Beneficiary

Foundation Communities (FC) was selected to receive funds from the Here to Help ATX Auction. FC creates housing where individuals and families succeed. Our housing-plus-services model empowers low-income residents and neighbors with the tools and support they need to stabilize and increase their economic standing. To achieve our mission, we focus in four areas:

• Homes: We own and manage 3,513 apartments across 24 properties in Austin and North Texas, providing quality affordable homes that are also green. We have 727 permanent supportive housing apartments where single adults who have chronic health problems and disabilities, have been homeless, or survive on fixed incomes receive intensive case management. For families exiting homelessness, we have 156 apartments integrated throughout our housing for the Children's HOME Initiative, which provides reduced rents and two years of case management to help families move from homelessness to hope.
• Education: Onsite Learning Centers give more than 600 children of working parents academic and enrichment support and a safe space to go when not in school. Adult education is also a priority and includes job and computer skills, ESL and GED classes, and digital and financial literacy. Our College Hub provides first-generation and nontraditional students with wraparound services to support their success, from application to graduation.
• Health: Residents and neighbors benefit from onsite exercise and nutrition classes, healthy food pantries, community gardens, and disease management/prevention services, as well as opportunities for social connectedness and community building.
• Finances: We provide free Tax Help to 35,000+ low-income Texas households each year. We help residents set and work toward financial goals through one-on-one Financial Coaching and other Financial Wellness programs. Finally, our Health Coverage program helps community members sign up for health insurance and use it to access affordable care.

During the COVID pandemic, many of our residents are struggling with health concerns in addition to an unexpected loss of wages as employers cut staff or shut down altogether. Your donation to our Emergency Assistance Fund will have a big impact on our residents, helping them with basic needs including rental assistance, groceries, household items, and medical supplies. Donations have already helped them:

• connect almost 500 children and adults with distance learning resources.
• serve more than 1,500 households with onsite food pantries.
• care for more than 300 formerly homeless, medically vulnerable individuals.
• provide housing for more than 3,500 families & individuals sheltering in place.
• support more than 100 families with rental assistance following lost work.
• assist hundreds in the community with virtual tax preparation & health coverage enrollment.