Homelessness advocates press task force to include deeply affordable housing in bond

Advocates with Vocal Texas and the Austin Housing Coalition told the task force on May 27 that the 2026 bond must include funding for deeply affordable housing and permanent supportive housing to address chronic homelessness.

Paulette Sultani, co‑director of Focal Texas (testifying with Vocal Texas), said more affordable housing is the primary solution to homelessness and noted the city's 2017 commitment to produce 20,000 affordable units; she said roughly 4,426 units have been built to date.

Vocal Texas members read testimony describing long personal struggles to secure housing and called for bond resources to create units affordable at deeper thresholds (speakers requested 30% area median income targeting). Alfredo Reyes, a Vocal organizer and formerly unhoused resident, urged "truly affordable" units so residents can maintain housing after vouchers or temporary assistance expire.

The Austin Housing Coalition, which represents developers and providers, told the task force that rising construction costs, tariffs and shifting federal funding have increased local reliance on municipal sources to fill financing gaps; the coalition recommended including housing bonds for rental, homeownership, permanent supportive housing and home repair in the 2026 package.

Why it matters: Speakers argued that local capital is now essential to sustain affordable housing production and prevent chronic homelessness, and they urged the task force to weigh the immediate need for housing alongside other bond priorities.

Next steps: Affordable housing working group staff said they will convene further briefings about how specific bond line items are financed, and the task force scheduled deeper dives on funding buckets for working group members.