Dell family foundation gives $38 million to 3 organizations to end homelessness

[TexasTowelie]

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is giving $38 million to three local nonprofit organizations that provide housing for people experiencing homelessness in Austin.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes' capital campaign will get $36.6 million to go toward the building of the third and fourth phases of its Community First Village program, which houses people who have experienced homelessness in a community of microhouses, manufactured homes and RVs.

The two phases will add 1,400 homes. Half will be in phase three on 51 acres next to the existing 51 acres with 500 homes on Hog Eye Road in Northeast Austin. The other half will be in the fourth phase, a 76-acre space on Burleson Road between U.S. 183 and McKinney Falls Parkway in Southeast Austin.

The two phases are a $150 million project, which already has raised $40.9 million, including $35 million from Travis County. The Dell family foundation funds will be matched $1 for every $2 raised from the community. If all the money is raised to meet the $36.6 million match, the project will have the needed $150 million.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2021/11/30/dell-family-foundation-gives-38-million-3-austin-organizations/8769054002/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Surely not a fan of Michael Dell, but steppin' up is steppin' up

but maybe try renovating something next time? This sounds like a warehouse community, and will the lifestyle be relevant to the residents?

[TexasTowelie]

2. The old warehouse district that was in the southwest corner of downtown Austin is gone and

replaced by skyscrapers.

One of the considerations of planning for housing is transportation, thus it makes more sense to build neighborhood clusters where bus service is available for the residents for work and obtain other social services. Trying to go around haphazardly renovating property isn't cost effective and may have additional complexities such as maneuvering through Austin's permit process. That is again much easier in a new neighborhood cluster compared to individual buildings that may have their own set of zoning restrictions, historical designations, and liens.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. That may well explain it, but only asked because we've been down this path of planned

housing for the poor before, in the 1960s, with federal housing projects that became pockets of inner city crime and vandalism. Until the perspectives of the potential residents are considered, the way they live their lives, see the world, participate in their communities, you're stuck trying to teach people how to live this new life you've paid for them to occupy. And it may not make much sense to them.