AUSTIN, Texas — With Austin approving a record budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, a rental assistance program was extended with the budget.
Rental assistance is a hot topic for many Austinites and the "I Belong in Austin" program helps those facing eviction, with households eligible for up to $6,000.
Last year, about 8,000 people applied and El Buen Samaritano received more than $7 million from the city. However, this year, the city council's approved budget allocated about half of that.
Rafique Alsaeedi is the associate director of El Buen Samaritano and oversees the program. He said the program pays the landlord directly.
"[It's] going to be a great help, but essentially, I don't think it will be enough," Alsaeedi said. "We will have to work with what we have. We have a good partnership with the city."
Tim Denoo received funds from the program last year as he faced eviction.
“If I didn't have help from these people, I don't know what I would be doing,” Denoo said.
According to Denoo, the program pays a large portion of his rent while he pays about 30%. He said he's on disability and the program has been a huge help.
To qualify for rental help, you must live in Austin and make 80% or less of the median family income for the Austin area, which comes out to just under $98,000 for a family of four.
Applications aren't available yet, but El Buen Samaritano said it will work with the city to make funds available as early as October.