“198 NEW UNITS — let that sink in. 198 new units is 198 families who get to stay in the neighborhood they love…and who are now less at risk of displacement or homelessness.”
These were the words of District 3 Austin Council Member José Miguel Anwar Velásquez earlier today as partners got together to officially celebrate and welcome residents to Libertad Austin.
A partnership between the City of Austin, Austin Housing, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, and Vecino Group, Libertad Austin is a 198-unit affordable housing community for households earning 30% to 60% median family income (MFI). Located in District 3 at 900 Gardner Road, the apartments offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with access to on-site supportive services, aimed at preserving affordability in the East Austin neighborhood.
“We’re proud to see another community take root in East Austin that helps preserve affordability and expand opportunity,” said Deletta Dean, Austin Housing Director. “Libertad Austin shows our continued commitment to investing in inclusive neighborhoods where all Austinites can thrive.”
Libertad Austin is located near Govalle Neighborhood Park, East Boggy Creek Greenbelt, and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. The community will provide 50 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units, facilitated by Caritas of Austin, to serve individuals and families at risk of or exiting homelessness.
Additional community amenities include a fitness room, a business center, a playground, a basketball court, landscaped outdoor spaces, and covered bicycle parking.
“Our focus at Vecino isn’t just to collaborate on housing for the community, but to also create beautiful homes where families thrive. After being chosen by AHFC as their partner—plus having the approval of the surrounding neighborhood—we are overjoyed to officially deliver Libertad today,” shared Valentin DeLeon, Vecino Group Director of Development.
Caritas of Austin will serve as one of the Supportive Service Coordinators and the leading provider of Supportive Services at Libertad Austin. They will have on-site staff offering free, multi-disciplinary services designed to support residents and build well-being, including relationship-based case management, employment services, life skills classes, financial literacy classes, health and well-being classes, employment workforce training, and food distribution services.
“By creating housing communities like Libertad Austin, we are taking tangible steps to end homelessness in our city while creating a sense of community and belonging for families looking to rebuild their well-being. We are grateful for this partnership, as it plays an essential role in making Austin more affordable and accessible for all of our neighbors,” said Jo Kathryn Quinn, CEO and President of Caritas of Austin.
After a request for proposals in 2020, AHFC awarded the 8.2 acre site to Vecino Group to develop Libertad Austin. An additional, neighboring 1.6 acres is being developed by Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation (GNDC) into 27 affordable ownership homes at Johnny Limon Village, providing a continuum of long-term housing affordability in the community.
Libertad received $4.5 million from the AHFC through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) Program, funded by the Project Connect Anti-Displacement Initiative. Additionally, the development secured a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) award from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). LIHTC is a federal program enabled by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and allocated to each state. In Texas, the TDHCA administers tax credits.
In his remarks, City of Austin Housing Strategist David Gray perfectly captured what Libertad delivers for families and their communities:
“This place is about freedom. The kind of freedom when you no longer have to live in a survival mode.
The kind of freedom that allows you to start dreaming—to rebuilding your life again. This community—Libertad Austin—is not just a building. It’s a promise kept.”
