New Affordable Housing Options

The Housing Authority of Travis County recently opened three new apartment communities to provide housing for people earning less than the area’s median family income ($42,650 for a family of four). For details, click here.

Utility Bill Assistance

The City of Austin offers several programs to help customers keep their utility account in good standing.

Payment Assistance
The Customer Assistance Program helps eligible customers who are having difficulty paying their utility bill. Click here for information on applying for financial assistance.

Fee Waivers and Discounts
Eligible customers qualify for the following fee waiver and discounts:

• $6/month waiver of the customer electric service charge;
• Reduced rate for green power;
• 50-percent reduction on the residential drainage fee.

Deferred Payment Agreements
A deferred payment agreement allows customers the opportunity to bring their account balance current and keep their utility account in good standing. The past due amount is spread out over a period of time allowing customers extra time to become current on their account.

Housing Discrimination Followed Katrina Evacuees

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a number of discriminatory listings appeared on Web sites meant to help New Orleans evacuees find housing. An investigation by the National Fair Housing Alliance found that a majority of black families were denied apartments or quoted higher rents than equally qualified white families, who were offered apartments or given lower rents and other discounts on the same day.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the rental, sale, financing, appraisal, and insurance of housing. No one may take the following actions based on these protected classes:

• Refuse to rent or sell housing;
• Falsely deny housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental;
• Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling; or
• Provide different housing services or facilities.

The FHA also prohibits the making, printing, and publishing of advertisements which state a preference, limitation, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

If you believe you are the victim of housing discrimination, contact the ATC Fair Housing Program at 512-474-7007.

Security Deposit Refunds

ATC’s Sam Persley spoke to the Daily Texan and offered tips to ensure the refund of a security deposit after move-out. Creating a move-in inventory list of existing damages is one of the best ways to ensure a tenant isn’t charged for those problems when he or she moves out.

The Austin Tenants’ Council offers a security deposit refund demand letter that tenants can use to request the refund of their deposit.