The City of Austin has announced the expansion of its Displacement Prevention Navigator Program, following the approval of contract funding by the City Council. This initiative aims to support residents in neighborhoods such as Colony Park, Dove Springs, and Montopolis, as well as areas within one mile of the Project Connect transit corridor. The program is administered by the City of Austin Housing Department.
Deletta Dean, Director of the Housing Department, said that making this program an ongoing service demonstrates a commitment to addressing displacement and promoting housing stability across Austin. “By building on the successes and opportunities of the pilot, we are ensuring that the Navigators’ work continues as part of Austin’s larger strategy to create more equitable and resilient communities,” she said.
The expanded program will include case management services alongside outreach efforts. Two contracted partners, El Buen Samaritano and Cortez Consulting Services, will collaborate to assist Austinites at risk of housing displacement. A competitive solicitation process was conducted for these contracts earlier this year.
The Displacement Prevention Navigator Pilot program began in 2023 with a focus on helping residents remain in their homes through assistance from paid Navigators recruited from local communities. Initially targeting Dove Springs and Colony Park due to their high risk of housing displacement, these neighborhoods have many cost-burdened residents who spend over a third of their income on housing and have lived there for more than 20 years. Infrastructure investments and redevelopment initiatives in these areas could exacerbate housing instability.
Nefertitti Jackmon, Community Displacement Prevention Officer for the City of Austin Housing Department, emphasized that “the Displacement Prevention Navigator Program reflects Austin’s commitment to ensuring that longtime residents can remain in the communities they love and call home.” She added that partnering with trusted community members helps break down barriers to accessing vital housing resources.
Since its inception, the pilot program has reached 3,040 households through distributed materials, logged 2,133 Navigator hours in the community, assisted 394 households directly, and attended 69 community events. Outreach and case management support are expected to commence in December 2025.
For updates on this initiative or other programs offered by the City of Austin Housing Department, individuals can subscribe to their monthly newsletter or visit www.austintexas.gov/housing.
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