Finding a place to live is becoming harder for many Comal County residents. While new apartment complexes continue to open across the area, rental costs remain out of reach for a large portion of the community.

NB Housing Partners Executive Director Kellie Stallings said that average apartment rates in Comal County currently range between $1,500 and $1,900 a month, with the lowest one-bedroom unit found in New Braunfels being $750 per month.

On top of that, landlords typically require renters to make three times the monthly rent to qualify.

“If you make less than $20 an hour, particularly if you make less than $15 an hour, you're going to have a difficult time finding housing in our community,” Stallings said. “That means a lot of our frontline workforce, whether that's tourism, restaurant, health care, education or emergency responders, are going to struggle to afford to live here. And if they can't afford to live here, then they may get to a point where they can't afford to travel here.”

That means that the community will struggle to keep daily operations running.

Additionally, complexes often advertise three months of free rent, but there is a catch: If someone misses a payment, they will be charged for those three months, increasing their financial struggles.

Two women talk at an office table with a laptop and monitor; one holds a small dog on her lap.

What does being “housing cost burdened” mean?

A recent study reported by United for ALICE revealed that about 40% of Texas households are housing cost burdened, meaning over a third of their income goes directly to housing costs. This puts those households in a fragile state, with non-white households disproportionately overrepresented as compared to the general population.

"If their car breaks down, or if they have a health issue, and need to miss work, and they're being paid hourly, or if they go through a divorce or any kind of life stressor, that could end up making it impossible for them to keep up [with housing costs],” Stallings said. “... Typically, what happens is the closer someone gets to not being housed anymore, the more they rely on emergency care services, which costs the community. It’s more likely that somebody could end up with uncompensated hospital bills or untreated medical conditions.”

What is causing housing insecurity?

Housing insecurity is driven by a stark imbalance between local wages and the cost of living. Per the 2026 ALICE report, the “cost of basics is increasing faster than overall inflation.”

While the median income for Comal County as of 2026 is $101,889, as reported by Cost by County, lower-to-middle income workers face a massive shortage of housing options.

Stallings said that studies from the United for ALICE report and the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce revealed that the community is short at least 950 affordable housing units for individuals making between $7.25 and $16 an hour.

She also said that waitlists for affordable housing options reflect that shortage:

Aerial rendering of Pathways Village, a community of small cottages, walkways, trees, and a central pavilion with parking.

What is being done to fill this need?

Several organizations are stepping forward to help reduce homelessness.

The San Antonio Food Bank and New Braunfels Food Bank are currently constructing the Apple Seeds Apartments, which will bring 52 to 53 new units for families making up to 80% of the median income.

NB Housing Partners recently expanded its crisis housing capacity from 42 to 66 beds; it offers transitional housing options as individuals work to increase their income to afford local housing, and it recently added homelessness prevention services to help households remain housed. To help those who live in outlying areas where support services are limited, the team is expanding homeless prevention services into west Comal County through a partnership with Rebecca Creek Christian Ministries.

They are also teaming up with Connections Individual and Family Services to build transitional housing aimed at young adults aged 18 to 24, a group that has seen rising rates of housing insecurity in recent years.

Lastly, NB Housing Partners needs your help to build a commercial kitchen with indoor dining at its crisis housing location to ensure program participants receive daily meals in a comfortable environment, replacing an outdoor carport dining setup.

Rows of black metal bunk beds with blue mattresses and pillows in a shelter dormitory.

How can community members get involved?

There are many ways residents can support local homelessness prevention:

  • Volunteer and donate supplies: Community members can donate food supplies, help cook and serve meals, purchase items from the NB Housing Partners Amazon wish list or assist with anything from lawn care to bicycle repairs.

  • Participate in local giving: Participate in annual giving events like The Big Give, taking place Sept. 23-24, where matching donor periods allow contributions to go twice as far.

  • Show compassion and awareness: Learning about local needs, supporting affordable housing efforts and having empathy for everyone builds a stronger community.

"We all go through hard times. We all have something in our life that we could have made a different choice about,” Stallings said. “As a community, we are stronger when we understand that, and when we support our neighbors in making different choices for the future, instead of criticizing or punishing them for choices from the past. We all learn and grow every day.”

Those interested in learning about NB Housing Partners can find information here:

Single-story brick house with covered front porch, curved walkway, and grassy lawn under an overcast sky.
NB Housing Partners transitional housing

Frequently asked questions

What is NB Housing Partners?

NB Housing Partners is a nonprofit in New Braunfels dedicated to addressing housing insecurity and homelessness in Comal County. The organization provides affordable housing, case management, financial guidance and support, mental health services and more, and recently expanded its crisis housing capacity from 42 to 66 beds.

How serious is the housing shortage in New Braunfels?

Studies from United for ALICE and the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce show the community is short at least 950 affordable housing units for workers earning between $7.25 and $16 an hour. 40% of Texas households are housing cost burdened, meaning more than a third of their income goes to housing. Average apartment rents in Comal County currently range from $1,500 to $1,900 a month.

Who is most affected by housing insecurity in Comal County?

Lower-wage workers, including those in tourism, restaurants, healthcare, education and emergency services, are hit hardest. Landlords typically require renters to earn three times the monthly rent to qualify, which means anyone earning less than $20 an hour faces significant barriers to finding housing in the area.

How can I help NB Housing Partners?

Community members can donate food or supplies, volunteer for meal service or maintenance tasks, or purchase items directly from the NB Housing Partners Amazon wish list. Residents can also donate through The Big Give (Sept. 23-24), where matching donor periods double contributions.

Rendering of Pathways Village outdoor courtyard with people at tables beside modern buildings and trees.

The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.