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Forecasting a Summer Opening for Parker Lane Apartments

February 28, 2024 | Posted in Affordable Housing, Green Building, Healthy Initiatives, Housing, Education, Health, Uncategorized |

At Foundation Communities, we’re excited that construction crews with BEC Austin have us on track for a summer opening for Parker Lane Apartments. The interest list is already open for the 135-unit affordable community in Southeast Austin as we prepare for the time when we can begin welcoming home families. Parker Lane Apartments will have 24 deeply affordable apartments set aside for families in our Children’s HOME Initiative who are at risk of becoming homeless. The Learning Center may be fully operational by the beginning of the school year.

Parker Lane Apartments sits on eight acres near Parker Lane and Oltorf Streets, on what was the site of Parker Lane United Methodist Church for 60 years. The church closed its doors, but church officials are continuing its legacy of community service by offering Foundation Communities a long-term lease agreement for the property. Besides affordable housing, Parker will have a Learning Center for After School and Summer Learning programs for children, as well as educational and healthy living programs for adults. There will also be a Healthy Food Pantry to provide healthy food options for the community at no cost. Also, a half-basketball court, a large courtyard with a playscape, and space for a community garden. Another nod to the church’s legacy, we are re-seeding the front of the property to grow Texas wildflowers.

Parker Lane Apartments is also possible thanks to $15 million in tax credits approved by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The City of Austin pitched in a total of $9,663,669, a combination of voter-approved General Obligation Bonds and Project Connect funds. Our major debt and equity partner is Wells Fargo Bank, and other funders include the St. David’s Foundation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

In keeping with Foundation Communities’ commitment to energy-efficient and sustainable initiatives, we are building Parker Lane Apartments with the intention of receiving an Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) 3-star certification. Similar to other Foundation Communities properties, Parker will have low-flow plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, and low-VOC paint for better indoor air quality. The building is also ready for the addition of solar panels to the roof when the funding becomes available.
Finally, during the design phase we were intentional about including trauma-informed features. The architecture and colors of the building will assist with wayfinding. The bright colors on the facade indicate the places where pathways connect the parking areas to the courtyard, and the locations of the stairs and elevators.  Other features enhance a feeling of safety, like not having dead-end corridors, having clear sightlines to reduce surprise encounters, and locating the laundry room across from property management offices.

Following a Health Crisis, Resident Finds a Supportive Community at Spring Terrace

March 1, 2024 | Posted in Uncategorized |

There was a time when Susan Taylor was content living alone, enjoying social interaction at work managing stores and day care centers. Then one day, her health began to fail and she was hospitalized. When Susan went home, her daughter felt she needed to be part of a supportive community.

“My daughter wanted me to be somewhere where I had people around me,” said Susan.

Fourteen years ago, Susan moved into our Spring Terrace supportive housing community, and she has never looked back. She takes full advantage of the services provided by staff, from regular visits with Nurse Rita, to riding on the transport van to appointments and stores, to enjoying free, healthy food at the weekly Food Pantry, Coffee Hour and Supper Clubs. Recently, Susan enrolled in a case management program and that opened the door for her to meet with an on-site therapist once a week. It allows her to focus on herself. Susan looks for ways to show kindness and compassion to the people around her, making sure they are safe and supported, not expecting anything in return. She is truly a wonderful neighbor.

During Amplify Austin, we’re highlighting stories of FC residents who benefit from the free, on-site support services at each of our properties – services like Learning Center programs, Healthy Food Pantries, healthy living and wellness, and community events – all programs we can offer because of donations and community support. Amplify Austin is underway. You can support Foundation Communities and residents like Susan by donating and sharing our Amplify link: bit.ly/AmplifyFoundCom.

Prosper Tax Help Kicks off its 20th Year Larger than Ever

February 27, 2024 | Posted in Tax Services, Financial Stability |

The 2024 Tax Season is the milestone 20th year for Foun­dation Communities’ Prosper Tax Help program. It also comes with some firsts. The program will offer free tax preparation at a record 1O different sites in Travis and Williamson Counties, including the first ever site on an Austin Community College campus.

Just a short walk away from the new ACC ACCelerator tax site, the new season for Prosper Tax Help was officially kicked off on February 9. ACC Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Shasta Buchanan explained that the new tax site was envisioned as a way to help ACC students and the community get help filing their taxes and secure larger tax refunds.

“We proposed the idea of establishing tax prep­aration site right here at ACC Highland Campus.” said Buchanan. “The response from Foundation Communities was immediate and enthusiastic.”

Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau put the 20th year for Prosper Tax Help into perspective with statistics – more than 313,000 tax return filed, and more than $520 million in tax refunds returned to clients. Tax Help staff member and client Belinda Valdez explained how the program has helped her receive tax credits she didn’t even know existed. And, longtime Prosper Tax Help supporter Congressman Lloyd Doggett encouraged Central Texans to not miss out on money they’re entitled to by visiting a Prosper Tax Help site to have their taxes done free of charge. You can watch video of the entire kickoff event below.

This year, Taxpayers with children can claim up to $7,430 in Earned Income Tax Credits. You can learn more about our free tax preparation services and make an appointment at ProsperTaxHelp.org or by calling 2-1-1.

Foundation Communities Nursing Program is a Recipe for Recovery for Arbor Terrace Resident

February 6, 2024 | Posted in Health, Housing |

For Amplify Austin this year, we’re featuring residents who are finding success with help from supportive services offered by Foundation Communities. Please donate to our Amplify Austin campaign here, and help us continue to fund these services. 

A resident of Arbor Terrace, Richard McNatty says when he moved in more than a decade ago, he thought all he needed was a place to live. He had no idea how important our Supportive Services nursing program would be for him.

From his origins in rural New York to working the railroads in Minnesota, to Montana where he co-owned a restaurant, Richard’s journey is as diverse as his cooking skills. Landing in Austin with dreams of attending culinary school, financial barriers dashed his goals. In 2012, Richard was struggling to make ends meet in a minimum wage kitchen job and was facing homelessness when a serendipitous encounter connected him with Foundation Communities.

In 2016, Richard was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer but triumphed through treatment and remains in remission. During his recovery, he was referred to the Supportive Services team nurse, Rita DeBellis who he fondly refers to as his “guardian angel.” Nurse Rita continues to go to medical appointments with Richard. She takes detailed notes, which she uses to remind Richard of all the doctor’s orders and to keep Richard’s sister informed about his condition.

“The best part about living at Arbor Terrace is getting to visit with Nurse Rita,” said Richard. “She keeps me on track.”

Collaborating for years with the team’s therapist has also enriched Richard’s personal growth and self-awareness. He says he’s feeling better these days and his tasty baked goodies have made him a favorite among both the staff and residents. Richard McNatty’s story is one of resilience, community and a passion for life and cooking!

Family Celebrates Holidays at The Loretta after Housing Crisis – Apartments Still Available

December 18, 2023 | Posted in Housing |

The opening of The Loretta Apartments in NW Austin couldn’t have come at a better time for Glenda Dennis and her daughter and son. After the rent for her townhome went up last year, the family barely had enough money to live on. Then, the child support payments Glenda counted on to supplement her income became unreliable. She got behind and they were just days away from being evicted with no plan for where they would go.

The Dennis family moved into the new community at 13649 Rutledge Spur last month through our Children’s HOME Initiative for families at risk of becoming homeless. We still have affordable 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments available for applicants who meet the low-to-moderate income and other requirements. Residents will have free access to the Afterschool and Summer programs at the Learning Center at nearby Lakeline Station Apartments, as well as Healthy Food Pantry and fitness programs. The leasing office is open Monday through Saturday to accept applications. Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be made at TLmanager@foundcom.org or by calling 512-381-5560.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Dennis family’s story and see them celebrate their first Thanksgiving in their new home in The Loretta.

Another Harmonious Start to Open Enrollment at Prosper Center

December 16, 2023 | Posted in Uncategorized |

Before treating the crowd at Prosper Center – South to a healthy dose of great music, Austin musician and HAAM member Kelsi Creek talked about struggling with chronic ailments and being without health insurance for four years. Kelsi now has health insurance through the Healthcare.gov Marketplace.

Foundation Communities kicked off Open Enrollment on November 1. Executive Director Walter Moreau urged uninsured community members to let our team of health insurance navigators help them select the plan that will work best for their health care needs and budget. Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes said health coverage is a right and not a privilege, while Congressman Lloyd Doggett said many Texans who qualify for zero-premium plans don’t enroll. Open Enrollment for Healthcare.gov Marketplace insurance runs through January 16. You can watch video of the Prosper Health Coverage Kickoff event at the video below.

Immigrant Family Finds Safety, Stability through Foundation Communities Affordable Housing

September 25, 2023 | Posted in Housing, Education, Financial Stability, Uncategorized |

As the lead maintenance technician at Cardinal Point Apartments, Jeremiah Balingene stays very busy making repairs, and getting apartments ready for new residents. Thirteen years ago, he was in their position, moving into a Foundation Communities apartment community and looking forward to a better life. His housing story doesn’t start there, but in central Africa.

in 2002 Jeremiah and his family lost their home in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo when a volcano started spewing ash and lava. They had already been surrounded by violence and death as the genocidal civil war in neighboring Rwanda had spilled into their city. The danger became too much. In 2006, the Balingene family fled to a refugee camp in the country of Tanzania. They were safe, but food was scarce. In 2010, Jeremiah and his family had an opportunity to legally emigrate to the United States through a US State Department program. Jeremiah said, “I chose to be part of American people. It looked like it was safe here.”

The Balingene family relocated to Central Texas because of the warm, “Congo-like” climate. As sponsored refugees, the seven-member family (at that time) had a three-bedroom apartment waiting for them in Foundation Communities’ Trails at Vintage Creek Apartments. To help them with the transition, their rent and utility bills were waived for about 13 months. Still, it wasn’t easy.

“There was a lot of struggle to find a job, then you find a job, but the job is not easy for you,” said Jeremiah. “In the refugee camp, if I needed to make money I could raise chickens. Where can I raise chickens here?” Jeremiah started working for a recycling company, sorting through trash for minimum wage. When the time came when they had to pay rent and utility bills, the family had very little money left over.

The culture shock from language barriers, confusing procedures, and foods much different from the fufu and cassava leaves they were used to had the family thinking about going back to Africa. Jeremiah says it was support from Foundation Communities that helped them find a comfort zone. The property manager at that time, Mandy Lewis, helped them with things like paperwork and shopping. The most valuable resource was the Learning Center where the children could be safe and supervised after school and receive help with their homework. Jeremiah also took advantage of the ESL classes there. “Vintage Creek, they have a program for English. I was going there every single day to learn how to speak American English, and listening too. Listening was a real struggle,” said Jeremiah.

Jeremiah’s English improved. So did his computer skills and the family’s financial situation. In 2012 he started working as a porter at Vintage Creek. While on duty he followed the community’s maintenance workers learning what they knew, and very quickly Jeremiah became one of the maintenance techs. Two years later, he was promoted to lead maintenance tech at FC’s Spring Terrace, and last year, he became the lead at Cardinal Point. Each promotion came with a pay raise. “When we start, we may not be a professional, but they keep teaching us. Then, send us to school, give us a lot of training, and I love it,” said Jeremiah.

By 2017, the Balingene family had grown to 10 members, and outgrown their three-bedroom apartment. Thanks to years of affordable housing, steady employment and good money management, they were able to purchase a new five-bedroom home, which Jeremiah says is their investment in their future. He says it would not have happened without support from Foundation Communities. “This company is like a family…like a community,” said Jeremiah. “(Foundation Communities) has a very big heart. Take care for everybody. No restriction. Please keep going that way to help more people.”

Jeremiah is doing his part to help others. He pastors a local church, and he has started an organization to sponsor and assist Africans who want to come to America to escape danger and extreme poverty.

Foundation Communities is proud to welcome home families like the Balingenes, and help them find success in Central Texas. Immigrants have helped us as well by accepting positions we have struggled to fill. Currently, more than half of our maintenance staff is comprised of immigrants who keep our apartment communities clean and in working order.

 

Prosper Benefits Assistance Program Helping Central Texans Dropped from Medicaid

September 25, 2023 | Posted in Uncategorized |

The Giraldos came into one of our Foundation Communities Prosper Centers recently interested in getting signed up for affordable health care coverage. Benefits Assistance staff members helped them get their youngest child signed up for Medicaid and determined that they were also eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rest of the family was eligible for Marketplace health insurance plans and tax credits to make them affordable.

Foundation Communities launched the Prosper Benefits Assistance Program in the spring of this year. That was just in time to help tackle a healthcare crisis. According to some lawmakers, about a million Texans have lost access to Medicaid since April. That’s when the automatic renewal for Medicaid that was put in place by the Biden Administration because of COVID-19 expired. Some critics are saying that many of those who were not renewed for Medicaid still met the eligibility requirements, they just didn’t renew in time because the state failed to inform people about the change and assist them with renewal.

Many Central Texans who recently lost Medicaid benefits are being referred to Foundation Communities by other nonprofits such as Casa Marianela, or healthcare providers like CommunityCare. A big reason is our ability to renew clients for Medicaid through our Benefits Assistance Program, or to sign them up for Marketplace health insurance plans through our Health Coverage program if they no longer qualify for Medicaid.

So, what are we hearing from those clients? Foundation Communities Benefits Enrollment Specialist Jessica Valdez says many are angry or confused about being dropped from Medicaid. They’re worried because their children don’t have health insurance, especially if they have a child who needs ongoing care. Many of the referrals from clinics are people who had been denied care because of disenrollment, and in some cases enough time has passed that they need to start a whole new application for Medicaid. Valdez said, “A significant number were dropped because they weren’t aware they had to apply for renewal. Many had moved and didn’t receive mailed notifications and hadn’t checked the app or web site. Application completion and documentation is where most people get stuck.”

There is a lot of documentation required to apply for Medicaid. Sometimes applicants are asked to provide documentation they had already submitted. “Sometimes, people tell us they don’t have time to collect documents while having to work and care for their families,” said Valdez. “Particularly, employer verification forms can be difficult to obtain.”

Valdez shared this advice for Central Texas Medicaid recipients:

  • Be informed on when you need to renew.
  • Update your contact information with HHS. You can call 2-1-1 or go to yourtexasbenefits.com to make updates.
  • Come see us! We can help troubleshoot and get you through the application process. Learn how here.

Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured residents, and with all the non-renewals this year, that number is soaring. Not having health insurance can lead some devastating outcomes for health and finances. Foundation Communities is working to help Central Texans get through the process of enrolling in Medicaid, or affordable coverage through the Healthcare.gov Marketplace. The Giraldo family is resting easier knowing they have affordable health insurance. Carlos Giraldo said, “My family and I are very grateful for the advice that Jessica and Gigi at Foundation Communities gave us, with their kindness, advice and guidance they helped us to currently have the benefits to which we applied. Really the existence of organizations like this is valuable for those who migrate and are the light in the middle of the process.”

Building Zilker Studios: Seizing Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges

July 18, 2023 | Posted in Green Building, Affordable Housing, Housing, Uncategorized |

For Foundation Communities, building Zilker Studios was truly a “no-brainer.” It’s located on a half-acre of land that was donated by C12 Capital, the developer of The Loren at Lady Bird hotel at South Lamar and Riverside. It’s in a busy corridor that can easily connect residents living on low incomes with public transit, jobs, retail parks, health care and quick access to downtown. It did, however, take a great deal of ingenuity, hard work and cooperation to make this beautiful, supportive housing community a reality. 

Since Zilker Studios had to be built on just a half-acre of land, that meant to create the desired number of affordable studio apartments, Foundation Communities had to build higher than it ever has before – seven stories. The land also included two heritage live oak trees which Foundation Communities and the design and construction teams wanted to preserve. The building had to be situated between the two trees, so Forge Craft Architecture + Design conceived a vision of a hammock between the trees. Using the space between them as a nexus point, the building is split into two halves. A connecting breezeway acts as the hammock – a place where residents can experience both trees at once and feel removed from the busy streetscape along South Lamar.

 Another construction challenge was Planet K’s Wall of Fame adjacent to the property. The shrine to Texas celebrities is a treasured part of Austin’s history, so throughout construction, workers were diligent about buttressing sections that needed extra support, preventing debris from falling on it, and rebuilding a few sections that did fall prey to the construction. 

Then there was timing. The design of Zilker Studios had just begun when the pandemic hit and lockdowns started in March of 2020. Amid all the uncertainty, it was difficult to plan for construction. “A few months into construction we had to do a significant roof redesign when we couldn’t get our preferred roofing material,” said Anna Lake-Smith, Zilker Studios’ project manager. The construction team also struggled to get all of the necessary pieces to connect to the City’s electrical grid, which ended up delaying the project. Lake-Smith said, “We’re very grateful to our team who took the uncertainty in stride.” 

 Even with the land donation, it still cost $25.5 million to build Zilker Studios. As with all Foundation Communities projects, it faced the challenge of layering a multitude of different sources of financing, including competing for limited public funding. Funding for Zilker came from a combination of low-income housing tax credits, a construction loan, City of Austin General Obligation Bonds, the state’s Multifamily Direct Loan Program, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas’s Affordable Housing Program, Capital Magnet Funds and private fundraising.

 Zilker Studios opened in late May of 2023. The process of welcoming home 110 single adult residents, many of whom have experienced homelessness, has continued for weeks. Lake-Smith said, “That’s why we do what we do! Everyone on our team is here because we believe in the mission of FC, and I speak for all of us when I say we’re incredibly proud of Zilker Studios. Being able to walk through the space we know so well on paper is a surreal feeling to begin with, but seeing how residents make it their home is the ultimate motivation to keep going, and improve on the next affordable community.”

ESL Students at Foundation Communities Gain Opportunity, Independence Through On-site Classes

June 30, 2023 | Posted in Education |

It’s Thursday night at the Trails at Vintage Creek Learning Center. The kids have left, and adult students are there for the English as a Second Language (ESL) class. It’s a diverse group of learners from around the world, most notably the Middle East, Central and South America and Eastern Europe. Foundation Communities paused the program at Vintage Creek during the pandemic and resumed last August and the demand was very high. Now, it’s even higher as the program includes free child care during class time.

At one point, the instructor has the students pair up and stretch the limits of their English speaking abilities to tell their partner what they did yesterday. For some, it’s relatively easy. For others, it’s a real struggle. Kellie Stiewert, the community engagement coordinator who manages the ESL classes for Vintage Creek, says the biggest challenge for the program is teaching students who are at various skill levels. Stiewert said, “Some of our folks are very literate. They have had college educations in their native countries. Some people have not had any schooling at all.” She says this is particularly true of women from Afghanistan, and recalls a current female student from that war-torn country who had to rely on her children for all forms of communication in English. Teachers use a combination of spoken words and visual gestures to help the beginner students. Bilingual ESL volunteers are a critical part of the program as they can provide one-on-one instruction at the student’s level.

Stiewert says for the her, the most exciting part of the program is seeing the students gain more confidence and independence through better communication, particularly the women from Afghanistan. The aforementioned woman is now able to walk into the property manager’s office by herself to discuss housing concerns for her family and keep up with what’s happening with her children in school. A better understanding of English also helps immigrants gain access to government benefits and assistance, and pass the test for American citizenship.

Probably the main goal for the students is to remove the language barrier that makes it difficult for non-English speakers to find good-paying jobs. A student who asked to not be identified said he left Belarus because his life was in danger after he expressed his political views. He trekked through South and Central America to get to Texas, and now that he’s here, he wants to fully utilize his experience as an electrician to earn a decent living. He said,”I need to communicate with different people… I need to study, maybe six months. Maybe after 2000 hours, I can, I will be able to work alone…I have to know English to study for that.”

A younger male student said he had to leave Venezuela last year after he took part in protests in college against the way the government handles the country’s economy. He’s now working on his English so he can communicate better in kitchens. His plan is to follow his life’s passion and become a chef. It’s his American dream.

Foundation Communities’ ESL classes are free and open to the public. They take place mornings and evenings Monday through Thursday at our Trails at Vintage Creek and Sierra Vista Learning Centers and online. Click here to learn more about enrollment.