Housingworks Austin
About Housingworks Austin
HousingWorks Austin makes Austin’s affordability picture legible. It does that through district analyses, county and precinct analyses, Blueprint scorecards, public education, and policy recommendations that help residents, leaders, and policymakers see what is happening and what can be done next. If you care about housing that more people can actually afford, this is the kind of local work that helps move the conversation from concern to usable policy.
What sets HousingWorks Austin apart is how grounded its work is in Austin-specific research. Its annual analyses and scorecards put affordability trends in plain view, while its summits, bus tours, and guides help people understand how housing policy looks on the ground.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Policy research
Conducts timely, localized research on affordable housing topics, including district analyses, county and precinct analyses, housing-jobs balance, housing preservation, housing and transit, and the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint.
Advocacy and policy recommendations
Tracks housing policy issues, reviews proposed changes, and makes recommendations to city leaders and other decision-makers to expand affordable housing opportunities.
Education and public awareness
Provides community education through annual housing summits, bus tours, speaker requests, workshops, public awareness campaigns, storytelling, and explanatory guides.
District-by-district housing analysis
Publishes annual Austin City Council district analyses covering income, rent, home prices, homelessness, homeownership, subsidized housing, and transportation costs.
County and precinct analyses
Publishes annual analyses for Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties and Travis County precincts to track regional affordability trends.
Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint scorecards
Tracks progress toward the city’s housing goals using yearly scorecards and progress-to-date scorecards.
Affordable housing bus tours
Organizes bus tours of affordable housing developments for community groups and other audiences interested in learning on-site.
Affordability Calculator
Offers a tool that helps policymakers and other stakeholders evaluate the financial feasibility of proposed affordable housing developments.
Employer Assisted Housing research and guide
Developed research, case studies, and guidance on Employer Assisted Housing programs and best practices.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
HousingWorks Austin advances affordable housing in Austin through research, education, advocacy, and thoughtful, workable policy recommendations.
Who they serve
Austin residents, local leaders, policymakers, community organizations, developers, and advocates focused on affordable housing.
Their impact
- A 2014 workshop on connecting affordable housing with transit was attended by more than 150 community leaders.
- A 2013 evaluation found that the City’s initial $55 million in affordable housing bonds would generate $865 million in economic impact over 10 years.
- HousingWorks developed a preservation strategy that led City Council to adopt a goal of preserving 20,000 affordable rental units over 20 years.
- The Austin Small Developer Training program completed 18 developers in its 2023 cohort.
- HousingWorks Austin and partners awarded a $25,000 pre-development grant to Deets Development, LLC in 2024.
How your donation helps
- Research on housing affordability in Austin and the surrounding region
- Education through summits, tours, workshops, and public awareness efforts
- Advocacy and policy recommendations that support affordable housing
- Community-facing research products such as district analyses and scorecards
Our story
Founded in 1982, HousingWorks Austin grew into an Austin-based nonprofit focused on affordable housing research, education, and advocacy. Over time, it has worked with stakeholders across Central Texas to expand the supply of housing that is affordable.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Housingworks Austin’s services.
HousingWorks Austin is not a housing provider. People seeking housing assistance are directed to the resources page linked from the contact page.
In their words
All Kinds of Homes, In All Parts of Town, For All Kinds of People.
With this pre-development grant, Deets Development LLC is one step closer to addressing a critical housing need in our community. Once complete, this project will play a key role in expanding affordable ownership opportunities for Austinites who increasingly struggle to access homeownership in our city.
Events
Annual housing summit
annualAn all-day summit held nearly every year since 2016 to build community knowledge around housing, planning, finance, best practices, and related issues.
Affordable housing bus tours
annualBus tours of affordable housing developments for community groups, with customized routes, speakers, and educational materials.
Recognition & press
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What does HousingWorks Austin do?
HousingWorks Austin provides research, education, advocacy, and practical policy recommendations related to affordable housing in Austin and the surrounding region.
Does HousingWorks Austin provide housing assistance directly?
No. HousingWorks Austin is not a housing provider. People looking for help are directed to a separate resources page.
What kinds of education does HousingWorks Austin offer?
Its education work includes annual housing summits, workshop facilitation, affordable housing bus tours, public awareness campaigns, and storytelling.
What research does HousingWorks Austin publish?
It publishes annual district analyses, county and precinct analyses, Blueprint scorecards, housing preservation research, housing-jobs balance research, Housing + Health county analysis, and related affordable housing guides and glossaries.
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