CTI Calls for Zoning Improvements to Prevent Low-Income Renters from Slipping into Homelessness
At a special session on Austin's Land Use Code Revision, Central Texas Interfaith leaders called attention to real-time displacement happening in Northeast Austin and potential revisions in the land use code to prevent the displacement of hundreds of mobile home residents and precariously housed low-income families. Congregational leaders stood with mobile home park residents facing eviction as they delivered testimony in support of interventions to better protect residents.
In reference to gentrification and the displacement of low-income and people of color from Austin, CTI leader David Guarino "kicked off what would be a full day of public testimony with what he called the 'profound question.'
'Is the Austin we’re becoming truly the city we want to be?'”
Testimony by him and Francisco Martinez of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic called on the City of Austin to do better.
Testimony by David Guarino, All Saints Episcopal [video]
Testimony by Francisco Martinez, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic [video]
Hundreds of Austinites Show Up at City Hall to Tell City Council How They Feel About Proposed Overhaul of City's Land Use Rules, Community Impact [pdf]
Hundreds Attend Austin City Hall Meeting to Voice Their Opinions About the Land Development Code, KVUE
Austin City Council Holds Special Public Hearing on Proposed Changes to Land Development Code, KXAN
Leaders Testify on codeNEXT at 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.
Testimony by Florence Briceño, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (video here)
Testimony by Rev. Michael Floyd, All Saint's Episcopal Church
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.