HousingWorks June 2018 Newsletter - Supporting the Keep Austin Affordable Campaign

JUNE 2018 EDITION

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
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On Thursday, June 14, HousingWorks Austin was proud to join representatives of several other nonprofits and many others at the kickoff rally for Keep Austin Affordable, the political action committee (PAC) that is working to promote passage of a sizable housing bond proposal this year. In 2013, the Keep Austin Affordable campaign was instrumental in helping to convince voters to pass $65 million in housing bonds, which has been leveraged and used to fund new, affordable homes and home repairs for thousands of low and moderate-income individuals. That includes veterans, seniors, chronically homeless individuals, families with children and persons with disabilities.

You can learn more about the Keep Austin Affordable campaign at keepaustinaffordable.com. In this newsletter you will find links to video from the June 14 kickoff rally and more information about the efforts to put a new housing bond proposal on the ballot that could range from $161 million to $300 million.

While the bond campaign operates independently from HousingWorks Austin we became the stewards of the Keep Austin Affordable brand from 2015 to 2017. It was an educational initiative, informing Central Texans about the value of affordable housing and sharing stories about families and individuals whose lives had been uplifted by affordable housing. You can still view every one of those stories on our website. Thanks!

-- Nora Linares-Moeller
Executive Director, HousingWorks Austin

VIDEO - KICKOFF RALLY FOR KEEP AUSTIN AFFORDABLE

The Keep Austin Affordable campaign officially began on Thursday, June 14 at Austin City Hall with speeches from Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, and council members Greg Casar, Delia Garza, and Pio Renteria. Also speaking were three people whose living conditions have been greatly improved by housing bonds that passed in 2006 or 2013. You can view the entire rally on the Keep Austin Affordable Facebook page.

HOUSING BONDS ALLOW AUSTINITES TO LIVE CLOSE TO WORK

A year ago, Jeb Lewallen was enjoying his job in the Mueller neighborhood. What he didn't like was the high rental prices in Central Austin which meant he either had to live with relatives or roommates to be close to work. He also didn't want to have to commute from a suburb. He found the perfect solution at Aldrich 51, a bond-funded, affordable community. Read more on our website.

KEEP AUSTIN AFFORDABLE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE 2015 - 2017

HousingWorks Austin was honored to be able to manage the Keep Austin Affordable brand after the housing bonds passed in 2013. Between 2015 and 2017, we operated the Keep Austin Affordable educational initiative to tell video and print stories about families and individuals who were thriving as a result of affordable housing, public housing and housing-related programs. While the Keep Austin Affordable brand has transitioned back to representing a campaign for housing bonds, you can still view the stories we produced on our website.