solutions partners, we’ll continue to ensure residents are supported in our communities.” Award recipients were broken down into three categories. Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. and Interfaith Action of Central Texas were given money for their work in economic mobility. In terms of homeownership expansion, the city has awarded money to Austin Cooperative Business Foundation Asociación de Residentes, Business & Community Lenders and Del Valle Community Coalition. And for work on tenant stabilization, Austin Tenants Council, Austin Voices for Education and Youth, Communities in Schools of Central Texas, El Buen Samaritano, Meals on Wheels Central Texas, and Workers Defense Project’s Building and Strengthening Tenant Action have received funds. The public is invited to learn more about the programs and eligibility from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center. More information about that event and Community Initiated Solutions can also be found here.