Accessible Housing Austin
About Accessible Housing Austin
Accessible Housing Austin is doing the unglamorous, essential work of helping low-income people with disabilities find places to live in Austin that actually fit their lives. That means rehabilitated homes, independent living units, and apartment homes with accessibility features that are part of the plan, not an afterthought. If you care about housing that lets people stay in neighborhood settings and live with more independence, this is the kind of organization that makes that possible.
What sets Accessible Housing Austin apart is that it is led by members of the disability community, so the work starts with lived experience. Its homes are also integrated, affordable, and accessible, with scattered-site houses and apartments that let tenants live in regular neighborhoods, not apart from them.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Affordable accessible integrated housing
Provides independent living housing for low-income people with disabilities and their families, with accessibility modifications and affordable rents.
Scattered-site housing
Maintains single-family and duplex homes that allow tenants to live in neighborhood settings with access to shopping, public transportation, schools, and community life.
AHA! at Briarcliff
Operates a 27-unit integrated apartment complex with one- and two-bedroom units for households below 50% of median family income.
Housing rehabilitation and accessibility modifications
Rehabilitates homes and makes changes such as ramps, grab bars, wide doorways, roll-in showers, lowered countertops, and other reasonable accommodations.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
To provide and promote affordable, accessible, integrated housing for people with disabilities in Austin, Texas.
Who they serve
Low-income individuals and families in Austin who have disabilities, including adults and children with mobility impairments, visual impairment, chronic illness, and other physical and emotional disabilities.
Their impact
- Founded in 2005 and has served over forty individuals in low-income households including at least one family member with a disability.
- Maintained seven rental properties with a total of nine rental units.
- AHA! at Briarcliff is a 27-unit apartment complex that is designed to house between 35 and 60 individuals.
How your donation helps
- $50 buys HVAC filters for a tenant’s home for one year.
- $100 adds grab bars to make a bathroom more accessible.
- $500 helps build a ramp.
- $1,000 supports purchasing and rehabilitating more homes.
- Donations support accessibility, energy efficiency, and upkeep of an AHA! home.
Our story
Accessible Housing Austin began in 2005, when disability rights advocates saw how serious the housing shortage was for people with disabilities in Austin. The first two homes came from Carol Eisenberg and James “J.T.” Templeton, and in 2010 the organization partnered with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation to rehabilitate and manage seven previously foreclosed homes. From the start, the focus has been practical: find the housing, make it accessible, and keep it livable.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Accessible Housing Austin’s services.
People seeking housing can email housing@ahaustin.org, review the Tenant Selection Criteria, and apply when vacancies are available. Eligibility is based on income, credit, and criminal guidelines. AHA! properties are independent living units with no medical or social services on-site, and administrative staff is on-site part time.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
Rick: “It’s not a prescriptive type of design where you feel like you’re in a hospital setting, I mean everything is integrated, it’s a universal design.”
Linda S.: “The roll-in shower gives us a sense of independence and freedom and peace of mind knowing that we can function in this house freely.”
James: “The house is in a good location for me and I’d like to stay as long as possible. I am able to go grocery shopping with my kids using the bus.”
Events
Homes for the Holidays
annualA cabaret benefiting Accessible Housing Austin.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Accessible Housing Austin has shared.
Current needs
- Volunteers to move tenant boxes and furniture during the HVAC replacement project.
- Volunteers to paint after reconstruction is complete.
- Support for home rehabilitation, accessibility improvements, and upkeep of AHA! properties.
Volunteer opportunities
- In-office volunteer engagements, including internship programs and fundraising committee membership.
- Painting the inside or outside of a home.
- Painting the trim of a home.
- Replacing doors and adding screen doors.
- Adding window screens.
- Landscaping, including planting flowers and area beautification.
- Light carpentry.
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Four-star green building certification from the Austin Energy Green Building program.
In the media
- Austin American-Statesman, Season for Caring coverage featuring local families supported through housing-related assistance.
- KVUE, coverage of advocates calling for more affordable homes for people with disabilities.
- KEYE, coverage of the Keep Austin Affordable effort and disability advocates supporting accessible housing.
Partners & funders
In the news
Articles featuring Accessible Housing Austin from the Love What You Fund newsroom.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What makes AHA! housing accessible?
The homes are renovated with features like ramps, wide doorways, levered door handles, roll-under sinks, lowered countertops, smoke detectors for people with hearing and visual impairments, and, where possible, roll-in showers.
Does AHA! provide services on-site?
No. These are independent living units, so there are no medical or social services on-site. Administrative staff is there part time.
How does AHA! define integrated housing?
Integrated housing means people with disabilities are not separated from non-disabled people, and people with different income levels live in the same housing. In multifamily housing, no more than one quarter of the units can be set aside for people with disabilities.
How can someone apply for housing?
People can contact housing@ahaustin.org and review the Tenant Selection Criteria. Eligibility depends on income, credit, and criminal guidelines, and housing is only available when there are vacancies.
Does AHA! accept rental vouchers?
Yes. AHA! accepts rental assistance vouchers, including Housing Choice and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance vouchers from other agencies.
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