Community action help in Travis County through Austin's Neighborhood Centers
The City of Austin's seven Neighborhood Centers are where Travis County residents may get help. The centers may offer free groceries, help with a past-due rent or Austin Energy bill, health screenings from a nurse, bus passes, and help finding work. The centers are run by Austin Public Health's Neighborhood Services Unit, which is the community action agency for Travis County under the state's Community Services Block Grant program.
This page covers the Neighborhood Centers only. It explains what each program involves, the rules for rent and utility assistance, and which Austin-area programs belong to other agencies. The network includes the Rosewood-Zaragosa center in East Austin, which opened in 1982, along with centers serving Southeast, South, Central East, and Northeast Austin. Requests for rent or utility assistance go through one phone line, (512) 972-5780, rather than through the centers themselves.
The state's community action records list the city's provider under its former name, the Health and Human Services Department, which is why older directories still use that name. Austin Public Health is the same city department under its current name, and its Neighborhood Services Unit runs the community action programs. Travis County government operates a separate set of community centers and assistance programs, which are covered on the Travis County Health and Human Services page.
- NOTE: Because the funding is limited and shared across the whole county, in particular financial help such as rent assistance is not an entitlement, and the centers may be unable to assist everyone who qualifies.
Help with food and monthly food distributions
Each Neighborhood Center has a food pantry stocked in partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank (website: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/). The centers also hold monthly food distribution events with fresh fruits and vegetables and shelf-stable goods, and the city posts a new calendar of those events each month. Some centers host a separate monthly distribution for adults age 55 and older.
Bring identification and something that shows a Travis County address. Some centers ask that you call ahead for a pantry appointment, so it is worth phoning the center nearest you before making the trip. Thanksgiving food baskets may be offered in the fall while supplies last.
Rent and Austin Energy bill assistance: how the phone line works
The Neighborhood Services Unit has limited funds for rent and Austin Energy assistance, and the centers no longer take walk-in requests for either one. All requests go through the Rent and Utility line at (512) 972-5780. An automated message tells callers when the week's appointment slots are full or when the funds for the year have run out, and the city encourages people to keep calling weekly for an opening.
The rules are specific. Applicants must live in Austin or Travis County, must be renters with their own name on the lease, and must have a rent or utility bill that is already past due. Income limits apply, and applicants must show proof of a recent crisis, such as a job loss, reduced hours, medical bills, a funeral expense, or a new member of the household. Homeowners are not eligible for the rent portion, and the utility portion applies to Austin Energy accounts.
When an appointment is offered, bring proof of all household income for the prior 30 days, identification, and proof of residence. Households served by an electric provider other than Austin Energy may instead apply through the county utility program described on the Travis County page. Other Austin Energy hardship programs are explained on the Austin Energy assistance programs page, and additional local sources of rent help are listed under rental assistance Austin and Travis County.
- Note - what is not handled: Weatherization, home repair for homeowners, and utility assistance under the state's Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program are run by Travis County Health and Human Services at https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services. SNAP, Medicaid, and cash assistance are state programs applied for through Texas Health and Human Services, although the Neighborhood Centers may help with the application.
Free health screenings from public health nurses
Registered nurses from Austin Public Health work at the Neighborhood Centers. They may check blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, including A1c testing, offer pregnancy tests with referrals, and refer people without a doctor to a clinic. Nurses may also help coordinate care for someone managing a chronic condition such as diabetes.
Flu shots are typically offered at the centers in the fall. Nurses also appear at community events around the city, so the schedule posted with the monthly food calendar is the best way to find a screening date.
Case management, job help and everyday services
The Neighborhood Services Unit's social workers offer self-sufficiency case management for people trying to get back into work or stabilize their situation. That may include goal setting, job readiness training, help with applications and r�sum�s, connections to training programs, and support after a job starts. Short-term counseling is available, and staff may help residents apply for other public benefits.
Everyday services at the centers include help filling out forms, notary services, and bus passes. Seasonal services may include child safety seats through a safety class, free fans in the spring, and free income tax filing help early in the year. Call before visiting for any seasonal item, since dates change each year.
Locations, hours and closures
The seven centers are Dove Springs and Montopolis in Southeast Austin, Rosewood-Zaragosa and Blackland in Central East Austin, East Austin on Comal Street, St. John in Northeast Austin, and South Austin on Durwood Street. The centers are generally open on weekdays with shorter Friday hours, and individual centers sometimes close for building repairs, so check the city's page before going. Current addresses, phone numbers, the food calendar, and closure notices are on the city's Get help at Neighborhood Centers page at https://www.austintexas.gov/services/get-help-neighborhood-centers.
Contact information
For rent or Austin Energy assistance, call the Rent and Utility line at (512) 972-5780 during weekday business hours. For food, health screenings, case management, and other services, call the Neighborhood Center closest to you using the numbers on the city's page above, or dial 3-1-1 for city information. Dialing 2-1-1 reaches the statewide referral line for other Travis County resources.
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