AUSTIN, Texas — Eanes ISD approved a contract on Tuesday night that allows the district to start looking for affordable housing options for staff. The vote passed unanimously.
Eanes ISD's superintendent will work with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation to identify potential affordable housing properties.
The district said 68% of staff said they would consider taking advantage of workforce housing.
"The Texas Workforce Housing Foundation is an organization with a proven track record with developing affordable accommodations for employees living on an educator’s income in numerous Texas public school districts. By establishing a formal partnership, which you have done tonight, we can leverage its expertise and eventually identify quality and qualified housing in Eanes ISD that will specifically benefit our employees," Eanes ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Arnett said.
The board is exploring additional affordable housing partnerships.
Austin ISD approved a similar program and is in the process of constructing housing for teachers. In November, district administrators said they were expecting developer NRP Group to begin construction of a 500-unit housing complex for local educators within two years, at the earliest.
Officials said they hope the complex, slated to be located at the site of the Anita Ferrales Coy Facility, will help teachers and AISD staff find affordable housing within the city and continue working within the district.
Preliminary work on the Austin ISD project is expected to begin soon, with construction on the new housing set to begin no earlier than summer 2025.