With the approval of the $250 million housing bond by the Austin City Council, we have an opportunity to create truly permanent, independent, and affordable housing but we must guarantee that people at the forefront of gentrification are taken care of. We can work together to create an Austin that people who work here can afford to live here.

I am calling for an equitable allocation of these bond funds. I am proposing that we institute a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust through the Housing Authority of the City of Austin in order to create permanent equitable, affordable housing in Austin. Federal housing rules have historically separated families of color by not allowing single males to be on federally subsidized housing projects. With very few single males qualifying for public housing, these policies have perpetuated systemic racism. Through the City of Austin we can write the rules to right these wrongs.

$100 million of the housing bond was set aside for land purchasing and that bond money should be allocated into a land trust so people can have the ability to own not just their homes, but have ownership in their land. We must give the communities that have been historically displaced the right of first refusal. We should look at Colony Park to be converted to a Community Land Trust. With 208 acres, zoned as PUD, we have an opportunity to create something that no other city has been able to accomplish--Permanent, independent, and affordable housing.

One of the leading factors of recidivism is unstable housing. This is caused by many factors such as limited incomes, employment histories and/or employment prospects; few affordable housing options in the communities to which released individuals are most likely to return, insufficient housing assistance during incarceration, as well as discrimination by landlords, particularly in tight rental markets; restrictions on public housing; and shortages in supportive housing programming or an inability to apply/qualify for supportive housing. This proposal would allow for more formerly incarcerated individuals to have smoother reentry into society, reduce recidivism, and reunite families.

Join me in calling for a truly equitable distribution of bond. When I am on the Austin City Council, I will work tirelessly to fight for the working people of this City and my district. But, this campaign is about a people’s democracy and that means we don’t wait to get involved, we get involved. Sign our petition below to join The People’s Plan for Austin Housing.