Homeless housing project to take faith-based approach

To combat an issue with “hidden homelessness” among school district families, a church network and the Texas Housing Foundation will team up for a transitional housing project in Marble Falls.

The foundation is planning to transform an apartment complex it owns and operates for low-income residents into a homeless transitional housing complex managed by the Highland Lakes Crisis Network.

The network is a religious organization comprised of more than 24 churches in the area, which offer volunteer help, free resources, meals, food and water to families undergoing crisis such as floods, storms and the recent economic fallout from pandemic closures.

“It's in concept mode right now,” Texas Housing Foundation CEO Mark Mayfield said. “We're trying to put together a program that will break the cycle of poverty that has led to homelessness.”

Officials confirmed that currently approximately 60 families with more than 95 students who attend Marble Falls Independent School District may fall into the category of the “hidden homeless.”

“It is families, experiencing crisis situations,” HLCN Executive Director Kevin Naumann said. “These are families who are hardworking, trying to make ends meet. It could be some sort of crisis, maybe a medical crisis, and they've started to go into a downward spiral and they need a hand up out of it.

“Most of them are going to be getting some stability for several months while they're getting back on their feet, back on their own,” Naumann said. “In general, our target population is those 95 kids that we know about in the school district that are without a permanent place to live.”

Southwest Village, comprised of several duplexes located primarily on Fourth Street just off Avenue R, is comprised of 24 units. The complex, which is designated as “supportive housing” due to its income-based rental program, is expected to undergo a process that would change the designation to “transitional housing” or temporary residency.

The primary homeless population HLCN wants to assist is considered “hidden” because they do not access homeless support and services and do not appear on homelessness statistical information.

According to HLCN, policies of the program would involve:

• An approximately six months to one-year residency;

• Participation in the HLCN faith-based “shepherding” program;

• Adherence to face-to-face intake and vetting process such as finance and background checks; and

• Attendance at a local church affiliated with HLCN.

The HLCN will utilize an established “shepherding” program which assigns a participant with a church volunteer who acts as a hands-on guide for employment, education and public services and resources as well as a spiritual mentor for the duration of the program.

“It can be successful because of the shepherding program we have in place,” Naumann said.

The housing foundation, a nonprofit organization, will shoulder the cost of the facility preparation and maintain the structure and grounds, Mayfield explained.

As word of the proposed homelessness housing project filtered through the community, area residents, neighbors of the complex and city officials began asking questions about the plan.

“Some people may have some concerns it's another Austin project,” said Marble Falls City Councilman Reed Norman. “There's so many questions, and it's so complex.”

Reed explained that he has fielded questions from the community relating to concerns about property values, liability issues and a potential for crime-related activity.

“Are they going to have a property manager on the site? Is there regular contact with the individuals? What about the families dealing with a loved one who has trouble with drugs? It can be powerful,” Norman said. “I know Mark (Mayfield) runs a fine program, and they're going to go through the ministry.

“I just don't think you can over communicate [about the planned project],” Norman said. “Something of this magnitude, I'm sure they will, but [doing so] will help the community wrap their arms around this.”

The proposal would allow current tenants of Southwest Village to voluntarily remain or to work with the foundation to relocate to other local Texas Housing Foundation complexes, including:

• Highland Oaks Apartments, 1600 Mustang Dr.;

• Oak Creek Townhomes, 1101 Sixth St. (nearby Oak Grove Townhomes is under construction with 60 units);

• Turtle Creek Townhomes, 1106 Brazos St.; or

• The Vistas Apartment, 1700 Mustang Dr.

“We're going to take care of their rent for a few months for the inconvenience of being relocated,” Mayfield said. “We'll pay all of their move in expenses, where the tenant will not be affected at all.”

The entity also has complexes in Kingsland. In contrast from the transitional housing plan, the foundation utilizes an income-based scale for their rental prices in their current programs which can range from approximately $350 to $450 per month for a one bedroom units.

The proposed transition housing program would not require rent nor utilities payments. The cost of operating the program would be absorbed by church volunteers and private community donations.

One of the final components of the program would involve the two entities partnering with First Baptist Church of Marble Falls. The church broke ground in April on the 18,000-square ft. mission center, located near the apartments, which will serve as a hub for a multi-church ministry program.

Mission center amenities include a food pantry, crisis and grief counseling, finance education course, a faith-based sewing program and spiritual guidance for the entire community as well as those participating in the HLCN transitional housing program.

Prior to the launch of the project, the nonprofit foundation's board must give final approval, and staff must secure land-use agreements.

“We would like to have our programs operational sometime in mid 2022 because we're going to rehab the units. There's a lot to do,” Mayfield said. “This is certainly a village. It's good-hearted mission-minded people who are changing the lives of many.”

To contact the Texas Housing Foundation, 1110 Broadway, call 830-693-8100.

For more information about HLCN's program, go to www.highlandlakescrisisnetwork.com or call 325-423-3662.