A new supportive housing development with 60 apartments for violence victims exiting homelessness broke ground north of Mueller in mid-June.

What happened

The Lancaster will be the first supportive housing project of its kind in Austin for survivors of violence and abuse. It's being developed by Capital A Housing and The SAFE Alliance, a local survivor support and shelter group, with financial support from several sources, including Austin and Travis County.

“There aren’t similar resources in the community, so it truly fills a gap for survivors,” SAFE CEO Julia Spann said in a statement. “It’s so important to create an apartment community that provides the safety a survivor of violence really needs and is specifically designed to serve folks who have experienced trauma and who have kids. Without housing, survivors are forced back into dangerous situations. Housing is violence prevention.”

The Lancaster includes a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units for low-income tenants who likely aren't able to cover full rental payments. The supportive housing program aims to assist residents with reaching housing stability; half of The Lancaster's units will have rent costs covered through local housing vouchers.
City and county officials, builders, business representatives and leaders with The SAFE Alliance marked The Lancaster groundbreaking in June. (Courtesy city of Austin)
City and county officials, builders, business representatives, and leaders with The SAFE Alliance marked The Lancaster groundbreaking in June. (Courtesy city of Austin)
The development received more than $7 million each in city housing bond dollars and county American Rescue Plan Act funds. It's also funded by more than $4 million from the state, $1 million from HEB and an $850,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.


“This project shows great strides against homelessness are possible if local, state and philanthropic partners work together,” Capital A principal Conor Kenny said in a statement.

The Lancaster is expected to open in 2026.

In other news

Work on The Lancaster housing project is progressing as Austin also moves toward the opening of a new domestic violence shelter.


The space, a former Super 8 hotel at East 51st Street and US 183, is an Austin Public Health initiative to house survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. City officials first approved the facility's $6.8 million acquisition back in 2021 as one of several hotels and motels to be converted into shelter.

Following a construction solicitation earlier this year, City Council voted May 30 to fund the facility's one-year, $8.58 million renovation by STR Constructors, LLC.

SAFE will manage the east side facility once it opens with a capacity of around 60 shelter rooms.
Austin is funding a new domestic violence shelter on the east side. (Courtesy city of Austin)
Austin is funding a new domestic violence shelter on the east side. (Courtesy city of Austin)