Renter Resources
Austin Housing offers programs, services, and resources that address the needs of vulnerable residents by collaborating with nonprofit organizations to collectively reach individuals and families in Austin. The resources below are for renters.
Financial Assistance for Rent & Utilities
Austin Public Health's Neighborhood Services Unit has limited funds for Rent and Austin Energy assistance. All requests must go through the Rent & Utility line at 512-972-5780. Review the program's eligibility requirements.
Austin Public Health's Neighborhood Services Unit has limited funds for Rent and Austin Energy assistance. All requests must go through the Rent & Utility line at 512-972-5780. Review the program's eligibility requirements.
Need help paying your utilities? The City of Austin offers a Customer Assistance Program (CAP) to help residential customers facing temporary and long-term financial difficulties and serious medical problems. Review the City's program and eligibility requirements.
Find Affordable Rental Housing
Looking for affordable rental housing in the City of Austin? Search the Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST) by entering your household income and household size to view affordable rental properties.
Looking for affordable rental housing in the City of Austin? Search the Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST) by entering your household income and household size to view affordable rental properties.
The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) administers one waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly Section 8) and 18 waiting lists for its Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and Public Housing properties. For more information about HACA-supported housing properties, visit the Housing Authority of the City of Austin website or call 512-477-4488.
Additional Rental Housing Resources
Austin 2-1-1 is a free, anonymous, social service hotline available 24 hours a day by phone or online. No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905 and find information about local resources for food or housing, child care, crisis counseling, or substance abuse treatment.
Aunt Bertha is a free, anonymous website that matches people with social service programs they may qualify for, including services that provide food, housing, transit, health/medical, education, and legal help. Once you have identified programs that might fit your needs through the website, be sure to contact the programs directly to find out if you qualify.
Haven Connect allows low-income applicants to apply online to open affordable housing waitlists directly. Applicants are notified every year to update their information across all Haven Connect applications and are also notified when they are at the top of the waitlist.
Austin 2-1-1 is a free, anonymous, social service hotline available 24 hours a day by phone or online. No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905 and find information about local resources for food or housing, child care, crisis counseling, or substance abuse treatment.
Aunt Bertha is a free, anonymous website that matches people with social service programs they may qualify for, including services that provide food, housing, transit, health/medical, education, and legal help. Once you have identified programs that might fit your needs through the website, be sure to contact the programs directly to find out if you qualify.
Haven Connect allows low-income applicants to apply online to open affordable housing waitlists directly. Applicants are notified every year to update their information across all Haven Connect applications and are also notified when they are at the top of the waitlist.
The Displacement Prevention Navigator Pilot Program aims to help people stay in their homes with assistance from paid Navigators recruited from local communities, who act as a bridge between communities and resource providers. Navigators will help renters and homeowners learn about and access housing resources from the City and other organizations.
Austin residents at risk of displacement along the Project Connect lines can apply for housing assistance resources to help prevent displacement and keep communities together.
Get Help with a Landlord
You have many rights as a renter. Read and download the Tenant's Rights Pamphlet on the Texas Attorney General Tenants Rights webpage, which lists your rights as a tenant and lets you file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office.
The Austin Tenants Council Project (ATC) is a special project of the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). The Austin Tenants Council Project focuses on housing discrimination, tenant-landlord education and information, and housing repair and rehabilitation. To learn more about the ATC project and the organization's wide range of services, please visit the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) website.
Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BASTA) is a non-profit project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) dedicated to supporting Austin renters who want to work with their neighbors to overcome their housing issues, providing resources for developing and supporting Tenants Associations, including training, educational materials, and legal support for groups.
You have many rights as a renter. Read and download the Tenant's Rights Pamphlet on the Texas Attorney General Tenants Rights webpage, which lists your rights as a tenant and lets you file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office.
The Austin Tenants Council Project (ATC) is a special project of the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). The Austin Tenants Council Project focuses on housing discrimination, tenant-landlord education and information, and housing repair and rehabilitation. To learn more about the ATC project and the organization's wide range of services, please visit the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) website.
Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BASTA) is a non-profit project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) dedicated to supporting Austin renters who want to work with their neighbors to overcome their housing issues, providing resources for developing and supporting Tenants Associations, including training, educational materials, and legal support for groups.
The City of Austin has partnered with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (TRLA) to provide emergency eviction counseling, representation, and prevention services for low-income renters. To learn more about the organization and the wide range of services it provides to homeowners and renters, please visit the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) website.
Legal assistance for low-income households is also available through Volunteer Legal Services.
Legal assistance for low-income households is also available through the Texas Legal Services Center.
The City of Austin established the Tenant Notification and Relocation Assistance Ordinance, which provides tenant notification and relocation assistance requirements. The City also established the Tenant Relocation Assistance Program Rules, which provide detailed information on how to comply with the ordinance, including how to deliver notice to tenants. Questions or inquiries can be sent to tenantrelocation@austintexas.gov.
Support for Families with Children
In partnership with the Austin/Travis County Success By Six Coalition, the City works to ensure families have access to high-quality early learning options that meet their needs. The City also works with Texas Rising Star 4-Star providers through Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services (CCS) to provide subsidized child care for eligible families. Learn more and access child care assistance resources.
Any Baby Can is an Austin-based nonprofit that strengthens families through a range of family support services, including parental counseling, resource navigation, and family support services. Visit Any Baby Can to see if you are eligible. You can also call 512-454-3743 or email Info@AnyBabyCan.org.
In partnership with the Austin/Travis County Success By Six Coalition, the City works to ensure families have access to high-quality early learning options that meet their needs. The City also works with Texas Rising Star 4-Star providers through Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services (CCS) to provide subsidized child care for eligible families. Learn more and access child care assistance resources.
Any Baby Can is an Austin-based nonprofit that strengthens families through a range of family support services, including parental counseling, resource navigation, and family support services. Visit Any Baby Can to see if you are eligible. You can also call 512-454-3743 or email Info@AnyBabyCan.org.
Project HELP is an Austin Independent School District (AISD) program that serves displaced or homeless children under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (i.e., students experiencing hardship due to a loss of housing and living in substandard housing, shelters, or transitional housing). Visit the Project HELP website for more information.
Homeless services for students in Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD) are managed by their Homeless Liaison. For questions or to request services, visit the DVISD website or call (512) 386-3110.
Pflugerville Independent School District (PfISD) has a Project Hope program for families experiencing homelessness or displacement. As part of the referral process, please contact the campus Social Worker for eligibility (www.pfisd.net/programs/social-work/social-work-team).