Austin Funds Housing, Aids Homelessness
Home Repair Funding:
Approved $3 million for local non-profits (including Austin Area Urban League, Meals on Wheels and More, Rebuilding Together) to administer minor home repair programs.Seabrook Square Development:
Authorized a $13.5 million loan for Seabrook Square, a major affordable housing project that will include 164 new units.Homeless Support:
Phase 2 of Seabrook Square will specifically provide 60 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.Public Concerns:
A speaker raised questions about the lack of mixed-income housing in projects and historical issues with transit accessibility for low-income developments.
Full Transcript
Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) Meeting Transcript – 06/08/2023 Title: ATXN‐1 (24hr) Channel: 1 ‐ ATXN‐1 Recorded On: 6/8/2023 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 6/8/2023 Transcript Generated by SnapStream Please note that the following transcript is for reference purposes and does not constitute the official record of actions taken during the meeting. For the official record of actions of the meeting, please refer to the Approved Minutes. [11:38:37 AM] Without objection, I will recess the regular meeting of the Austin city council and I will call to order the board of directors meeting of the Austin housing and finance corporation. Welcome good morning, Mandy Demayo, deputy director, housing department here representing Austin housing finance corporation. We have two items on today's agenda. The first is authorizing staff to move forward with 12 month contracts with three nonprofit organizations to administer our minor home repair program. The three nonprofits are the Austin area urban league, meals on wheels and more. And rebuilding together, the total contract amount is $3 million and the [11:39:38 AM] funding will be our federal cdbg dollars. The second item is authorizing staff to move forward with the loan agreement and related documents for the Seabrook square project. At 3515, Maynard road, that is an fc partnership, the first phase includes 164 units in partnership with nhp foundation and capital housing. I should note that we have representatives from both of those organizations here. We're very excited about this development. The rental housing development assistance loan amount is a little over $13.5 million. I should also note because, mayor, you just mentioned homelessness and our work on homelessness. Phase two of this project includes partnership with integral care and will be 60 units of permanent supportive housing for folks coming through the coordinated entry system. We're excited about this project and I offer those two items on consent and we'll also note that I believe we have a speaker. Thank
[11:40:39 AM]
you very much. Are there any questions of staff by any member of the board of directors in that case, we will go to our speakers and I believe we have at least one speaker signed up on this side on these items. So Zenobia Joseph is speaking on item two. Thank you, mayor. Council. I'm Zenobia Joseph. My comments are on item two, but maybe the mayor will just mention community development block grant for item one. And I just want to contextualize my comments by saying the fy 2324 action plan that funding comes from hud. And just for context, Candace Valdez muela the hud region six director is who I actually contacted. Complaints office zero six at hud.gov. As it relates specifically to item two, that's the Seabrook square, item 35, 11 and 3515. Main road
[11:41:42 AM]
$13.5 million. In general obligation bonds. I just wanted to ask, as I've asked in the past, that when these items come before you, that council receive a map overlay with the area, median income, it appears that these projects are low income without any mixed income. And so I just want to call to your attention that your smart housing program is mentioned on pages 138 and 139 of the action plan. And that safe mixed income , accessible, reliable and transit oriented Eid. And while I certainly recognize that this particular development is on route 20 and that zo metro rapid will serve this area, history matters. And I want you to recognize that the zo metro rapid is really just fixed. Route 37 restored. It was eliminated June 3rd, 2018, or maybe not eliminated but reduced. I just want to call to your attention as well that the reserve at Springdale is about
[11:42:44 AM]
2.4 miles from this development . That's the low income housing tax credit development through the housing authority of the city of Austin. And capital metro eliminated the rocky lane bus that was route 300, and they've refused to serve that area and pick up service actually requires people to wait on hold. 5 minutes to 60 minutes. So it is difficult to see holistic, see the good in projects. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time. Thank you, miss Joseph. That concludes the speakers. Thank you. The president of the board intends to take up these two consent items by unanimous consent. Let me ask if there's anyone that wishes to pull one of the consent items. Is there any one or both of them? Is there anyone that wishes to abstain? Is there anyone wishing to recuse themselves? Is there anyone wishing to be shown voting no? Thank you, mayor. Please show me as voting no on item number. Two
[11:43:48 AM]
as noted, I intend to take these up by unanimous consent. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? Council member Ryan alter moves to adopt. It is seconded by councilman qadri. Without objection, the consent agenda is adopt Eid. Without objection, I adjourn the Austin housing and finance corporation meeting.