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A Message from Austin Housing Director Deletta Dean
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to reporting back to you—our residents and community members—on how your voices have shaped our work. We know your time is valuable, and we never take for granted the commitment it takes to attend community meetings, complete surveys, share your experiences, ask difficult questions, and stay engaged in decisions that affect your neighborhoods and your future.
Your feedback is more than a requirement of the public process—it is essential to how we plan, invest, and make decisions about affordable housing and displacement prevention in Austin. Since the beginning of the 2026 fiscal year, we have asked for your input through meetings, workshops, surveys, and conversations across the community. This newsletter is our commitment to closing the feedback loop by sharing what we heard, what actions we've taken, and how your input continues to guide our work.
We also want you to know that your voice matters. Every story, concern, idea, and lived experience you share helps us better understand the challenges residents face and informs how we design programs, shape policies, and invest in solutions that help people remain in the communities they call home. While we may not always be able to implement every suggestion or achieve every desired outcome, your feedback influences our priorities and strengthens our decisions.
Affordable housing and displacement prevention are most effective when they are informed by the people who experience these challenges every day. Thank you for partnering with us, holding us accountable, and helping shape a more affordable, equitable, and resilient Austin. Your voice is heard, your experiences are valued, and your continued engagement makes our work better.
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In the words of our staff, we have learned that:
“People are not just asking for assistance but for stability, respect and fairness.”
“We need to do a better job indicating clear limitations on input from the community.”
“The City can mean different things to different people. We need to remember we represent that history and past encounters.”
"Our work can have a broader reach in terms of who can benefit than I originally thought."
“We need to connect personally more often with community members.”
“Active community members value people willing to have the hard conversations - this builds trust.”
"The experiences you share with us impact us on a personal level and change the way we see the world."
"Specific examples people share help us understand nuances and influence how we create the right solutions."
"We often think about housing opportunity in terms of the amenities and resources people can access. But hearing directly from residents living in affordable housing taught me that opportunity isn’t only about what surrounds you but also about how the community makes it easier or harder for you to remain rooted in one place and feel welcomed and supported."
“We need to be more direct and responsive in communicating.”
“There is a need to balance stability for both the resident and the development with our policy goals.”
“The community appreciates timely and honest communication even if it is not the outcome they are hoping for.”
"Community input creates better policy because we are able to include a wider pool of knowledge."
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The highlights from the engagements outlined in this newsletter helped us understand the perspectives of community members on specific initiatives. While this focused feedback guided teams on specific decisions, themes and insights are shared across the department for broader impact. Some of these themes include:
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For more information about our recent engagements, we hope you’ll take the time to explore all of our engagement reports.
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Project Connect Anti-Displacement Funding
How should funding be invested in Project Connect areas over the next three years?
Who we heard from:
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BIPOC leaders not previously engaged in Project Connect research and outreach
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Recipients of Project Connect-funded resources and programs
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Service providers of Project Connect-funded resources and programs
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Youth perspectives (ages 15 to 25) who live in or near Project Connect displacement risk areas
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Opportunity Map
What experiences impact resident access to resources and opportunities?
Who we heard from:
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RHDA Lease Addendum Updates
What changes should be made to the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum for RHDA Properties?
Who we heard from:
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Tenant Advocates
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Property Managers
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Developers
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PSH Service Providers
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Community Needs Assessment
What are your housing and community development needs?
Who we heard from:
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Community Members (200 survey respondents)
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20 Community Organizations
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Community Development Commission
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Colony Park Displacement Mitigation Strategy
Austin Housing is working with the community in Colony Park to create a displacement mitigation plan. Through this process our team has learned so much about the need to understand the history of a neighborhood and make space for the collective voice in our planning processes. We look forward to sharing more about this work soon.
Displacement Prevention Navigators
As we work with community partners to launch the second phase of the Displacement Prevention Navigators Program, community input has played a pivotal role in program improvements. We understand better how important the unique characteristics of reach neighborhood are and how to customize approaches for each area. We’ve also learned how crucial case management is and have added that a part of the program.
Story Map
Austin Housing developed a Displacement StoryMap that brings together data and stories of vulnerable households to show how housing costs, demographics, and jobs are reshaping where people can live in the city. The StoryMap is a tool that summarizes complex housing and historical data and displacement analysis to inform where the greatest areas of vulnerability exist and direct specific strategies to those spaces. This new tool not only helps us understand the housing stability issues people in Austin face but will also help shape how we can better engage with the community.
Housing Development Assistance (HDA) Annual Program Updates
Austin Housing and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) are asking for feedback on changes to our Housing Development Assistance Programs. Learn about the proposed updates and weigh in.
Monitoring and Compliance Implementation Plan
Austin Housing has created a new monitoring and compliance implementation plan for properties that receive Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA). Learn about what is in the plan and how it was created.
Future Development Sites
Engagement has just begun in the neighborhoods around these properties as we prepare for the solicitation of developer partners.
6200 Menchaca – www.SpeakUpAustin.org/6200Menchaca
2908 South Congress – www.SpeakUpAustin.org/2908SouthCongress
Open Houses for 6200 Menchaca and 2908 South Congress developments are scheduled for August 24 and 25 & September 22 and 23. Visit the SpeakUpAustin pages above for more information.
Grove-Riverside Development – www.SpeakUpAustin.org/Grove-Riverside
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Austin Development Services | Neighborhood Network: Resources for Building Collaborative Communities, Part I
This session focuses on neighborhood resources the City provides to help you stay informed, connected, and supported where you live and will feature programs and services that offer practical neighborhood-level tools you can start using.
Date: Tuesday, August 4
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Vitual (Zoom)
Austin Equity and Inclusion | Cesar Chavez Street Renaming Community Meetings
The City of Austin is inviting community members to share their thoughts about a possible change to the name of César Chávez Street. The City will host three community meetings where attendees can learn about the history of the street, how the renaming process works, and what a name change could mean for residents and nearby businesses. Meetings include both in-person and virtual options.
Tuesday, August 11, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Austin Central Library, 710 W César Chávez St
Saturday, August 15, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Sanchez Elementary School, 73 San Marcos St
Austin Equity and Inclusion | Equity Mini Grants Relaunch
The City of Austin is relaunching the FY26 Equity Mini Grant program. Organizations supporting community-based efforts serving immigrant and refugee communities are eligible to apply.
Application window opens August 14th and runs until August 28th.
Life Anew Restorative Justice | Family Stabilization Virtual Information Sessions
Family Stabilization focuses on equipping individuals and families with knowledge and tools that support long-term stability—such as estate planning, financial awareness, and strategies to protect and preserve family assets. These sessions are designed to raise awareness, spark meaningful conversations, and encourage proactive steps toward securing your family’s future.
Date: Thursday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 18 at 12:00 p.m.
Location: Vitual ((Zoom link provided upon registration)
Meet Us In Community
East Riverside Open House #2
The City of Austin invites residents, community organizations, and local businesses to an in person Open House to learn more about several city-led projects shaping the future of the East Riverside Corridor. Bringing together multiple City of Austin initiatives focused on housing, mobility, and public spaces, this event gives attendees the opportunity to ask questions, interact with project teams, share ideas, and provide feedback that will help guide the city’s investments in this vital corridor.
Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Grove Boulevard Campus, 2400 Grove Boulevard, Austin, TX 78741
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Upcoming Board and Commission Meetings
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We create & preserve housing opportunities to stabilize communities.
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