For anyone experiencing homelessness in search of a stable place to live, please contact Austin ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition) for a Coordinated Assessment. Details and access information are available at www.austinecho.org/gethelp.

For questions about Family Eldercare services and how to get started, please contact Family Eldercare's Intake and Referral line at 512-483-3580 or email info@familyeldercare.org. 

AUSTIN, TX – The City of Austin Housing Department is happy to announce the groundbreaking of Iris Gardens, a new deeply affordable senior living and LGBTQIA2+-affirming community. Developed through a partnership between local nonprofit Family Eldercare and developer Vecino Group, this 150-unit building will provide opportunities for community members who often face barriers to securing affordable housing.

“This new affordable community is an important step in addressing the need for a safe and inclusive place to call home,” says Mandy DeMayo, interim director for the City of Austin Housing Department. “By creating a welcoming and supportive environment, Iris Gardens reflects our commitment to ensuring that all Austinites have access to the dignity, stability, and opportunity that housing provides.”  

Located at 1013 Montopolis Drive, in East Austin’s District 3, Iris Gardens will offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments available to households at or below 30 percent, 50 percent and 60 percent of the area median income. Almost half of the units (65 apartments) will be set aside as permanent supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness. Vouchers are available for all 65 PSH units – 50 of which will be project-based vouchers and 15 through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). All 65 vouchers will be referred through coordinated entry. The remaining 85 units will be made available through Family Eldercare coordination.

“This is a dream come true, to bring this type of housing to the community,” said Dr. Aaron Alarcon, Family Eldercare CEO. “Our organization—for 42 years—has served the underserved, provided care for those in-need, and has constantly changed and adapted along with our Austin community. Our vision is a world where all vulnerable people in the world thrive, and Iris Gardens is a step toward this world becoming reality for so many.” 

Caption: Rendering courtesy of Family Eldercare. 

The building will feature a multi-purpose community room, a ground-level fitness center, a conference room and shared laundry areas on the second and third levels. Residents will have access to supportive services, including programs for those exiting homelessness, as well as employment assistance, financial literacy classes, health and well-being classes, and life skills training. Members of the LGBTQIA2+ community will benefit from Rainbow Connections, a Family Eldercare program that provides focused on promoting the well-being and quality of life.

“This is a very proud day for our team,” said Valentin DeLeon, Vecino Group Director of Development. “Iris Gardens is poised to deliver so much more than just its housing offering – through our work with Family Eldercare and Rainbow Connections, we will help people find their sense of place through strength of the community.”

Funding a vision 

Estimated constructions costs for the Iris Gardens development are about $50 million. Key funding sources include an $8 million loan from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) program, financed by General Obligation (GO) Bonds and Downtown Density Bonus Program – Permanent Supportive Housing funds and approximately $4.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding from Travis County. Additional funding and support came from CITI Bank and Redstone Equity.  

Construction of Iris Gardens is slated for completion in late Spring 2027.  

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About the City of Austin Housing Department  

The City of Austin Housing Department provides equitable and comprehensive housing solutions, community development, and displacement prevention services to enhance the quality of life of all Austinites. To access affordable housing and community resources, 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 Vecino Group 

The Vecino Group is a national housing company dedicated to building a better world, one development, one community at a time. Each project must address a broader need, set an example, and inspire. The company has completed development in more than a dozen states and has created more than 3,000 units of affordable housing to date – including more than 600 units of permanent supportive housing.  
 

About Family Eldercare 

Family Eldercare provides services that promote dignity and stability for older adults and people with disabilities. For over 40 years, Family Eldercare has been a leader in supporting older adults and adults with disabilities to navigate aging with dignity and stability. Focused on innovation, the organization was a pioneer in senior and disability housing solutions when it launched Lyons Gardens in East Austin, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. The organization and its Board view PSH-driven Pecan Gardens as part of its next generation of housing solutions.