Amid high rents, eviction filings in major Texas cities soar above pre-pandemic levels
Legal aid groups and housing advocates say there simply aren’t enough lawyers to keep up with the sheer volume of eviction filings. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9d408b450f2b813ef65ea9b737d7374/0411%20Evictions%20Court%20AM%2032.jpg)
-
![A writ of possession is taped to the door of an apartment at the Life at Jackson Square apartments on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Houston, TX.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texans face a bigger burden than ever to pay rent, study finds
More than half of the state’s 4.2 million renters spend at least 30% of their income on rent and utilities, according to a Harvard University report. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/59806cd38bc9091c83f4181428320488/Austin%20Housing%20JJ%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Homelessness in Texas on the rise amid high housing costs, federal estimates show
Homelessness rose last year across nearly every demographic group, but strides were made to connect people with new housing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/620758aaa88c888e3f4e2ac22edee917/Austin%20COVID%20Homelessness%20EL%20TT%2050.jpg)
![The sun sets over the tops of tents at a homeless encampment on state-owned land in Austin on Jan. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Has a big village of tiny homes eased homelessness in Austin?
One of the nation’s largest experiments to address chronic homelessness is taking shape outside the city limits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/916ffdcf43b9387ed9cb2f1a1b3e549c/1110%20Community%20First%20NYT%203x2%20ED%20TT%2012.jpg)
![Residents playing bingo at Community First! Village, which aspires to be a model of permanent affordable housing for people who are chronically homeless.]()
Credit: Eli Durst for The New York Times -
Six years after Hurricane Harvey, the city of Houston still hasn’t allocated $200 million in relief funds
Both the state and the city of Houston say they want to work together to help pay down the remaining funds. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d52f5a781597d5076c576740f677600/Harvey%20Apartments%20MS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Workers sort through piles of flooded belongings at an apartment complex near Greens Bayou in the Greenspoint area of Houston on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, days after Tropical Storm Harvey dissipated.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Austin will now allow more homes to be built on single-family lots
City officials hope that allowing up to three units per lot will increase supply and slow the explosive increase in housing costs. The measure was approved by Austin City Council in a 9-2 vote late Thursday night. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a092d1a236e37f8e52c139a198ff475a/Austin%20Housing%20JJ%20TT%2008.jpg)
![The Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
More than 765,000 older Texans are struggling to cover housing costs
A new Harvard University study found an increase in the number of Texas households headed by people 65 or older spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Advocates say keeping older adults housed will require substantial public investment and reforms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6452feb92e4953dbac5935f658d9aa18/Eagle%20Ford%20ST%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Seniors gather to eat and dance at the Ledbetter Eagle Ford Community Organization’s senior program held at the Jaycee-Zaragoza Recreation Center located in West Dallas on Nov. 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
As Texans struggle with housing costs, cities look for new ways to spur more home construction
In cities dominated by single-family neighborhoods, local leaders across Texas want a broader variety of housing to combat the affordability crisis. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/acf2641b2be1a06aa49e4b22708b087c/Austin%20Housing%20JJ%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Homes under construction in the Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Printing a place to live: In Central Texas, homes are being built with emerging 3D technology
Using robotic 3D printers that can build the concrete walls of a house, a pair of Texas startups say the technology could help alleviate two crises: the housing shortage and climate change. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fdab632dbdb59368ff90553ece2e3d47/1004%203D%20Printed%20Houses%20JS%20TT%2026.jpg)
![Rows of 3D-printed homes sit in various states of construction in the Wolf Ranch neighborhood of Georgetown, Texas on Oct. 4, 2023. The Lennar Wolf Ranch development is the largest collection of 3D-printed homes worldwide.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Colony Ridge developer defends Houston-area community as state leaders vow action against it
GOP leaders claim the development markets to undocumented people and is plagued by crime. One of its owners refutes the allegations and says he’s ready to show lawmakers that Colony Ridge isn’t different than any other rural Texas community. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8231f7fb3ddde59e6ebcddd71b2da4eb/Colony%20Ridge%20JR%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Terrenos Houston building Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in New Caney. Terrenos Houston is one of the major developers in the Colony Ridge area.]()
Credit: Joe Robles IV for The Texas Tribune -
Austin will try again to tame its housing affordability crisis with zoning reforms. Can it do it this time?
The city’s decades-long battle to overhaul local rules to allow more, denser housing to be built may be reaching a turning point. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/925654b9d8ecb5b96cffadd2ab42101f/0828%20Affordable%20Housing%20JS%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Protesters hold signs and gather at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility in support of affordable housing on Aug. 28, 2023.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
How federal dollars might help El Paso stem its affordable housing crisis
Housing costs have soared in the Texas city in recent years, while the state cuts back on funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/defdccaf7042567144dbf76de412323f/El%20Paso%20Closed%20Business%20IPA%20TT%2011.JPG)
![Downtown in El Paso, on Oct. 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Billions in property tax cuts need Texas voters’ approval before taking effect. Here’s what you need to know.
Legislation passed this month would raise the state’s homestead exemption to $100,000, lower schools’ tax rates and put an appraisal cap on residential and commercial properties, among other measures. But voters must approve a constitutional amendment first. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2710c8158a4cb7fb82569d4f36fdeb68/East%20Austin%20Housing%20MGO%20TT%2014.jpg)
![A house in East Austin in the Windsor Park neighborhood on Nov. 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Long-awaited $18 billion property tax-cut deal heads to Gov. Greg Abbott
House Democrats attempted to insert benefits for renters and more money for public education into the tax-cuts package in a series of floor amendments but were unsuccessful. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3e5928e601d8b67d71acf4b04526cd06/Aerial%20Suburbs%20JV%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House and Senate reach a deal on how to cut property taxes
The deal would channel $12 billion to reduce the school property tax rate for homeowners and business properties, increase the homestead exemption, and create a pilot program to reduce taxes on certain residential and commercial properties. The legislation is expected to pass later this week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0ede83a05962611bc57401789e6fc09d/Permian%20Basin%20Oil%20Boom%20EH%20TT%2011.jpg)
![A roofing crew begins to shingle a home under construction in the new Pavilion Park housing development on March 14, 2022 in north Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Texas bans homeowners’ associations from discriminating against renters who receive federal housing aid
State lawmakers passed the law after a North Texas homeowners’ association barred landlords from renting to Section 8 tenants. Most of the affected tenants in that neighborhood were Black. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fc4c9dbd079a6cef70061eb1fd3c4494/Section%208%20Housing%20EL%20TT%2023.JPG)
![Clouds roll through the sky over the Providence Creek Village neighborhood in Providence Village, Texas on Thursday, June 30, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas lawmakers tussle over property tax relief, it’s unclear whether renters will benefit
Texas’ top Republicans are fighting over how to split property tax cuts between businesses and homeowners. Democrats want renters to see relief, too. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2220c409de72452060210e36546da907/08%20I45%20Kelly%20Village%20HTX%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![An aerial view of the Kelly Village housing complex in Houston on Sept. 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan join forces on property taxes. It might help the push for school vouchers.
Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3bbc019d89ae5fbacf78c5627cf288f7/House%20Opening%20Day%20BD%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
At the fringes of Houston’s prosperity, the city’s eviction machine is running full throttle
Houston has seen eviction rates soar since pandemic protections for renters lapsed. At one apartment complex, ejecting people from their homes is a ritual part of the business model. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a9da1689e8548bc17f5c4832c72c0d86/0411%20Evictions%20Court%20AM%2038.jpg)
![Property management and a constable enter an apartment complex at the Life at Jackson Square apartments on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Houston, TX.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers fail to reach last-minute deal to cut property taxes
After negotiations that became tense and public, the House and Senate fell short of delivering on one of the biggest legislative priorities for Republicans in the regular legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7932b2625ea9780e465f449b5f88007e/Housing%20file%20SK%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune