171-room ‘supportive housing community’ opens for people experiencing homelessness
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Local leaders and developers gathered on Wednesday for the grand opening of an apartment complex that will serve as a “permanent supportive housing community” designed for people “[at] risk of or who have experienced chronic homelessness.”
The complex, named Espero Rutland, is in the 1900 block of Rutland Drive and has 171 furnished apartments. According to the release, “espero” translates from Spanish as “I hope.”
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“[Homeless Austinites] want nothing more than being in a home. It provides homes, it provides them a safe, decent, very respectful place for them to live and reintegrate into the community,” said Jo Kathryn Quinn, CEO of nonprofit Caritas of Austin. The group worked with The Vechino Group to develop the site.
According to a City of Austin Housing Department press release, Caritas of Austin will provide on-site social support services. Residents will also have access to “personalized support in housing, education, employment, food, and connection to mental and physical health services,” as well as case managers and peer support specialists.
“I think it’s a shame that the greatest country, the country that leads the world, can’t solve something like homelessness. This is an example of how we can solve homelessness, we just need to do more and more of this,” Quinn said. “We couldn’t do it without private partners, because our private partners provide the equity that’s needed to get it on the ground. We can’t do it without the money. It doesn’t happen by magic.”
Travis County Judge Andy Brown attended the Wednesday morning event.
“This is exactly what we need in our community. ,” Brown said. “We have an incredible need in our community for both free housing through vouchers, but also supportive housing that provides services and low income housing that has some kind of reduced rent below market rate. This is a beautiful example of that.”
According to the City of Austin, 101 housing vouchers are part of the development. Housing at Espero is through a “coordinated entry system” that will prioritize potential residents based on need.
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