The Housing Authority was created in 1975 by a Resolution of the Travis County Commissioner's Court to provide safe, decent and sanitary housing free from discrimination for low income families and individuals in need. The Authority operates within the Travis County Area and includes individuals or families who reside in towns or cities such as Austin, Cedar Park, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Del Valle, Manor, Pflugerville, Elgin, as well as parts of Manchaca and Leander.
The Housing Authority operates several programs to benefit low income individuals and families as follows:
HUD ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS
The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides the Authority with development grants to build, own and manage three public housing sites as follows:
Alexander Oaks 51 units - 6119 Valiant Circle, Austin, Texas
Eastern Oaks 30 units - 4922 Nuckols Crossing, Austin, Texas
Summit Oaks 24 units - 11707 Sierra Nevada, Austin, Texas
The total number of units for Public Housing is 105. HUD provides two yearly grants for these developments. The Authority, in addition to rents collected from the residents, receives an Operating Fund grant each year to be used for operation of the developments including expenses such as wages, fringe benefits, utilities and minor repairs made on the units.
The Authority also receives a Capital Fund Program grant each year to assist the Authority with making repairs that are considered major such as roofing, doors, windows and landscaping. These developments were built in the early 1980’s and have been modernized at various times over the years utilizing HUD grants.
SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS is a program to assist eligible low-income families, the elderly and the disabled in obtaining decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market within our operating area. The Housing Authority has been awarded 564 Housing Choice Vouchers. The Housing Authority receives an administrative fee from HUD for each Housing Choice Voucher issued and utilized by our clients. This administrative fee is used to pay for the operating expenses of the program.
MAINSTREAM HOUSING VOUCHER is a special program included in the Housing Choice Voucher above instituted by HUD specifically to be utilized for disabled individuals. There are 55 units set aside out of the 564 total vouchers operated by the Authority for this Mainstream Program. The requirements to become a participant of this program are similar to the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Authority receives an administrative fee to pay for the costs of operation.
FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY is a small program at this time for the Authority. Currently there are 7 individuals enrolled in this program. Eligible individuals in this program must meet certain goals such that in five years or less they are independent of federal subsidy. This program utilizes an escrow account for the individual participant that builds as they progress toward graduation. Upon graduation and successful completion of the goals, the participants receive the funds in the escrow account. The funds may be used in the purchase of a home or additional education.
SHELTER PLUS CARE is a program that utilizes integrated rental housing combined with flexible and intensive support services to promote community tenure and independence to the chronically homeless and disabled in the Austin/Travis County area. Administrative fees earned fund the costs of operating the program.
WHOLLY OWNED DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
The Housing Authority owns property in Travis County that was developed by utilizing grants and bank bonds or mortgages. These properties are not subsidized by HUD. The properties charge affordable rents to the residents. There are three developments in this operating division of the Housing Authority:
CARSON CREEK is an eight duplex development fully owned by the Housing Authority. The units are located at 9500-A Night Star in Del Valle. The Authority currently has a contract with the Austin/Travis County Mental Health agency to provide housing for individuals with special needs.
MANOR TOWN APARTMENTS is located at 200 Carrie Manor in Manor, Texas. This development was financed with grants from several agencies and the issuance of a tax free bank qualified bond. This development is approximately 80% complete with a projected final acceptance of the development in February 2005. This development will be for qualified seniors only. There are 33 units in this development.
SWEETWATER AT WELLS BRANCH APARTMENTS is a 152 unit apartment complex that was purchased by the Authority from the Resolution Trust Corporation in the early 1990’s. The development is located at 2323 Wells Branch Road in Travis County. This purchase by the Authority was to generate income that could be transferred to other Housing Authority programs as needed. Currently this development is financed by bank qualified tax exempt bonds through Washington Mutual Savings Bank. This property is non HUD and utilizes rent collected revenues to pay all operating expenditures.
HOMEOWNERSHIP LEASE-PURCHASE
The Travis County Housing Authority recently initiated a program for the purpose of increasing homeownership in the Travis County Area. This program with a lease to own contract provides opportunities for perspective homebuyers who can afford a monthly mortgage payment, but do not have the funds for a down payment and/or closing costs or the credit standing to qualify for a home loan.
The funding for this program came from a bond issuance by the Authority for approximately $35,000,000.00. The funds will be utilized by various banks and lending institutions to provide mortgages for qualified individuals and families. For the first 39 months of the program the participant leases the house of their choice and attends homeownership classes and works to repair their credit score. At the end of the 39 months the participants may purchase the house by assuming the loan on the house from the Housing Authority.
For information regarding any of these programs you may call the Housing Authority at (512) 480-8245 or you may email your information request to any of the staff listed on the Contact HATC section of this web page.