The big picture
The agency will launch a multiyear project to construct hundreds of homes, starting with the construction of 25 homes in just one week in the Whisper Valley community in northeast Austin, scheduled for Oct. 26-31, 2025.
This week of building is part of Austin Habitat’s seven-year plan to construct 75 homes annually. The first phase of construction also marks the organization being selected to host the next site for the international Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, a nearly 40-year initiative that has built thousands of homes across 14 countries.
“I think it's going to be transformational,” said Charlita Stephens-Walker, vice president of corporate partnerships for Habitat for Humanity International.
Stephens-Walker explained that the support of numerous corporate partners in the Austin are makes projects like this possible.
Angel Leverett, director of marketing and communications for Austin Habitat, said that over the last decade, Austin Habitat has been able to scale up affordable housing options throughout the Austin area.
The agency bought 48 lots in Whisper Valley, with 25 of those lots specifically dedicated to the Carter Project, she said.
“The goal is to be the affordability partner for Whisper Valley. And with that, we have the opportunity to build over 750 homes here,” Leverett said.
Who it's for
“All of our families are working families, and they just don't earn enough to buy a house. It's our teachers, it's nurses, it's the people that serve us coffee in the morning—it's really our community,” Austin Habitat CEO Michele Anderson said. “We have witnessed how in Austin, the homeownership dream ... has been lost for many people.”
Anderson explained the benefits of homeownership go beyond having a place to sleep. When families have a home, their children are more likely to do better, she said.
“Their health is better—physical and mental. Every social determinant of health ... goes up by owning a home,” Anderson said. “The stress that is taken away from the families allows them to thrive. Education for parents and children goes up. So again, this is more than a home. This is an opportunity to thrive and build generational wealth.”
Austin resident Vero Sandoval reflected on how Habitat for Humanity helped her mother provide a home for their family.
“It meant stability and safety for me,” Sandoval said.
She said having a home gave her a quiet space to study, something she didn’t realize made such a difference until she moved into her family’s forever home as a child.
The new habitat homes will join the growing Whisper Valley community, by developer Taurus Development Group.
The single-family homes will begin around 1,400 square feet and match the surrounding neighborhood’s design and aesthetic.
"You can’t even tell the difference," Leverett said, emphasizing the community's equality across various income levels.
Described as a “very unique community” by Whisper Valley Managing Director Douglass Gililland, the 2,000-acre development is among the largest sustainable communities in the country, he said.
“We are building zero-energy capable homes here. We're using the natural temperatures of the earth and transmitting it through what we call 'geo grids,'” Gililland said. “We're using geothermal energy for the first time on a large scale community in the United States.”
In addition, most of the homes in the community are outfitted with solar panels, he said.
“Why is that important? It saves people money, and affordability is the No. 1 issue right now in Austin,” Gililland said.
The property also includes a variety of healthy lifestyle amenities, including a 700-acre park twice the size of Zilker with trails, dog parks and a fitness center.
Looking ahead
The week of building next year is expected to see an estimated 800 people per day on-site, totaling over 4,000 volunteers by the end of the week.
Those wishing to sponsor can find information here, and those wishing to volunteer can find more information here.
The new homes in Whisper Valley are expected to be listed for under $260,000 through the New Home Construction Program. All prospective partner families must meet the agency's minimum qualifications to participate in this program. Requirements include:
- U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
- A credit score of 620 or higher
- Ability to pay a mortgage
- Meet the income requirements
- Must live and work in our service area for the past six months
- Must be a first-time homebuyer
To qualify for a house from Habitat for Humanity, a family's maximum annual income can be no more than $97,800 for a family of four. Find further income qualifications here.
The agency encourages those interested in one of the 25 homes coming next fall to reach out for further information by visiting www.austinhabitat.org/programs/apply or calling 512-472-8788.
