Update on TDHCA agreement regarding housing for homeless

[Colleen Pate]

Colleagues –

I wanted to share that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Board voted unanimously to approve an award of $48,420,179 to The Other Ones Foundation to support the expansion of Esperanza Community. Coupled with today’s City Council action to commit ongoing operations and maintenance funding for Esperanza II, this is an extraordinary commitment by local and state partners to address transitional housing and workforce needs here in Austin.

This is the finalization of the agreement we reached back in 2023.

Through partnership with Governor Abbott, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and The Other Ones Foundation, Esperanza Community will expand by 325 shelter units and continue its focus on helping people achieve self-sufficiency, with a strong emphasis on job training, treatment, and life skills.

Esperanza Community first opened in 2019 with strong support from the State and land provided by our partners at TxDOT. The goal of Esperanza is to assist community members with transitioning out of homelessness – and it has done so with phenomenal results. This is exactly how we should be tackling these challenges – as partners and investing funding where it will have the biggest impact.

I want to thank Governor Abbott, TDHCA leadership, Liz Baker at TOOF, David Gray, and our City staff for prioritizing this important work. Let’s keep going.

Kirk

On behalf of Mayor Watson