The Housing Department offers programs, services, and resources that address the needs of vulnerable residents. We collaborate with non-profit organizations to collectively reach individuals and families in Austin. The programs, services, and resources listed below are for renters.

Financial Assistance for Rent & Utilities

Each program has different eligibility requirements so be sure to check the specific criteria of each program.

Rental Assistance Programs

I Belong in Austin Rental Assistance Program

The I Belong in Austin  program provides tenant rental assistance to residents vulnerable to eviction. If you or anyone you know is struggling to pay rent or is at risk of eviction, you can check your eligibility and apply for I Belong In Austin at www.austintexas.gov/rent.

Utility Bill Assistance

Customer Assistance Program (CAP)

Need help paying your utilities? The City of Austin offers programs to help residential customers who face temporary and long-term financial difficulties and serious medical problems. Review the City's program and eligibility requirements.

Find Affordable Rental Housing

All affordable housing programs have income eligibility requirements to ensure that assistance is directed toward Austin's moderate- and low-income residents and families—state and federal guidelines set income restrictions for many of these programs. Check your annual household income against the current income and rent limits to see if you meet the criteria for each program.

Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST)

Looking for affordable rental housing in the City of Austin?  Search the Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST) by entering in your household income and household size to view affordable rental properties.

Housing Choice Voucher Program

HACA’s Housing Programs

The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) administers one waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly Section 8) and 18 waiting lists for its Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Public Housing properties. For more information about HACA-supported housing properties, visit the Housing Authority of the City of Austin website or call 512-477-4488.

Additional Rental Housing Resources

Austin 2-1-1

Austin 2-1-1 is a free, anonymous, social service hotline available 24 hours a day by phone or online. No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905, and find information about local resources for food or housing, child care, crisis counseling, or substance abuse treatment.

Aunt Bertha

Aunt Bertha is a free, anonymous website that matches people with social service programs they may qualify for, including services that provide food, housing, transit, health/medical, education, and legal help. Once you have identified programs that might fit your needs through the website, be sure to contact the programs directly to find out if you qualify.

Haven Connect

Haven Connect allows low-income applicants to apply online to open affordable housing waitlists directly. Applicants are notified every year to update their information across all Haven Connect applications and are also notified when they are at the top of the waitlist.

Get Help with a Landlord

Eviction prevention programs support low-income tenants (renters) with legal assistance, emergency grants for rent or utilities, alternate housing, short-term motel vouchers, or placement in a local shelter. The City of Austin partners with organizations to provide eviction services and resources for low-income renters.

Renter's Rights (Fair Housing)

Know Your Rights as a Renter

You have many rights as a renter. Read and download the Tenant's Rights Pamphlet on the Texas Attorney General Tenants Rights webpage, which lists your rights as a tenant and lets you file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Legal Help for Tenants

The City of Austin has partnered with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (TRLA) to provide emergency eviction counseling, representation, and prevention services for low-income renters. To learn more about the organization and the wide range of services that they provide to homeowners and renters, please visit the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) website.

Tenant-Led Outreach & Community Education

Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BASTA) is a non-profit project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) dedicated to supporting Austin renters who want to work with their neighbors to overcome their housing issues, providing resources for developing and supporting Tenants Associations, including training, educational materials, and legal support for groups.

Eviction Resources

Tenant Relocation Assistance Program

Sudden housing displacement can have destabilizing effects on the most vulnerable members of our community, including low-income households and elderly and disabled residents. The Tenant Relocation Assistance Program supports vulnerable low-income households, the elderly, and persons with disabilities facing displacement.

  • Requires landlords to provide notice about property redevelopment and resources for displaced tenants
  • Provides information on community services/legal assistance

The City of Austin has established the Tenant Notification and Relocation Assistance Ordinance, which provides tenant notification and relocation assistance requirements.

The City has also established the Tenant Relocation Assistance Program Rules, which provide detailed information on how to comply with the ordinance, including how to deliver notice to tenants.   

Tenant Notification Forms

The following forms are available for download by applicants seeking development permits or approvals that trigger the tenant notification requirement of the Tenant Notification and Relocation Assistance Ordinance (see City of Austin Land Development Code Section 25-1-712 and 25-1-713 for more information):

Please send questions or inquiries to tenantrelocation@austintexas.gov

Tenant Notification and Relocation Assistance Ordinance

Austin City Council passed a Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (20160901-050) to ensure landlords provide appropriate and timely information to tenants in the event of the demolition of a multifamily building of five or more units, rezoning, or the redevelopment of a mobile home park. For more information about the ordinance and the notification requirements, visit Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy (Web). 

In particular, tenants who have been notified of displacement should promptly:

  • Check the lease to see what is required for move-out—especially to see if you must give advance notice of a move-out date
  • Begin looking for new housing to move into before the end of the notice period, or the end of the lease (whichever comes first)
  • Make sure you possess the required documents to apply for new housing (ID, proof of income, etc.)
  • Make sure you are up to date on your rent and fees so that the security deposit can be returned
  • Once a new home is found, provide your old landlord with a forwarding address to facilitate the return of the security deposit
  • Contact Austin Energy (Web) at 512-494-9400 for information on connection fees and deposits at your new home.

Austin Tenants Council Project

The Austin Tenants Council Project (ATC) is a special project of the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). The Austin Tenants Council Project focuses on housing discrimination, tenant-landlord education and information, and housing repair and rehabilitation. To learn more about the ATC project and the organization's wide range of services, please visit the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) website.

Support for Families with Children

Displacement is hard on families, but it is especially hard on children. The City of Austin joins with local school districts to bring some level of hope and stability to these young lives.

Child Care and Pre-School Services

In partnership with the Austin/Travis County Success By Six Coalition, the City works to ensure families have access to high-quality early learning options that meet their needs. The City also works with Texas Rising Star 4-Star providers through Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services (CCS) to provide subsidized child care for eligible families. Learn more and access child care assistance resources.

Community Services

Any Baby Can

Any Baby Can is an Austin-based nonprofit that strengthens families through a range of family support services, including parental counseling, resource navigation, and family support services. Visit Any Baby Can to see if you are eligible. You can also call 512-454-3743 or email Info@AnyBabyCan.org.

School District Services and Programs

Austin Independent School District (AISD)

Project HELP is an Austin Independent School District (AISD) program that serves displaced or homeless children under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (i.e., students experiencing hardship due to a loss of housing and living in substandard housing, shelters, or transitional housing). Visit the Project HELP website for more information.

Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD)

Homeless services for students in Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD) are managed by their Homeless Liaison. For questions or to request services, visit the DVISD website or call (512) 386-3110.

Pflugerville Independent School District (PfISD)

Pflugerville Independent School District (PfISD) has a Project Hope program for families experiencing homelessness or displacement. As part of the referral process, please contact the campus Social Worker for eligibility. Visit the PfISD Project Hope website for more information.