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THE LEGACY – 1342 LAMAR SQUARE DRIVE

The Legacy is the latest of Mary Lee’s affordable housing projects on The Square. The building provides 40 new affordable, accessible, and sustainable apartments with panoramic views of downtown and the UT Tower. All tenants at The Legacy are supported by an on-site case manager. As with all affordable apartment units on The Square, a weekly onsite food pantry will provide supplemental food to anyone on The Square and additional services such as medication support and other services can be arranged. The accessibility features of all of The Legacy apartments meet the new Type A standards of the International Building Code. Every fire alarm is designed to be used by people with hearing disabilities. All the doors have signage in raised letters and Braille. All of the first floor bathrooms have roll-in showers when none are required by code, and blocking is installed for grab bar installation in the combination tub showers on the upper stories. The Legacy proudly achieved a 4 star energy rating and meets S.M.A.R.T. (safe, mixed-income, accessible, reasonably-priced, and transit –oriented) Housing standards. The building was designed and built to comply with Austin Energy’s Green Building with features like recycling, solar panels, indoor air quality paints and coatings, water conserving fixtures and appliances, high efficiency lighting, air conditioning, heating, and appliances. Texas Solar Power Company designed and installed solar photovoltaic panels on the roof to reduce demand from Austin Energy and reduce operating expenses just as they did at The Willows. Funding sources include:

  • Mezzanine Fund and People Fund made it possible for us to acquire the property when it was available at a price Mary Lee Foundation could afford in 2010.

  • The Austin Housing Finance Corporation contributed more than $2 million in HOME Investment Partnership funding.

  • The Federal Home Bank of Dallas and Frost Bank provided a $360,000 grant.

  • Frost Bank provided an additional $698,000 loan.

  • Constructive Ventures and the Zilker Neighborhood Association collaborated to provide a $500,000 grant.

  • Mary Lee Community filled the gap with $164,500 from private donors.

THE WILLOWS – 1332 LAMAR SQUARE DRIVE

The Willows is Mary Lee Foundation’s first all new multifamily building.  With 64 units the building houses about 80 persons.  By replacing the oldest and worst buildings, The Square has received a much needed facelift. Tenants who live here have reason to be proud of where they live.  Funding sources include:

  • The City of Austin approved $2,250,000 of General Obligation Bonds.

  • The Federal Home Loan Bank-Dallas approved a $500,000 grant.

  • Long term financing for $1,000,000 million was approved.

MARY LEE CHARLES PLACE – 1345/1347 LAMAR SQUARE DRIVE

The Mary Lee Foundation developed a 16-unit apartment complex on .48 acres in Austin, Texas. The project included new construction of a small community center, installation of an exterior elevator, and the rehabilitation of 16 one-bedroom units. The Mary Lee Charles Place is funded through a Housing and Urban Development section 811 grant and provides affordable housing and services to persons with mental or physical disabilities. The apartment complex is part of a larger “campus” that offers affordable housing to very low income families.

CORNERSTONE – 1322/1324 LAMAR SQUARE DRIVE

Mary Lee Community purchased this 22-unit apartment complex with HOME funds and a loan from the Federal Home Loan Bank.  A loan was approved by the Austin Housing Finance Corporation to rehabilitate the twenty-two units and to connect the two buildings with eight new efficiency units. Special emphasis is given to offer housing to persons with special needs, single mothers with young children and the disabled.  Occupancy is not exclusive to these groups and is part of the larger Mary Lee Community which surrounds

THE FLAGSHIP – 1312 LAMAR SQUARE DRIVE

The Flagship is a HUD 202 facility which provides housing for persons with very low income who are at least 60 years of age.  This building, with 22 units, received complete rehabilitation and the addition of an elevator all of which was completed in 2006.

Many of us see a homeless person – alone – on the street. And it’s heartbreaking. Most people don’t realize that single mothers with children comprise the largest homeless population. They are struggling to build lives for themselves while caring for their children. That’s why Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services created its Single Parent Family Program. The program helps single mothers who are facing homelessness due to poverty, abuse, divorce, incarceration, abandonment, violence or other crisis. Their goal is to give these women a chance to become strong and self-sufficient without constantly fearing for their and their children’s survival and safety. Women participating in their residential homes in Houston, San Antonio, Weatherford and Waxahachie, Texas are able to stay from 9 to 15 months, as they work towards achieving personal goals and ultimately independence.

They provide listings of: women’s shelters, family shelters, transitional housing, residential treatment centers and other residential services for women.
Many shelters also provide services such as alcohol and drug rehab treatment along with clinics, and best of all supportive housing options. I try to provide as much information as possible on my details pages.

Caritas provides financial assistance and supportive services to families and individuals who are experiencing a housing crisis or short-term homelessness in order to prevent them from becoming homeless or return them to housing. Their mission is to provides a service continuum for those experiencing poverty that begins with a safety net and links them to resources to achieve self-sufficiency.

Their provide single mothers and their children with a safe and affordable place to live, quality early childhood education, empowerment and life skills training, and support for career-track education. Whether you’re a single mom ready to create a remarkably better future for your family, or a supporter looking to make a significant difference in your community, you are invited to learn more about the Jeremiah experience.

Shelter Listings is dedicated to serving the homeless and low-income.  They have listed out the shelters and low cost housing services we have in Austin, TX below. This list has homeless shelters, halfway houses, affordable housing, etc. The database consists of over 3,000 listings and includes emergency shelters, homeless shelters, day shelters, transitional housing, shared housing, residential drug alcohol rehabilitation programs and permanent affordable housing.

WICPrograms.org was developed as a helpful directory of WIC program listings along with other helpful Women In Crisis Programs. We are not in any way associated with the official WIC Program run by the Federal Governments USDA.
Official government owned website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wic

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