HUD and HACA Announce 300 New Housing Vouchers

Austin, Texas – Hundreds of new vouchers will soon be available to Austin residents in need of housing assistance.

“The Secretary of State and I are grateful that our funds are working today,” said HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman. “First we need to accommodate people and then be able to provide them with all the services and comprehensive assistance they need. This is a powerful model. It works across the country and I’m excited to see it come to life here.”

Using funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Austin Housing Authority (HACA) will provide 300 new housing vouchers, 100 of which are specifically for homeless veterans.

“Each of these facilities, once housing is ready, will also provide important support services to these individuals and families to ensure their successful placement,” said Michael Gerber, CEO of HACA.

Vouchers allow tenants to pay only a fraction of the cost of rent.

“Project-based housing choice vouchers are a very effective way to reduce homelessness and housing precariousness for our most vulnerable low-income families,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “Research shows us that housing vouchers help lift people out of poverty, reduce racial disparities, and lend a hand of compassionate help that many of our neighbors may need.”

The vouchers will be distributed to several housing projects throughout Austin.

“Our housing voucher will support people aged 55 and over who are transitioning from homeless to permanent housing,” said Jo Katherine Quinn, president and CEO of Caritas of Austin. “We’re looking to get going this summer with 150 additional assisted housing units for Austin and Travis County and these vouchers are such a big part of it.”

Projects receiving vouchers are listed below:

However, while some doors are opening for those in need of housing assistance, others are closing.

Last month, the Salvation Army announced that it would close its downtown shelter on March 15. On Thursday, angry shelter residents and advocates for the homeless community held a press conference in response to the news.

Mayor Watson said Friday’s announcement could potentially benefit these residents as they consider “all sorts of options.”

“What the Salvation Army has done here is unfortunate because we already have a group of homeless people that we’re trying to deal with, and that adds to that,” Mayor Watson said. “But we are going to look at various options, including the possibility of using vouchers to help people get to the right place.”

Some vouchers will be available for several months, Gerber said. Others may not be available for up to two years if the property is not yet built.