Austin Approves $42M In Additional Rental Assistance

AUSTIN, TX — Austin City Council has approved $42 million in rental assistance to keep Austin families from being evicted through the end of the year.

The agenda item was approved in Thursday's council meeting, which will help serve thousands of residents in need of support during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Austin has one of the lowest eviction rates in the country because of our renter protections and rental assistance fund,” said Austin City Council Member Greg Casar. “With today’s vote, we will avoid the waves of evictions happening in other cities. The pandemic has supercharged gentrification and homelessness across our country. We can’t let that happen in Austin.

Under the current local eviction protections, Order No. 20210430-029, landlords wishing to begin the eviction process for tenants who have five or more months of unpaid rent are required to apply for rental assistance.

As the eviction moratoriums phase out over the course of the year, this funding will ensure people do not lose their homes, officials said Thursday.

Council officials said the $42 million is made up of about $35 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan and about $7 million in local funds (Item 77, 78 and 91).

Other big ticket items approved in Thursday's council meeting were $100 million towards Austin's homelessness, $11 million in childcare support, $21 million in workforce development, $12 million in arts and music and $46 million in community health.