AUSTIN, Texas — With Travis County eviction rates at an all-time high, the Austin City Council approved $4 million for emergency rental assistance during its Oct. 9 regular meeting.
The City Council allocated an additional $400,000 to its 2025-26 fiscal budget that Austin Housing will distribute to the “I Belong in Austin” program, which supports Austinites facing eviction. Made in collaboration with outreach ministry, El Buen Samaritano, I Belong in Austin works to prevent households earning at or below 80% of area median income from facing displacement.
“The I Belong in Austin program is a vital part of our city’s commitment to keeping families housed and communities stable,” said Deletta Dean, director of Austin Housing, in a news release. “With this additional funding, we can reach more Austinites who are at risk of eviction and ensure they have the support they need while strengthening our city’s commitment to housing stability.”
Eviction rates continue to increase across Austin. In 2024, Travis County eviction filings totaled at 13,210 — a record high according to data collected by Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BATSA). This year, BASTA’s dashboard already reports 11,193 eviction filings, which surpassed the amount recorded during the same period in 2024 by 1,302.
“Affordability continues to be an ongoing challenge for many hardworking families in Austin. Last year, we saw the sharpest increase in evictions in Travis County,” said Nefertitti Jackmon, community displacement prevention officer for Austin Housing, in the release. “This support is critical for households who remain cost burdened and spend more than 30% of their income on housing. The funding helps residents to be resilient in the face of unexpected financial hardships; this is one small commitment to help Austin families remain in the city that they love.”
Since its inception in 2023, I Belong in Austin has distributed over $13 million to nearly 3,000 local households facing eviction in the form direct rental assistance, moving and storage assistance and support negotiating settlements.
One couple from the 78741-zip code described the support they received “as a moment of grace in a world that had otherwise overlooked them,” according to the release. The couple struggled with job loss, rental debt, food insecurity, utility struggles and limited access to medication before receiving relief from I Belong in Austin.
Dr. Rosamaria Murillo, CEO of El Buen Samaritano, said she believes the program affirms the power of stability in Austin, keeping families rooted together and building a future where “all Austinites can flourish together.”
Residents seeking assistance are encouraged to apply at www.AustinTexas.gov/rent.
Applications are accepted the first through the seventh day of each month.