Travis County assistance programs.

Find rent, housing, and homeless prevention assistance

Federal stimulus money is being provided to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to help Austin and Travis County residents with housing. Over $3.5 million in stimulus money will be provided to five local charities and organizations to pay for rent and other housing costs. The money was granted from the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing assistance program which was created as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The following organizations and Texas charities received money from the program:

• Youth and Family Alliance - $1,000,000
• Catholic Charities of Central Texas - $650,000 (phone (512) 651-6080)
• Caritas of Austin- Pilot - $600,000
• Caritas of Austin - $1,000,000 (phone (512) 479-4610)
• Any Baby Can – Austin - $340,000
• More non-profits that provide Travis County rent assistance.

Grants from the program will help families and individuals who need of temporary rent or utility bill assistance. In addition, it can also assist Texans who may be currently living in emergency homeless or housing shelters or who may be living on the street and if they just need some temporary assistance to get housing or back on their feet.

Per Texas government officials, the assistance program is not intended to create long-term housing support for its participants, but instead it will provide shorter term relief in the form of three to 18 months of rental assistance. Also, grants will be provided to pay for security deposits and utility deposits as well as assistance for moving costs, and even motel vouchers can be offered. Call any of the agencies to learn more or apply.

 

 

 

Help with utility bills in Austin

To help residents who are struggling with the weak economy, the City of Austin is offering utility bill assistance in the form of a one-time, six-month-term Deferred Payment Arrangement Option. This will be a tremendous help for those customers who are having difficulties paying their utility bills. Normally, the payment plans were limited to a four-month maximum term.

Those customers who would like to request the six-month payment plan need to contact the City of Austin at (512) 494-9400. This payment option that is being offered, customers will need to pay 25 percent of the total account balance on their bill as a down payment. This will need to occur within seven calendar days of agreeing to the Deferred Payment Arrangement. The remaining balance on their bill will be spread across six equal monthly installments.

Emergency financial and crisis assistance

The Austin Texas Salvation Army runs several assistance programs for local residents. Call the agency at (512) 476-1111. They run an employment services program, provide holiday help, and more. One of the more pressing needs is for financial aid, and the Salvation Army may have limited funds to pay rent, utility bills, and even some medical expenses.

There are numerous other agencies that offer emergency financial assistance in Austin and Travis County Texas. The agencies and non-profits include.

All Saints Episcopal Church - Limited financial assistance for paying electric, water, gas, telephone, and utility/telephone hookup fees, gasoline vouchers, funds for medical and dental bills, eye care, and bus tickets. (512) 476-3589

Baptist Community Center ((512) 478-7243), Greater Mt. Zion Church Community Assistance Center ((512) 469-9020), Lake Travis Crisis Ministries ((512) 266-9810), Society of St. Vincent DePaul ((512) 836-0020) - Limited assistance for mortgage and rent, utility bills, water, gas, prescriptions, and other expenses. Dial (512) 478-7243.

St. Matthews Episcopal Church provides limited financial assistance with paying rent, water, electric bills and gas bills. Rent needs to be past due in order to receive help. The church will not help with closed utility accounts. Phone (512) 345-8314.

Master's Hand runs a small operation that can provide money in an emergency. Call (512) 832-7811

Another non-profit that can help with paying bills and every day expenses is Austin Texas based University Avenue Church of Christ. Help with bills, medications, and other expenses may be available. Dial (512) 476-9584.

Caritas of Austin, which can be reached at  (512)472-4135, may be able to provides a limited amount of rent assistance and utility bill assistance for those faced with losing their housing. Other support administered includes hot meals, food, and take home groceries are also provide.

Austin Health and Human Services Department (HHSD) (call (512) 972-5011) runs the homeless prevention and rapid rehousing program. This program provides emergency funding to help people pay their rent, housing, and other expenses.

Society Of St. Vincent De Paul has several church locations around Travis County and Austin as noted below. The programs offered include emergency financial assistance and grants for paying utilities (gas, water, electricity), mortgage, security deposits and rent. Prescriptions and limited health care are offered. They also provides vouchers for free or low cost clothing, food, and furniture, and the vouchers are used at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.

• Holy Cross Catholic Church 1610 E. 11th St., Austin, Texas 78702. (512) 472-7210
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 5909 Reicher Dr., Austin, Texas 78723. Call (512) 926-1171
• St. Austin Catholic Church. 2026 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78705. Phone (512) 477-1589
• Slouis Catholic Church. 7601 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757. Call the church at (512) 419-1667
• St. Paul Catholic Church. 10000 David Moore Rd. Austin, Texas 78748. Dial (512) 280-4460
• St. Theresa Catholic Church. 4311 Small Dr., Austin, TX 78731. (512) 451-5121

Texas National Guard Family Support Foundation - Offers financial assistance for National Guard members and their immediate families. Get help with bills and basic living needs such as rent, food,  mortgage payments, utilities, car expense, auto loans, medical needs, and/or transportation for medical emergencies. 3706 Crawford Ave., Austin, Texas 78731. Phone (512) 782-6953

 

 

Travis County Health And Human Services & Veterans Service has several offices around the region. They are located in the towns and cities in Travis County below. Assistance offered includes emergency financial assistance and grants for paying rent (including rent for low income transitional housing), gas (includes propane and firewood), mortgages and home loans, electricity bills, prescription expense, medical supply expense, grocery store vouchers, and diapers. The County offices also provide limited case management, out-of-town bus tickets for medical appointments, and senior support services. Last, the government office may assist with motel vouchers for families as well.

• 100 N. I-35 Suite 1000, Austin, Texas 78701. Phone (512) 854-4120
• 18649 FM 1431 Suite 6A, Jonestown, TX 78645. Number (512) 267-3245
• 3518 FM 973, Del Valle, TX 78617. Number (512) 247-4407
• 600 W. Carrie Manor St., Manor, Texas 78653, call (512) 272-5561
• 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Pflugerville, Texas 78660, Phone number (512) 251-4168

Westover Hills Church Of Christ - When funding is available, offers rent and utility assistance. Food is almost always available. 8332 Mesa Dr., Austin, Texas 78759, phone (512) 345-6386

St. Mary, Our Lady Of The Lake Catholic Church - Provides financial assistance with rent, utilities (electricity, gas, water and propane), food vouchers and gasoline.  Holiday gifts may also be provided too. 6100 Lohman Crossing Rd., Lago Vista, Texas 78645. Phone (512) 267-0091

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Programs administered include emergency financial assistance with water bills, electric, gas, and prescription bills. Also may provide clothing and household goods vouchers. The church also operates a food pantry onsite providing non-perishable food, over-the-counter medicine, baby formula and hygiene products. 1520 N. Railroad Ave. , Pflugerville, Texas 78660. Call (888) 801-7837

Family Support Services Division, East Rural Community Center Manor - This Travis County government supported agency has several locations around the region. The addresses are below. Programs can provide  emergency grants and financial assistance with basic needs. Get help with items such as rent, security deposits, mortgage, transitional housing, utilities gas bills, electric and water expenses. In addition, apply for grocery store vouchers for food or prescription vouchers. The locations are:

• 600 W. Carrie Manor St., Manor, Texas 78653, dial (512)272-5561
• 5822 Foothill Farms Loop, Pflugerville, TX 78660, telephone number (512)251-4168
• 18649 FM 1431, Jonestown, Texas 78645, (512)267-3245
• 100 N. I-35, Austin, TX 78701, telephone (512)854-4120
• 2201 Post Rd., Austin, Texas 78704, (512)854-9130
• 3518 FM 973, Del Valle, TX 78617, (512)247-4407
• 8656 Hwy. 71, Austin, Texas 78735, dial (512)854-2130

Immanuel Lutheran Church - Very limited assistance (usually $50) to help pay rent, electric bills, food, utilities gas, electric, water bills too. 500 Immanuel Rd., Pflugerville, Texas 78660, (512)251-4168

Texas VFW Foundation, Inc. - Qualifying veterans, spouses, children, dependent parents and surviving spouses may get emergency basic needs assistance. Funds can pay for electric bills, rent, mortgages, or home repairs. Child expenses including clothing, diapers, formula, school supplies, or daycare. Grants can pay for car and vehicle expenses such as car payments, insurance, or repairs. Medical and health care expenses including prescriptions, bills or eyeglasses. Food and clothing may also be provided. Address is 8503 N. I-35, Austin, Texas 78753, call (800)997-7096

Travis County financial assistance programs and agencies that support anyone in Texas

Below are details on non-profit agencies and programs that provide rent, food, housing aid, foreclosure counseling, and other assistance to Austin and Travis County..

• Texas free HUD foreclosure and housing counseling
• Texas Section 8 housing
• Texas mortgage and foreclosure assistance. Read more.
• Texas cooling and utility bill programs
• Texas free legal advice. Click here.
• Texas food pantries/banks
• Texas community health care clinics
• Texas dental centers

Food pantries in Travis County and Austin Texas

Abiding Love Lutheran Church ((512) 892-4040) provides a food pantry with up to 3 days of food.

Bethany Faith Food Pantry, which is based in Austin, provides qualified residents with a food pantry. The pantry also offers hygiene products, perishables, baby food, formula, and diapers, when available. Dial (512) 926-4146.

Capital Area Food Bank runs a program known as fresh food for families. Phone (512) 836-3282.

Dolores Catholic Church (call (512) 385-4333) provides a food pantry that serves Montopolis and Del Valle Texas families.

Other churches in the Austin Texas area that provide emergency food, household products, or other assistance include River Road Baptist Church ((512) 276-3824), North Austin Christian Church ((512) 836-3282), and Hope Lutheran Church (phone (512) 926-8574).

Find information on about 50 additional free Austin and Travis County food pantries.

Free or low cost medical and dental care

Manos de Cristo Dental Clinic helps low income, unemployed, and those patients with limited resources. The organization provides low cost (or free) high quality dental care to individuals and families with limited resources and financial means. The dental clinic aims to restore the oral health of low income and other individuals who are at risk of or who are currently suffering from poor oral hygiene and dental crisis’s. It is the only agency of its kind in Austin Texas. (512) 477-2319

A facility that focuses on children is Any Baby Can Child and Family Resource Center. The clinic ensures that that at risk children from low income and other families with limited financial resources optimize their physical health by accessing high quality, low cost primary care, including specialist services, general check ups and supportive resources such as basic needs assistance and even mental health services. Call the clinic at (512) 454-3743 to learn more or make an appointment.

Volunteer Healthcare Clinic (VHC) has over 400 volunteers that provide medical care to Austin families who would otherwise go without attention to health care services. 512-459-6002.

Those are only a sampling of the low cost health centers in the area. Locate more Travis County clinics.

 

 

Career development and job finding skills

Goodwill Industries of Central Texas (phone 512.637.7100) runs the The Ready to Work Program, which was created to assist individuals with finding a job, and it will help them deal with with barriers to employment with finding and retaining employment in Travis County and the Central Texas community. The program offers the development of job readiness skills, job placement, resume review, networking, and retention support.

Debt and foreclosure help from Austin Consumer Credit Counseling Services

They offer numerous forms of financial advice to Austin area families. Call them at (512) 447-0711. Gain access to debt and mortgage counseling, foreclosure prevention, and other forms of free advice.

Travis County homeowners have several other non-profit organizations that they can contact for information on mortgage and foreclosure programs. Many of the agencies have staff that can work directly with the homeowner and their lender to find a solution. Locate more foreclosure assistance programs in Austin and the surrounding area.

Austin Texas specific agencies and programs

Most of the resources above are focused on the entire Travis County area. There are a number of financial assistance programs, agencies, and services that are specific to Austin. Learn more on these assistance programs.