Travis County Commissioners voted July 29 to approve a subaward and low‑interest loan totaling $11,503,016 to support development of Urban Empowerment Zone 1, an 80‑unit permanent supportive housing project led by the Austin Area Urban League. County staff said the project will offer efficiency and one‑bedroom units for people experiencing homelessness, be fully leased to households moving from coordinated entry, and operate with rental subsidies provided by the Housing Authority of the City of Austin.

Senior planner Nathan Fernandez (Health and Human Services) said the four‑story project will include a multi‑purpose room, warming kitchen, food pantry and approximately 2,000 square feet of community space; supportive services will be provided by the lead operator (the Urban League) or partner nonprofits and will follow evidence‑based housing‑stability approaches. The county’s terms mirror the city loan with a 42‑year deferred schedule and a balloon repayment at maturity that the county and the city expect to renew as long as the property remains affordable.

Fernandez emphasized program safeguards required by the county: construction site wage and safety rules (OSHA10 training), a $20 per hour living‑wage floor for labor and proof of certified payroll records, and a $300 per unit annual reserve for property repairs. The county’s tenant‑screening guidance follows the City of Austin Rental Housing Development assistance program and the community reentry roundtable criteria that include look‑back periods and exclusions for certain offenses, Fernandez said.

County staff said project costs total just under $20 million and include city GO bond funds; the county’s loan is funded from the American Rescue Plan (Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund) allocation to the county. Staff noted that because the county’s funding is public and one‑time, the Urban League also committed nearly $450,000 in organizational funds to cover costs not eligible for public financing and potential closing needs.

The court approved the subaward after a brief discussion and unanimous voice vote (motion: Commissioner Trevillian; second: Commissioner Shea). Commissioners and staff praised the project as part of a broader pipeline of eleven supportive‑housing projects and thanked nonprofit partners and city staff for interagency coordination.

Ending: County staff said they will return with a portfolio update on the other supportive‑housing projects and continue compliance oversight through the supportive‑housing division.