Protecting Austin’s Vulnerable – The Roz Permanent Supportive Housing Community

For anyone experiencing homelessness in the Austin/Travis County area, a Coordinated Assessment (CA) is a good first step on the path to services and housing. The CA is a housing needs evaluation where anyone experiencing homelessness in Austin/Travis County can apply for the majority of our community’s housing programs. For an up-to-date list of agencies that offer CAs, visit www.austinecho.org/gethelp.

AUSTIN, TX – Austin Housing and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) celebrate the opening of The Roz, a 100-unit permanent supportive housing (PSH) community located at 3435 Parker Lane in District 3. Developed and owned by AHFC and SGI Ventures with consulting from O-SDA Industries and New Hope Housing, the development serves individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

“The Roz will serve as a place of stability and well-being for our most vulnerable neighbors,” explains Deletta Dean, Austin Housing Director. “By combining housing with support services, this community meets people where they are and supports them for long-term success.”

The name "The Roz" is perfectly suited to this new community, reflecting its mission. "Roz" has English origins and means "pretty rose." This name also pays tribute to Mabel Davis, the namesake of the adjacent city park, who played a key role in promoting gardens throughout the city. Additionally, "Roz" signifies "an acclaimed protector," highlighting the essential role this development will have in providing long-term, safe, and stable housing for some of Austin's most vulnerable residents.

“The Roz represents a shift from managing homelessness to resolving it,” explains David Gray, Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations Director. “This community creates the conditions for people who have been living in crisis to have consistency, privacy, and access to care in one place. When you bring those elements together, you don’t just house people, you create the opportunity for real, lasting change. That’s what makes The Roz so important for Austin.”

Protecting Austin’s Vulnerable

All 100 studio homes are fully furnished, each equipped with high-efficiency appliances, lighting, and durable flooring. Every home will have a dedicated voucher, ensuring residents can live at the property regardless of their ability to pay, with 60 project-based vouchers from AHFC’s Local Housing Voucher Program and 40 project-based vouchers from the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, 15 of which are for veterans.

Additionally, residents have access to community amenities, including a library, cyber lounge, multi-purpose room, outdoor seating areas, laundry facilities, and offices. Meeting rooms for supportive services coordinators and health professionals are also available on-site. Volunteers of America manages the property, while Endeavors, Inc. and Housing Support Services Alliance provide wrap-around resident services.

Sally Gaskin of SGI Ventures says, “The City of Austin has had a long-held commitment to tackling our affordable housing and homelessness crisis. With The Roz, they demonstrated that commitment in action through a significant RHDA loan from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, and through the tireless work and support of the Homeless Strategy Office in securing funding for critical support services being provided by Endeavors, Inc. and Housing Support Services Alliance.”

Development Funding

Several funding sources contributed to the success of this development, including $16.3 million from the 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) program and $2 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas. AHFC provided $5.5 million through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) program, utilizing 2022 General Obligation (GO) Bonds, and a ground lease from AHFC for the land.

Construction began in October 2024 and was completed in January 2026.

Megan Lasch of O-SDA Industries says, “Launching projects like The Roz is rarely straightforward, given the logistical challenges involved. With the shared vision of all our partners, including Austin Housing Finance Corporation, Hunt Capital Partners, Chase Bank, Bank OZK, Federal Home Loan Bank, and our general contractor Skybeck Construction, we came together to make this community possible and meet a critical need for residents experiencing chronic homelessness.”

To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.

Resources for affordable housing are available online at www.austintexas.gov/housing. 

About Austin Housing
Austin Housing creates and preserves housing opportunities to stabilize communities. To access affordable housing and community resources that help you, visit www.austintexas.gov/housing.

About the Austin Housing Finance Corporation
The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) was created as a public, non-profit corporation and instrumentality of the City of Austin. The mission of the AHFC is to generate and implement strategic housing solutions for the benefit of low- and moderate-income residents of the City of Austin. 

About the Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations
The Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations (HSO) envisions a community where everyone has access to stable housing and the support they need to thrive. HSO coordinates shelter, housing, and outreach efforts across the community, working with partners to connect residents to safe, stable homes and supportive services.

About SGI Ventures Inc.
SGI Ventures, Inc. is a developer and tax credit and private activity bond consultant. Active in the affordable housing industry since 1996, SGI Ventures has developed over 1,000 affordable units including the development of 100 units of Permanent Supportive Housing serving formerly homeless residents at Cady Lofts in Austin.

About O-SDA Industries
O-SDA Industries, LLC is a City of Austin MBE/WBE-certified real estate development firm with deep expertise in building affordable housing communities that meet the unique needs of each city and individual neighborhood they serve. Since 2011, O-SDA has financed and closed more than 3,500 units in addition to being part of over 40 successful 9% Housing Tax Credit applications for projects across the state of Texas.