City programs aim to prevent displacement

As Covid-19 continues to financially destabilize many residents, the city has stepped up its efforts to help keep people in their homes and prevent further eviction and displacement. To that end, the city has extended the application deadline for the Tenant Stabilization Service to May 1 for social service agencies applying for funding for the rental assistance and eviction prevention programs. As the Austin Monitor recently reported, this new initiative is managed by the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and funded by the city’s housing trust fund to address the issues of gentrification and displacement. Besides extending the deadline, AHFC is also asking that applications to the Tenant Stabilization Service be submitted by postal mail by Friday, May 1. Read the full list of eligibility requirements here. According to the city’s announcement, “In the coming months, more Displacement Prevention initiatives that support individuals will be announced, including an online search tool for income-restricted housing, a public education campaign for homeowners dealing with aggressive house flippers, a pilot Preference Policy program to help families return to former neighborhoods, and a geographically focused home repair initiative for households at risk of displacement.”