I Belong In Austin- Rental Assistance Application 

The application portal for the I Belong In Austin (IBIA) rental assistance program is currently open through this afternoon Monday, July 7 at 5 p.m. The program is administered by El Buen Samaritano and provides financial assistance with rent, moving, storage, and relocation costs for tenants at risk of eviction. Check eligibility and apply for assistance at www.AustinTexas.gov/rent.   

The application portal will open each month while funds are available to allow for an efficient and equitable program administration. A high volume of applications is anticipated. If applicants are not selected and assistance is still needed, applicants are encouraged to reapply when the portal reopens. 

Colony Park Displacement Mitigation Strategy RPF 

A request for proposals (RFP) for the development of a Displacement Mitigation Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Colony Park Sustainable Community is now open through July 15. The best proposal will provide a scope of work for the development of a Displacement Mitigation Strategy and Implementation Plan for Colony Park that includes strategies for Tenant Stabilization; Homeowner Stabilization and Expansion; Neighborhood Stabilization; and Economic Mobility. Interested organizations can find more details at Austin Finance Online Colony Park RFP. 

Live Make Apartments

We celebrated the opening of Live Make Apartments, a 66-unit affordable multi-family rental housing community for vulnerable populations, including artists with and without disabilities, and individuals transitioning out of homelessness. Located in District 3 at 1127 Tillery Street, the 2.65-acre property also includes 8,000 square feet of community and creative spaces, including a painting studio, ceramic studio, community classroom, public art gallery, and community kitchen. For inquiries about leasing, contact Valhalla Management.  

For anyone experiencing homelessness in search of a stable place to live, please contact Austin ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition) for a Coordinated Assessment. Details and access information are available at www.austinecho.org/gethelp.   

For questions about Live Make apartment services and how to set up a lease, please contact Valhalla Management at 737-367-8604 or email livemake@managevalhalla.com.   

Industry SOMA

We are happy to announce the grand opening of Industry SOMA, a brand-new affordable townhome community, in South Austin located at 1905 Keilbar Lane, near William Cannon and South Menchaca.    

Industry SOMA offers 23 aesthetically modern, move-in-ready townhomes priced between $240,000 and $320,000. The community is built specifically for income-qualifying families earning at or below 80% of the Austin MFI (median family income) — with a focus on creating long-term, sustainable homeownership and retaining families with generational ties to the neighborhood.   

Anyone interested is encouraged to submit general eligibility through the online form with Industry ATX. Interested buyers are strongly encouraged to start the two-step application process now to determine eligibility and get pre-qualified. Detailed information about the new community is viewable in the e-brochure at https://industryatx.com/projects/industry-soma. 

Mira 

We celebrated the groundbreaking of Mira, a new residential townhome mixed-income, missing middle community. Construction began in April 2025 and is anticipated to be completed by Winter 2025. For inquiries about purchasing a home at Mira, please visit www.miraaustin.com. Mira, located in the Govalle neighborhood at 732 Springdale Road in District 3, will include 12 townhomes, two of which will be four-bedroom homes reserved for households earning at or below 65% Median Family Income (MFI). 

Johnny Limon Village

We celebrated the groundbreaking of Johnny Limon Village, a new 27-unit Community Land Trust homeownership community in East Austin. Johnny Limon Village, located at 800 Gardner Road in District 3, will consist of 20 homes available at 80% Median Family Income (MFI) and 7 homes at 60% MFI. The development will be completed in two phases, with half of the homes available in Winter 2026 and the other half available in Spring 2027. The homes range in size from 1,200 to 1,650 square feet. Community Land Trusts (CLT) create permanently affordable housing by owning the land and selling the homes on it at below-market rates. 

To apply for GNDC homeownership, visit guadalupendc.org/homeownership.  
For homebuyer resources and support from the Housing Department, visit austintexas.gov/homebuyer.  

Iris Gardens

We are happy to announce the groundbreaking of Iris Gardens, a new deeply affordable senior living and LGBTQIA2+-affirming community. Located at 1013 Montopolis Drive, in East Austin’s District 3, Iris Gardens will offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. The building will feature a multi-purpose community room, a ground-level fitness center, a conference room and shared laundry areas on the second and third levels. Residents will have access to supportive services, including programs for those exiting homelessness, as well as employment assistance, financial literacy classes, health and well-being classes, and life skills training. Members of the LGBTQIA2+ community will benefit from Rainbow Connections, a Family Eldercare program that provides focused on promoting the well-being and quality of life. 

For anyone experiencing homelessness in search of a stable place to live, please contact Austin ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition) for a Coordinated Assessment. Details and access information are available at www.austinecho.org/gethelp. 

For questions about Family Eldercare services and how to get started, please contact Family Eldercare's Intake and Referral line at 512-483-3580 or email info@familyeldercare.org. 

Austin CityWorks Academy Now Accepting Applications

The City of Austin is excited to announce that registration for the 2025 CityWorks Academy is now open. This one-of-a-kind program offers Austinites the opportunity to go behind the scenes of their city government through interactive, educational weekly classes that bring city operations to life. 

• Eligibility: Open to all community members within Austin city limits and adjacent extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs). City of Austin employees are not eligible. 
• Schedule: Most Monday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., beginning in late September and ending in December with a graduation ceremony.
• Location: Sessions are held at various locations across the city, including Austin City Hall. 
• Application Deadline: July 31, 2025. Applications are accepted year-round, but they must be received by this date for consideration for the fall 2025 session. 

To apply or learn more, please visit austintexas.gov/cityworks.

2025-2026 City of Austin Budget Updates

City Manager T.C. Broadnax will present the Fiscal Year 2025 - 26 Proposed City of Austin Budget to the Mayor and City Council at 9:00 a.m. on July 15, 2025. The meeting will be open to the public and aired on ATXN. City Council Members will be hosting district level community meetings about the proposed budget in July and August. Explore the 2025-2026 Budget Engagement site now! 

Upcoming Community Events

CBS+Telemundo Austin Backpack Giveaway

CBS and Telemundo Austin are proud to host their 12th annual Back-to-School Giveaway at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, July 26, from 7:30–10:30 a.m. Families are invited to drive through and pick up free backpacks filled with essential school supplies—available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. 

📆July 26, 2025 | 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  

📍Circuit of the Americas (9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Del Valle, TX 78617) 

🆓 Free and open to the public 

City of Austin | Austin Resource Recovery

Join Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) for summer Zero Waste Resource Fairs providing information on composting for multifamily properties. You can pick up a free kitchen compost collector (one per household) and enjoy compostable snacks while supplies last! Also, meet with other City of Austin departments to learn about their programs, including some that promote zero waste and sustainability. Can’t make it this month? Save the date for future Zero Waste Resource Fair on August 17. More info at www.AustinRecycles.com. 

📆July 13, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.   

📍South Austin Recreation Center (1100 Cumberland Rd., Austin, TX 78704)   

🆓 Free and open to the public 

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