On Tuesday, March 25, the Travis County Commissioner’s Court designated $4.47 million to build 150 housing units for people experiencing homelessness in Montopolis.
The Cairn Point Montopolis project is a collaborative effort between the Vecino Group, Family Eldercare, and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation. In addition to providing deeply affordable housing to seniors, it will also be the first openly LGBTQ+ welcoming and affirming housing solution in Austin to do so.
The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, distributed to address economic instability arising from COVID-19. In September 2021, the court set aside $110 million of the LFRF funds to support the unhoused population.
Family Eldercare will provide on-site support to Cairn Point residents. In 2022, Austin City Council approved a previous Family Eldercare $3.9 million housing contract, which transformed the Northwest Austin Candlewood Suites Hotel into a permanent housing solution for seniors exiting homelessness. With 78 furnished studio apartments, the residence began welcoming tenants in August 2024.
Austin’s unhoused population is increasing, with ECHO estimating over 6,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single day in May 2024. Many organizations are using Travis County funding for housing projects, intending to lower this number. The city of Austin has reported a 98% success rate in their permanent supporting housing initiatives, with goals to have a 630% increase in PSH units by December 2026.
This article appears in March 28 • 2025.