Annually, the county receives grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money is intended to support affordable housing and suitable living environments—including infrastructure—and expand economic opportunities.
By the numbers
The county is expected to receive a little over $1.6 million in CDBG funding for FY 2024-25, coupled with an additional $612,500 from local and state affordable housing programs.
Considering the feedback received by community surveys and comments, county staff have proposed a list of projects for the county to tackle over the next year with CDBG funding:
- Cardinal Hill Estates road improvements (design): $150,000
- Cardinal Hill Estates road improvements (construction): $850,000
- Northridge Acres wastewater system improvements (design): $150,000
- General infrastructure fund: $149,772
- Administration and planning (20% cap): $324,943
Staff indicated $562,500 will be allotted toward the construction of affordable housing for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers or to provide downpayment assistance for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers. The remaining $50,000 will be used for administrative costs.
All the county’s funds must be used in the unincorporated areas of the county. Many of the local municipalities receive their own CDBG funding.
What you should know
Travis County residents can weigh in on the proposed projects and FY 2024-28 action plan until 5 p.m. July 22. County commissioners will vote on the finalized action plan Aug. 6.
Those interested in submitting a comment can email [email protected].
A closer look
In Travis County, 29% of households experience housing problems, and 14% of households living in the CDBG service area experience severe housing problems, according to county data.
Among the housing problems reported, county documents indicate the key concerns for households within the CDBG service areas include housing cost burden and overcrowding.
The homeownership rate in Travis County is also below the statewide average, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion said the county officials would need to take a “deeper dive” to understand how to address homeownership disparities.
“There are a number of issues that are fairly common, but they're not commonly discussed, particularly from the perspective of how we can make an impact as public policy enactors,” Travillion said.
Travillion also said the county should consider variables that disproportionately impact African American and other people of color seeking homeownership and facing homelessness.
The poverty rates for both Hispanics and African Americans are each more than double the poverty rates of non-Hispanic whites, according to county documents. Travis County data indicates, among low- to moderate median-income African American households, an estimated 34% experience a severe cost burden.
Additionally, Hispanic individuals represented 34% of the homeless population, while African American individuals make up 33%.
Though affordable housing and homelessness continues to be a problem faced throughout the county, projects to address this need were not included on the list of CDBG planned projects. Recent efforts by the county to address these housing disparities are already in full swing, county staff said.
An estimated $113 million has been previously allocated toward 1,664 supportive housing units for the unhoused population, according to county documents.
During the same July 16 meeting, several funding requests were also approved by commissioners, furthering the development of three other affordable housing projects in the county.
