early 1980s - A stipend from the
University of Texas allows Francie Ferguson and other university
student housing cooperative members to create the Austin Community
Neighborhood Trust, a housing program for low-income families.
1984 - With the Austin real estate market in
a slump, we change our name to Austin Mutual Housing and concentrate
on managing affordable housing.
1987 - We sponsor a retreat for Austin community leaders
to promote and market affordable housing.
1988 - We change our name to Central Texas Mutual Housing
Association and create a strategic business plan to purchase as
many units as possible in the depressed real estate market.
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early 1990s - We acquire four
multi-family properties in Austin totaling more than 491 units. |
1994 - The Resident Association at Sierra Ridge Apartments
creates its first youth program.
1995 - We acquire our largest community, Shadow Brook Apartments, a 403-unit complex in Arlington, Texas.
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1997 - Francie Ferguson, founding director,
says good-bye and the Board hires the Development Director, Walter
Moreau, as the new Executive Director. |
1998 - We launch Great IDeAs, the first Individual
Development Account program in Texas.
1998 - We are awarded Low Income Housing Tax
Credits to build Trails at the Park, our first our first major
construction project.
1999 - We are one of three organizations in the country
awarded the Metropolitan Life Foundation Award for Excellence
in Affordable Housing.
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2000 - We complete Trails at the Park, a 200-unit
complex, that is immediately filled. |
2000 - We purchase and renovate a run-down 200-unit
family property, now called Trails at Vintage Creek.
January 2001 - We change our name to Foundation Communities
to more accurately reflect our mission.
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Summer 2001 - We complete Southwest Trails,
the first-ever affordable housing project in west Austin. |
2003 – We open Garden Terrace, Austin’s first supportive housing community for single adults who were homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
2004 – With grants from NeighborWorks America and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation we create the Children’s HOME Initiative, giving 45 homeless families an affordable home and the tools they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
2005 – We open new Community Learning Centers at Trails at Vintage Creek (Austin) and Shadow Brook (Arlington). Through partnerships with other nonprofits we’re able to provide free after-school and summer youth programs, English as a Second Language instruction, GED preparation, and computer skills classes. |
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2006 – Spring Terrace, Austin's second supportive housing community, opens to provide low-cost efficiency apartments for 140 more very low-income and homeless individuals.
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