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Pages tagged "affordable housing"


At Urging of CTI, Travis County & City of Austin Invest $200+ Million into Homelessness Prevention & Support

Posted on News by Austin Interfaith · December 14, 2021 10:46 AM

After years of working to protect the dignity of people experiencing homelessness and preventing low-income families from displacement, Central Texas Interfaith leaders celebrated the investment of $220+ Million in federal funding into homelessness prevention and support.  Over 100 CTI leaders were joined by City of Austin Mayor and Travis County Judge Andy Brown who expressed appreciation for the organization's partnership and doggedness in addressing key regional challenges.  Leaders relayed how this effort was connected to a multi-year effort that resulted in passage of an affordable housing bond in 2018, $40 Million in rental assistance during the first year of the pandemic, and now over $217 million in federal dollars into homelessness prevention and support.

Elected officials further committed to identifying sources for additional rental assistance as eviction moratoriums lift.

Central TX Interfaith Leaders Share Plans for $200M, Will Be Used to Address Homelessness, CBS Austin [pdf]

Church Leaders Praise City, County for Committing Fed Funds Toward Homelessness, Austin Monitor [pdf]

Central Texas Interfaith Leaders Share Plans for $200 Million, Will Be Used to Address Homelessness, CBS Austin  

Homeless Housing Plans, Spectrum News

Several Austin City Council Members Concerned About Spending on Homelessness Services, KXAN [pdf]

Interfaith Group Calls for Immediate Action on Homelessness, Austin Monitor [pdf]

Headlines / Quote of the Week, Austin Chronicle [pdf]

Líderes Religiosos Exigen Que las Autoridades Locales Tomen Acción para Ayudar a Indigentes, Univision [video]   

Central Texas Interfaith Calls on Austin-Travis Officials to Invest, Address Homelessness, CBS Austin [pdf]

Press Conference Footage, Central Texas Interfaith


CTI Calls for Prioritization of Affordable Housing in New Health South Plans

Posted on News by Austin Interfaith · January 27, 2021 3:40 PM

CTI leaders Ruby Roa of SoCo Episcopal and Trenton Henrichson of St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church advocated at Austin City Council this week for Austin to maximize affordable housing and public benefits for the city-owned redevelopment project at the former downtown Health South rehabilitation facility.

Councilmembers Tovo and Harper-Madison worked together to unanimously pass measures stipulating, among other community benefits, that "the central use of this tract is to be housing, specifically affordable housing."

[Photo Credit: HealthSouth Building/KXAN]

Austin City of Council Advances Plan to Bring Affordable Housing to City Land Near Downtown, KXAN Austin [pdf]


Central Texas Interfaith & Austin Apartment Association Call for $100 Billion in Emergency Rental Relief

Posted on News by Austin Interfaith · July 22, 2020 7:50 AM

[Excerpt]

After distributing $1.2 million in May, the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department announced Tuesday $17.75 million will be available to help renters in the second round of the Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Program.

...

The city will use a lottery system to pick funding recipients, so for people like Carlota Garcia with Central Texas Interfaith, the worry is about those who won’t get picked.

“No longer are we able to borrow from friends or borrow from family, savings accounts have been pillaged, there is no cushion left for people,” she said. “This moment has the potential to become disastrous.”

She said the state and the federal government should create a plan that gets those in need help beyond the next six months.

“In order for us to be able to prevent families from falling into starvation, or worse, we really need to have the federal government step up, as well as the statewide government..."

[Photo: Footage by KXAN]

17 Million to be Available Soon to Help Austin Renters Affected by COVID-19, KXAN Austin [pdf]

Joint Statment on Emergency Rental Relief, Central Texas Interfaith & Austin Apartment Association


This Holiday, Let’s Focus On Hope for Homeless

Posted on News by Austin Interfaith · November 26, 2019 7:12 AM

Rev. John Elford, senior pastor at University United Methodist, and David Guarino of All Saints Episcopal point out how state action impacts homelessness in Austin.

[Excerpt below]

....Austin is at a critical moment in our fight to end homelessness. Recent attempts to revise the city’s old ordinances, which effectively criminalized everyday activities, brought people experiencing homelessness out of the shadows. It was hard to miss that our neighbors were suffering.

The response of the governor was to order the dismantling of encampments under state highways and provide a vacant lot off U.S. 183 as an alternative campground, far from the city’s social service and transportation hubs. As a result, many of our unhoused neighbors have been forced back to the woods, out of sight.

For years, state leaders have systematically disinvested in Texas’ public sector, exacerbating this problem. They have failed to make adequate provisions for affordable housing, social services, mental health and health care, and workforce development, pushing these costs to local governments. At the same time, these Texas leaders have limited the ability of cities to pick up the tab. They have contributed to the problem of homelessness and branded those who are suffering as criminal and disease-ridden.

The problem stretches further up the income spectrum. In one of our congregations, mobile home residents east of U.S. 183 are being pushed out by an owner who simply wants a higher rate of return. The tenants have been kicked to the curb, their last affordable housing options in Austin gone.

There is broad agreement that the real answer to people living on our streets is not relocating our neighbors, but creating sustainable housing....

[Photo Credit: Jay Janner, Austin American Statesman]

Commentary: This Holiday, Let's Focus on Hope for Homeless, Austin American Statesman [pdf]


Civic Academy on codeNEXT & Affordable Housing Educates and Agitates

Posted on News by Austin Interfaith · April 19, 2018 6:33 AM

Hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and the Austin Interfaith Affordable Housing Team, the latest civic academy on codeNEXT drew 120 mostly East Austin residents to learn about the proposed zoning overhaul, share their housing stories and identify opportunities for concrete action before the final City Council vote.  

Photo Album Here 

Info Sheet on codeNEXT

Flyer for Public Hearing 10am Saturday, April 28th


HVHM Residents' Association Wins BIG on Mobile Home Park Resident Protections

Posted on News by Austin Interfaith · December 17, 2015 2:56 PM

1512_-_ATX_-_Mobile_Home_Park_Resident_Protections_-_Victory.jpg

Last July, Hidden Valley / High Meadows (mobile home) residents became distressed when lot rents for people on month-to-month leases were raised for the second time within a 12-month period.  New rules mandated improvements and standardizations — adding new costs to residents — including deck and railing upgrades, paint jobs, skirting repair, shed standardization, color control and control over inside window coverings visible from the street.  Families were also asked to demonstrate possession of a drivers' license to drive on the property, impacting hundreds of residents. Many families scrambled to comply; some left.   

Residents reached out to Austin Interfaith and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) for support and within two months founded their association (Hidden Valley / High Meadows Residents' Association) and signed up over 200 households as members.  

On December 10, the HVHMRA signed a historic accord with their landlord, Scott Roberts of Roberts Communities, locking  in many protections, including the:

  • Right to organize residents' associations that represent the interests of mobile home park residents.
  • First rent control concession in a mobile home park of Austin, locking in no more than 5% increases through 2017 and rent increase caps in subsequent years.
  • Protections for undocumented immigrant residents.  

Minutes before the item came up for discussion, Austin Interfaith leaders shepherded the signing of this agreement between HVHMRA officers and landlord Scott Roberts.  

Through the establishment of a 'mobile home regime', or framework for landlord-resident relations, this important victory sets an unprecedented standard, ensuring that land use decisions on mobile home parks protect the quality of life for existing residents.  

Mobile Home Community Says Affordability Agreement Will Provide New Protection, KXAN

Proprietarios de Casas Móviles Celebran Victoria, Telemundo

City Council: Keep 'Em Waiting, Austin Chronicle 

Mobile Home Rezoning Wins Praise From All Sides, Austin Monitor [pdf]

Mobile Home Park Stokes Hopes and Fears, Austin Monitor [pdf]


Posted on Campaigns by Austin Interfaith · May 27, 2014 9:29 PM

Affordable Housing


April 28, 2018

Leaders Testify on codeNEXT to Joint Land Use Committee

Austin Interfaith leaders from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic and All Saints' Episcopal testified about the impact of a proposed land use overhaul to a Joint Land Use Committee of the City of Austin.  Leaders told stories about the zoning-initiated displacement of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church to East Austin in the 1930s and subsequent displacements initiated by the City since then.   

Though the Committee began the hearing 20 minutes before the planned start, 50+ leaders were there to support their speakers. 

[Photo Credit: Jim O'Quinn]

Testimony by Florence Briceño, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (video here)

Testimony by Rev. Michael Floyd, All Saint's Episcopal Church

Austin Interfaith Statement of Principles on codeNEXT

Additional photos

Video of Testimony


April 18, 2018

Civic Academy on codeNEXT & Affordable Housing Educates and Agitates

Hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and the Austin Interfaith Affordable Housing Team, the latest civic academy on codeNEXT drew 120 mostly East Austin residents to learn about the proposed zoning overhaul, share their housing stories and identify opportunities for concrete action before the final City Council vote.  

Photo Album Here 

Info Sheet on codeNEXT

Flyer for Public Hearing 10am Saturday, April 28th


June 10, 2016

Austin Interfaith Fights to Preserve Affordable Housing at Heights on Congress

At an Austin Interfaith assembly held last month, residents of the Heights On Congress apartments told stories about their concerns with relocation now that the property owner is seeking permission to rezone. The children of those residents belong to Travis Heights Elementary School, whose PTA reached out to Austin Interfaith for help in developing a plan with the owner and developer that will serve the interests of the residents and their children. At the assembly, they secured the support of the Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and AISD trustees. In photo are local leaders Angie Gonzalez of the Oak Creek Village Tenants’ Association and Rev. Brian Ferguson of Wildflower Church.

[Photo Credit: Jana Birchum, Austin Chronicle]

Heights on Congress Start Organizing: City, Developer Discussing Relocation Plan, Austin Chronicle

Austin Affordable Housing Crisis, Fox News

December 15, 2015

Austin Interfaith & Mobile Home Park Residents Win Major Protections

Last July, Hidden Valley / High Meadows (mobile home) residents became distressed when lot rents for people on month-to-month leases were raised for the second time within a 12-month period. New rules mandated improvements and standardizations — adding new costs to residents — including deck and railing upgrades, paint jobs, skirting repair, shed standardization, and control over inside window coverings. Families were asked to demonstrate possession of a drivers’ license to drive on the property, impacting hundreds of residents. Many families scrambled to comply; some left.

A couple residents reached out to the pastor of their church, a member congregation of Austin Interfaith, and their local councilperson who called in Austin Interfaith and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) for support. Within two months, resident officers founded their association (Hidden Valley / High Meadows Residents’ Association) and signed up over 200 households as members.

On December 10, after months of negotiation and tough conversations, the HVHMRA signed a historic accord with their landlord, Scott Roberts of Roberts Communities. The accord locked in many protections, including the right to organize residents’ associations that represent the interests of mobile home park residents, the first rent control concession in a mobile home park of Austin (locking in no more than 5% increases through 2017 and rent increase caps in subsequent years) and protections for undocumented immigrant residents.

Minutes before the item came up for discussion, Austin Interfaith leaders shepherded the signing of this agreement between HVHMRA officers and landlord Scott Roberts.

The accord not only afforded protections for residents of Hidden Valley / High Meadows, it formed the basis of a ‘mobile home regime’, or framework for landlord-resident relations, for future mobile home parks in Austin.
Mobile Home Community Says Affordability Agreement Will Provide New Protection, KXAN
City Council: Keep 'Em Waiting, Austin Chronicle
Mobile Home Rezoning Wins Praise From All Sides, Austin Monitor [pdf]
Mobile Home Park Stokes Hopes and Fears, Austin Monitor [pdf]

July 5, 2013

Austin Interfaith Preserves 173 Affordable Housing Units

Koreena Malone, president of the Oak Creek Tenants Association, said a cohesive agreement was reached on the redevelopment through the partnership of the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, the tenants association and the developer.  ’I strongly believe that the redevelopment of Oak Creek Village won’t just lead us to a better community but a model for the city of Austin,’ Malone said.

The Oak Creek Village complex, located at 2324 Wilson St., has 173 units that qualify as affordable housing. According to city documents, the developer is planning to keep all of the affordable housing units in the complex and build up to 313 new market-rate units…The developer also entered into an agreement … to provide on-site, affordable housing for 35 years. Said Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, an Austin resident and leader of Austin Interfaith,… ‘It will lead to a more livable neighborhood and will lead to a more livable Austin.’”

Oak Creek Village Strikes a Deal, Austin Chronicle

Exiled From Main Street, Austin Chronicle


May 15, 2013

Austin Leaders Kill Zoning Entitlement

“The Austin City Council did away with the CURE zoning process at its last meeting, but the zoning entitlement program didn’t go quietly. The public hearing before the Council’s vote was characterized by a heated exchange between Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Interfaith Austin‘s Kurt Cadena-Mitchell.

The back-and-forth began when Cadena-Mitchell brought up a city of Austin estimate that if all of the CURE zoning cases had been handled through the Downtown Density Bonus Program, the city could have raised about $20 million more for affordable housing.”

CURE Zoning is Dead, Long Live the DDDP, Austin Business Journal



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