Accessible Housing Austin! – An Affordable Housing option for the Disabled in Austin

What is “Accessible Housing Austin!” and can they help me secure affordable living arrangements?

Author: Attorney Lonnie Roach

People with disabilities have special needs and requirements when considering rental of a house or apartment.

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Accessible Housing Austin! is a nonprofit founded in 2005 by a group of advocates who recognized the critical need for affordable housing for people with disabilities.

Some people have trouble getting around and rely on wheelchairs, so it’s essential for a home to have wide doorways and be stair-free.

Others might need lower countertops or specific features for hearing or vision challenges. Plus, location and cost are big factors. It’s crucial to be near public transport, healthcare, shopping, and other services, and to find a place that someone on disability benefits can actually afford.

Accessible Housing Austin! is a nonprofit founded in 2005 by a group of advocates who recognized the critical need for affordable housing for people with disabilities.

Accessible Housing Austin! is dedicated to supporting children and adults facing various physical and mental challenges. Their mission focuses on offering affordable, accessible, and integrated housing options for low-income individuals with disabilities. AHA! firmly believes that everyone deserves a home that is safe, decent, and promotes independence and dignity, while also being affordable and enabling participation in the community. The organization started with the generous donation of two houses and has since positively impacted the lives of over forty individuals.

Homes managed by AHA! include these disability accessible features:

•    Wide doorways
•   Ramps
•   Hardwood, tiled or laminate flooring
•   Roll-under sinks
•   Lowered counter-tops
•   Levered door handles
•   Roll-in showers where possible
•   Smoke detectors for people with hearing and visual impairments

If you have been denied disability don’t give up! Contact a Disability lawyer at 512-454-4000 for a free consultation and get the benefits you deserve.

Rent is proportional to income and AHA! accepts vouchers such as Housing Choice for rental assistance.

In addition, the homes are energy efficient, making them even more affordable. Individuals and families must have incomes under 50% of Austin’s Median Family Income to be eligible for housing.

The income guidelines for 2022 are as follows:

AHA! has no current vacancies, but with the help of several government agencies and non-profit organizations, early next year it will break ground on a new 27-unit apartment complex called Briarcliff that is expected to house between 35 and 60 individuals.

The land is owned by The Housing Authority of the City of Austin which will lease the property to Accessible Housing Austin!.

Units will have one or two bedrooms; half will be accessible and half will be adaptable.

Housing that is considered “accessible” meets specific standards for accommodating individuals with disabilities. While these standards can differ by state, they generally include features like wider doorways and spaces for wheelchairs, lower countertops, accessible seating in bathrooms, grab bars, knee clearance under sinks and counters, and easy-to-use levers and handles on doors and switches. “Adaptable” housing includes all the elements of accessible units but allows for certain features to be omitted or hidden if they are not needed by the occupant. Adaptable units can resemble standard housing or be customized to suit individual needs when occupied. Located about a mile north of the Mueller development and close to two bus routes, Briarcliff will provide convenient access to employment opportunities, grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and other essential services. Accessible Housing Austin! aims to provide up to six homes for extremely low-income individuals with mental and physical disabilities transitioning from institutions, as well as youth with disabilities leaving foster care. The organization also plans to offer financial management courses in collaboration with the Financial Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.

The waitlist for Briarcliff will open when construction begins.

AHA! only has homes with 2 or 3 bedrooms and gives priority to households needing the specific modifications a given available unit provides. To inquire about housing or request more information, call 512-640-7781 or email AHA! at: housing@ahaustin.org.

Author: Attorney Lonnie Roach has been practicing law for over 29 years. He is Superlawyers rated by Thomson Reuters and is Top AV Preeminent® and Client Champion rated by Martindale Hubbell. Through his extensive litigation Mr. Roach obtained board certifications from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Lonnie is admitted to practice in the United States District Court - all Texas Districts and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Highly experienced in Long Term Disability denials and appeals governed by the “ERISA” Mr. Roach is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Austin Bar Association, and is a past the director of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association (Director 1999-2005) Mr. Roach and all the members of Bemis, Roach & Reed have been active participants in the Travis County Lawyer referral service.