Homes

PeopleFund’s mission is to promote socio-economic vitality and opportunity in lower income communities. Housing is central to socio-economic opportunity.

Austin is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. According to the City of Austin’s 2005-09 Consolidated Plan, there are 55,562 very low-income households in Austin with a housing problem. These families and individuals are paying more than they can afford in housing costs and often are living in overcrowded conditions. A disproportionate number of these households are comprised of especially vulnerable segments of the Austin community, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and communities of color.

Gentrification is a pressing concern for many of Austin’s lower-income communities, especially in East Austin, where market forces are driving housing prices up at an unprecedented rate.

PeopleFund is working to directly stimulate the production of more affordable housing through three primary initiatives:

• the Affordable Housing Capacity Building program for nonprofit housing developers;
• Lending for affordable housing development; and
• Development of a Community Land Trust to preserve residential affordability.