Austin Interfaith leaders are fighting to preserve affordable housing in a mobile home community in northeast Austin, but we need your help this Thursday at 6pm at City Hall. Recently, members of our congregations, and residents living in a mobile home community in northeast Austin approached our clergy asking for help to preserve their homes when their mobile come community came under new ownership this year.   

Residents had become distressed when lot rents for people on month-to-month leases were raised for the second time within a 12-month period – over 10% combined. Additionally, many new rules mandating 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 began to be enforced. Families were also being 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 and Austin Interfaith have been working to craft an agreement with the developer and have been working with council members to incorporate this agreement with the developer, and we hope to reach an agreement before Thursday 6pm.  

On Thursday, December 10th at 6pm, Austin Interfaith leaders and HVHM residents will convene at City Hall to report their experiences and the results of the negotiation.  This will be done with Citizens Communication for item #68, which is zoning case for a separate property owned by the developer. Please RSVP and join us to stand with the residents of this mobile home community. 

Also, on the morning of Saturday, January 23rd from 9am to 12pm Austin Interfaith will have Civic Academy on Affordable Housing.  Location TBD, but please RSVP now.

Kurt Cadena-Mitchell
Wildflower Unitarian Universalist Church
Austin Interfaith Strategy Team