Austin Business Journal writes, "The new resolution, passed at the May 30 City Council meeting, tasks the city manager with identifying ways to improve access to the HOME program for low- and moderate-income households and expanding educational resources and technical help to households at risk of displacement due to gentrification. East Austin, where racial minorities were pushed about 100 years ago and gentrification concerns are top of mind, is likely to be a focus — though residents across the region have felt the effects of rising property values and urbanization.
Low-income households are those that earn 80% or less of the median family income, according to the Austin Housing Department. As of June 2023, 80% MFI for a three-person household in Austin was $84,150.
“I believe that HOME moves us closer to increasing and diversifying our housing supply, and I also acknowledge and understand our community’s concerns,” Council Member Jose Velasquez said at the meeting. “The reality is that there are significant costs and hurdles with building an additional unit, which is why we’re being proactive to make this opportunity accessible to homeowners at all income levels.”
The resolution also tasked the city manager with establishing a HOME Interdepartmental Task Force, the membership of which will be comprised of subject matter experts from the Development Services Department, the Housing Department, Austin Energy, Austin Water, the Austin Fire Department, Watershed and “any other relevant department or division” to accomplish the goals of the resolution."
Source: Austin Business Journal
Written by: Cody Baird
Published: June 3, 2024
Posted by Grossman & Jones Group on
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