Mt. Zion Baptist Church Tackles Affordable Housing Crisis in Austin

News Summary

Mt. Zion Baptist Church in East Austin is partnering with a developer to address the affordable housing crisis by replacing 10 bungalows with 80 new apartments for seniors and church members. This initiative also includes expanding the church’s campus. The project aims to help combat the rising housing costs affecting congregants and the wider community. Local faith-based organizations are joining the movement to create affordable housing solutions.

Austin, Texas

What Happened

Mt. Zion Baptist Church in East Austin has announced plans to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis by partnering with a developer. This collaboration aims to replace 10 existing bungalows with 80 new apartments dedicated to providing affordable housing options, primarily for seniors and church members. In conjunction with this, the church also intends to expand its campus on East 13th Street, which will include a new gymnasium and exercise center.

Who Is Affected

The housing crisis in East Austin has severely impacted various community members. Many congregants from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, particularly seniors, are struggling with soaring housing costs. The median value of homes in the area has doubled over the last decade, prompting approximately half of the congregation to seek housing in the suburbs as an affordable alternative. This trend not only affects church members but also signifies a wider issue within the community, including low-income families and university students.

Official Response

Local faith-based organizations have recognized the challenges posed by rising housing costs and are proactively seeking solutions. The initiative led by Mt. Zion is part of a broader movement known as YIGBY (“Yes in God’s backyard”), which aims to counter the NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) attitudes that often arise in discussions about affordable housing. Other religious entities, such as the United Methodist Church and St. Austin’s Catholic Parish, are also engaging in similar initiatives, transforming church properties to create affordable housing. The United Methodist Church converted its building into 135 affordable apartments following a decline in congregation size, while St. Austin’s is leasing land for an affordable housing development that opened last year.

Impact

The impact of rising housing costs is evident throughout East Austin, as many families face significant housing cost burdens. Local leaders stress the importance of increasing affordable housing availability to prevent displacement and support community stability. The initiatives, including those from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, are pivotal in alleviating some of these pressures. HEB grocery has demonstrated its commitment to affordable housing, donating $1 million to Austin Habitat for Humanity for projects in East Austin, including the 126-unit Persimmon Point project. Furthermore, the Ivory condominiums are being developed as a solar-powered, carless community aimed at low-income families.

What’s Next

Looking forward, Rev. Daryl Horton of Mt. Zion Baptist Church has expressed optimism that within two years, the new affordable housing will be built and aligned with the church’s mission to support community needs. Concurrently, similar legislative efforts, inspired by California’s recent law allowing churches to build housing without zoning changes, have been proposed in Texas to facilitate such developments. The broader goal is to ensure that affordable housing becomes a viable solution for families struggling with high housing costs while fostering cooperation between community organizations and local government.

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Additional Resources

• Community Impact: Officials celebrate East Austin affordable housing development, honor Jimmy Carter
• Wikipedia: Affordable housing
• Austin Monitor: HEB’s $1M donation to fund two affordable housing projects in East Austin
• Google Search: East Austin affordable housing
• CBS Austin: Austin breaks ground on first carless affordable housing project
• Google Scholar: affordable housing Austin
• KVUE: Ivory East Austin affordable condos
• Encyclopedia Britannica: East Austin
• Austin American-Statesman: Chalmers Courts affordable housing Austin, Texas
• Google News: affordable housing initiatives Austin