AUSTIN, Texas — Affordable housing is the latest crisis in Texas, with the Austin area leading the state with the highest rental prices. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rent prices in Austin are the most expensive in Austin

  • Demand for affordable housing is up while supply is down

  • The City of Austin announced it's adding more than $6 million to its rent relief program

  • City leaders say they are deploying a $300 million anti-displacement fund this month

 

Rentdata.org’s “rent map” shows Travis, Hays, Williamson and Caldwell counties have the most expensive rent for three-bedroom apartments in the entire state.

City leaders announced Thursday they are adding an additional $6.6 million to the rent relief program and extending renter protections through Dec. 31. However, a recent report shows the City of Austin is also behind in its goals to provide low income rental properties for the most vulnerable populations.

Maria Romero and Arthur Jimenez have been on the hunt for affordable housing since February.

“The newer built apartments, they’re really expensive and out of our price range,” Jimenez said.

It’s been a long road for these renters. They lost their home and their income when their home was destroyed in the winter storm. The Austin couple and their kids have been staying in their in-laws' living room for more than seven months.

“All this stress has put us over the edge,” Romero said.

Even when they find a place that’s within their budget, they say there’s a long list of other renters in front of them. Jimenez says at one low-income property in Cedar Park the waiting list was more than 400 people.

“They’re saying [the wait] it’s as far back as a year,” Jimenez said.

Statewide, the supply for housing outweighs the demand. Texas Real Estate Center’s 2021 market outlook report shows rent is growing faster than wages.

Romero and Jimenez finally got part-time jobs at a catering company. Romero is also working a second job from home. They’ve been saving every penny, but it’s not enough to pay for the rent prices in Austin.

“There was a place right across the street but they wanted us to make over $4,500 a month,” Romero said.

At a press conference, Austin city leaders boasted low eviction rates and a well-funded rent relief program, while also recognizing that affordable housing is lacking.

“As rents are spiking at unprecedented rates, we know that we need to prioritize keeping people in their homes, prioritize affordable housing and take care of renters,” said Austin City Councilor Greg Casar.

The City of Austin has made slow progress in meeting affordable housing goals. A recent scorecard and progress report found the city falling behind in its goals to create, preserve and grow equitable affordable housing for low-income families.

“There’s not enough options for people like us and we need more of that,” Jimenez said.

The state of Texas has banned local governments from allowing rent control. Romero and Jimenez are paying for it in more ways than one. Two of their kids got COVID from living with their relatives.

“So we’re dealing with homelessness, kids being sick, trying to find a place, and trying to make sure we have enough money,” Romero said.

They recently got an apartment locator to help them find a place, which they’re hopeful could be very soon. Still, they say more needs to be done to make sure anyone in Austin can afford safe and healthy housing.

“The old Eastside that I know is gentrified and the property taxes are pushing out generations of homes,” Jimenez said. “My dream is to one day buy the home I grew up in and raise my son there, but it’s probably gonna be double, triple the price.”