Housing Services Referral List
The following is a referral list of housing services. The list is intended to be a starting point and as such is not exhaustive.
Note that the headings used are meant to help users locate information and that the services of a given agency may fall under multiple categories.
For a more comprehensive database of services - please visit the 2-1-1 Texas Community Resource Database or call the 2-1-1 helpline. Anywhere in Texas, anyone can call 2-1-1 from a landline or cell phone line for free information and referrals to health and human service agencies.
Homebuyer Assistance
- Austin Area Urban League, Inc. - Phone: (512) 478-7176
Down payment and closing costs assistance. - Austin Habitat for Humanity - Phone: (512) 472-8788
Provides opportunities for families to own their own homes. - Austin Housing Finance Corporation - Phone: (512) 974-3100
Down payment Assistance Program - assistance with down payments and eligible assistance costs. - Capital Area Housing Finance Corporation – Phone: (512) 347-9953
Provides assistance to home buyers in the eight counties surrounding Travis County. - Frameworks Community Development Corporation – Phone: (512) 385-1500
HUD approved agency that provides home ownership counseling and education programs. - Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs - Phone: (800) 792-1119
Provides below-market interest rate mortgage loans to people who are purchasing their first home or who have not owned a home in the past three years. - Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation – Phone: (512) 477-3555
State-sponsored housing corporation that provides mortgage loans and other home ownership assistance. - Travis County Housing Finance Corporation - Phone: (512) 854-9116
Mortgage Loan and Down Payment Assistance Program.
Foreclosure Prevention
- Clearpoint CCS - Phone: (800) 750-2227
A non-profit, nationwide, company that provides debt/credit counseling, debt management plans, mortgage default and foreclosure counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, pre and post bankruptcy counseling, pre and post home buying counseling, rental counseling and a whole list of financial education classes. Most of these at no cost for the community. We do one-on-ones here in the office, group classes, over the phone or even online. - FrameWorks Community Development Corporation – Phone:(512) 385-1500
Provides free foreclosure prevention counseling to families at risk of foreclosure and intervenes with banks to help families avoid foreclosure. - Homeowner Preservation Foundation- Phone: (888) 995-HOPE
Free telephone- and web-based foreclosure prevention counseling for people who are having trouble paying their mortgages. - HUD-approved housing counseling agencies
List of HUD-approved agencies that provide information and assistance on avoiding foreclosure. The current listing for Travis County includes: CCCS of Greater Dallas- Austin and Frameworks Community Development Corporation. - Making Home Affordable
Federal program that helps homeowners reduce their monthly mortgage payments to more affordable levels through the Home Affordable Refinance Program and the Home Affordable Modification Program.
Housing and Credit Counseling
- Clearpoint CCS - Phone: (800) 750-2227
A non-profit, nationwide, company that provides debt/credit counseling, debt management plans, mortgage default and foreclosure counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, pre and post bankruptcy counseling, pre and post home buying counseling, rental counseling and a whole list of financial education classes. Most of these at no cost for the community. We do one-on-ones here in the office, group classes, over the phone or even online.
Housing Rehabilitation
- Austin Habitat for Humanity - (512) 472-8788
Home Repair Program for exteriors only. - Austin Area Urban League, Inc. - Phone: (512) 478-7176
Emergency repairs to homeowners with low income. Repairs include plumbing, electrical, roofing and heating. - Austin Energy – Phone: (512) 482-5346
Free home-energy improvements to customers with low-to-moderate incomes. Improvements are aimed to reduce energy costs. - Austin Housing Finance Corporation - Phone: (512) 974-3100
Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program: Provides low-interest loans to make substantial repairs to homes. - Travis County - Housing Division – Phone: (512) 386-9145
Volunteer-based home repair services. Exterior and interior repairs. - Hands on Housing – Phone: (512) 386-9145
Volunteer-based home repair services. Exterior and interior repairs. - Home Repair – Meals on Wheels Central Texas – (512) 476-6325
Provides minor home safety repairs and is reserved for clients of Meals on Wheels Central Texas. - Rebuilding Together Austin – Phone: (512) 993-8230
Providing critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost. - The Texas Veterans Land Board – Phone: (800) 252-VETS (8387)
Home improvement loans of up to $25,000 for veterans to make substantial repairs to their primary residence. - Travis County - Housing Division - Health and Human Services - Phone: (512) 854- 7250
Home repair and weatherization. - USDA Rural Development Program – Georgetown Office – Phone: (512) 863-6502
Home repair grants for senior citizens and home repair loans for low income residents. The program focuses on the rural areas of Travis, Williamson and Burnett County.
Public Assisted Housing/Rent Subsidies
- Foundation Communities – Phone: (512) 610-4010
Subsidized private rental housing. - Housing Authority of Travis County – Phone: (512) 854-8245
Public housing, Section 8 vouchers, Lease- Purchase. - Housing Authority of the City of Austin – Phone: (512) 477-4488
Public housing, Section 8 vouchers
Tenant/Landlord Assistance and Disputes
- Austin Tenants' Council
Assistance with complaints regarding discrimination in the rental, sale, financing or appraising of housing.
Main phone: (512) 474-7006
Telephone counseling: (512) 474-1961 - Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid - Phone: (800) 369-9270
Legal representation with housing problems.
Short-Term Housing Assistance
- Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) – Phone: (512)-305-4100
A daytime resource center and overnight shelter for homeless individuals. - Blackland Community Development Corporation - Phone:(512) 220-8751
Transitional housing for homeless single or married parents. - Foundation for the Homeless – Phone: (512) 453-6570
Provision of shelter and case management. - Lifeworks - Phone: (512) 735-2100
Supportive Housing Program: Apartment-based residential program for homeless youth (and their children), ages 16-24, who are employed. - Salvation Army Social Services Center – Austin Shelter for Women and Children - Phone: (512) 933-0600
Provides transitional housing for homeless women with children and homeless single women.
Special-Needs Housing
- Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area – Phone: (888) 622-9111
Information referral for older adults including housing options. - Austin Integral Care – Phone: (512) 472-4357
Assistance identifying subsidies, grants, and rental locations to assist adults with mental illness and locating temporary and long-term housing. - Austin Housing Finance Corporation – Phone: (512) 974-3100
Barrier removal assistance for homeowners and renters who are elderly or have mobility impairments and low income - Family Eldercare – Phone: (512) 450-0844
Transitional shelter for older adults and people with disabilities who are in need of temporary transitional housing. Family Eldercare Gardens also offers an affordable senior housing community in Central East Austin called Lyons Gardens. - Mary Lee Foundation - Phone: (512) 443-5777
Provides affordable rental housing for people with physical or mental disabilities, and people with very low income. - Project Transitions Inc – Phone: (512) 454-8646
Transitional, subsidized housing for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families at various locations.
Architectural Barrier Removal
- City of Austin Architectural Barrier Removal– Phone: (512) 974-3100
Program that makes homes more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities who have limited income. - Travis County – Housing Division - Phone: (512) 854-7250
Modification or removal of architectural barriers for the physically impaired. - The Texas Ramp Project – Austin Chapter Phone: (214) 675-1230
Program that builds access ramps for residents. The Ramp Project only accepts client referrals from social service agencies.
