Celebrating 50 years of service

As we celebrate 50 years of service, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey. This milestone reflects the hard work of our staff and board, the trust of our residents, and the support of our partners. We look forward to continuing our mission and creating opportunities for generations to come.

— Patrick B. Howard, Executive Director and CEO

Celebrate 50 years with us!
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On December 12th, 2025, the HATC Foundation will host our 50 Year Anniversary Gala. Learn more, purchase tickets, or sponsor the event here.
Board members attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the Housing Authority of Travis County.
Board members, staff, and county officials break ground on Manor Town II, HATC's newest property.
HATC residents enjoy a fun-filled event with Sunshine Camps.
A counselor leads a group activity HATC residents participated in at Sunshine Camps.
Residents pose for a photo before HATC's March Madness event
HATC hosts a backpack giveaway for community members
HATC staff and residents pose for a photo during HATC's backpack giveaway
Residents browse items during a free farmer's market hosted by the Central Texas Food Bank
Residents pose for a photo during a free farmer's market hosted by the Central Texas Food Bank
A volunteer assists helping set up HATC's free farmers market
HATC residents pose for a photo outside the newly constructed Manor Town II property
Residents participate in HATC's March Madness event
HATC's backpack giveaway provides residents with free backpacks before the start of the school year
An HATC resident poses for a photo during an HATC event
Board members attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the Housing Authority of Travis County.
Board members, staff, and county officials break ground on Manor Town II, HATC's newest property.
HATC residents enjoy a fun-filled event with Sunshine Camps.
A counselor leads a group activity HATC residents participated in at Sunshine Camps.
Residents pose for a photo before HATC's March Madness event
HATC hosts a backpack giveaway for community members
HATC staff and residents pose for a photo during HATC's backpack giveaway
Residents browse items during a free farmer's market hosted by the Central Texas Food Bank
Residents pose for a photo during a free farmer's market hosted by the Central Texas Food Bank
A volunteer assists helping set up HATC's free farmers market
HATC residents pose for a photo outside the newly constructed Manor Town II property
Residents participate in HATC's March Madness event
HATC's backpack giveaway provides residents with free backpacks before the start of the school year
An HATC resident poses for a photo during an HATC event

Our Impact

Affordable Housing

105
HUD-subsidized family units
16
Affordable family units
53
Affordable senior units
5
Communities
1,993
Low-income, affordable, workforce, and market-rate units built, in partnership with developers
7,000+
Low-income, affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing approved for developement, made possible via developer partnerships

Vouchers

691
Total vouchers maintained
426
Conventional Housing Choice Vouchers
75
Non-Elderly Disabled vouchers
72
Family Unification Plan vouchers
49
Mainstream vouchers
30
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers
34
Emergency Housing Vouchers
5
Stability Vouchers

Continuum of Care

$1m+
Secured annual Continuum of Care funding
74+
Families and individuals housed through Continuum of Care annually

Special Events

In recognition of our 50th anniversary, we are hosting a series of special events for HATC residents and voucher holders. We invite you to join us as we reflect on our history, celebrate our achievements, and look forward to a bright future together.

March Madness

Looking for a fun way to spend your day? Mark your calendars for March 29th, and come join us at the Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center for our March Madness Open Gym! This event is packed with exciting activities for all ages. Whether you're into sports, games, or just looking to meet new people and have a great time, this is the perfect event for you!

Past

June Jubilee

For our youth - race go karts, challenge your friends in laser tag, and try your luck at classic arcade games. The event will be held at Pinballz Arcade, and will include food, games, and more!

Past

September Caribbean Fall Festival

For our senior residents - experience the vibrant flavors and rhythms of the Caribbean! Enjoy delicious island cuisine, lively bingo, dominoes, and card games, plus a chance to win fantastic prizes. It’s a tropical celebration you won’t want to miss!

Coming soon...

December Gala

Join us for an elegant and inspiring Gala Evening hosted by our Foundation. Enjoy a gourmet dinner, a keynote speaker, and a night of connection and celebration to commemorate half a century of service to the community.

Sponsorships & tickets →

50 Years of HATC

Take a look back through half a century of HATC history, exploring the milestones, memories, and moments that have shaped our community. From our earliest days to our most recent achievements, this timeline celebrates the people and events that make HATC what it is today.

1975
Mary Lee Claborn, Travis County Housing Coordinator, proposes to the Commissioner's Court the creation of a county-wide Housing Authority, allowing the county to apply for federal grants to assist low-income residents.
The Austin American - Statesman; July 2nd, 1975
Acting on this proposal, Commissioner Richard Moya introduces a resolution declaring the need for a county-wide Housing Authority to exist — passing unanimously.
Weeks later, the first appointments are made to the five-member board of the newly formed Housing Authority of Travis County. Mary Lee Claborn is appointed as the first Executive Director to lead the agency.
The Austin American - Statesman; August 20th, 1975
The Department of Housing and Urban Development officially ratifies the creation of the Housing Authority of Travis County on December 23, 1975.
1979
The Housing Authority of Travis County gains approval and begins construction on the future sites of two new housing projects: Summit Oaks and Eastern Oaks.
The Austin American - Statesman; May 10th, 1979
1980
Just one year later, the first resident moves into the brand-new Summit Oaks apartments, off Jollyville Road.
The Austin American - Statesman; August 31st, 1980
These developments are now part of HUD's Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) Program and include Summit Oaks, Alexander Oaks, and Eastern Oaks Apartments, totaling 105 units.
1994
In August 1994, HATC received 16 duplex-style units in the Carson Creek Homes community from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which was acting on behalf of the Resolution Trust Corporation.  
The Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) was a temporary agency created to resolve the Savings and Loan crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s, while the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is a permanent agency that insures deposits in banks and savings associations. The FDIC and RTC worked together during the S&L crisis, with the FDIC eventually taking over the RTC's responsibilities.
2001
On December 27, 2001, HATC purchased two large parcels of land in the city of Manor, TX, spanning the entirety of two city blocks.
Satellite imagery courtesy of Google Earth
2006
Manor Town Apartments was constructed in 2006, consisting of 33 one- and two-bedroom units for both seniors (originally 55 and over, now 60 and over) whose incomes don’t exceed 30% of the area median income and for those making no more than 60% of the area median income, along with persons with disabilities.
2015
On March 27, 2015, HATC received notification from HUD that its Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program application for the conversion of its 105 units of public housing (Alexander, Summit, and Eastern Oaks) was approved. This program allowed greater ease for HATC to leverage additional funding (through various public and private sources) to rehabilitate its former public units, ensuring their long-term affordability.
2016
In late 2016, HATC was awarded 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) under the Texas Housing Credit Program At-Risk Pool.
On November 1, 2016, HATC completed its conversion of public housing units to the Project-Based Rental Assistance (RAD) Program.
2017
In July 2017, HATC received an allocation of $901,883 in tax credits, which were leveraged to obtain $10.4 million for the rehabilitation of two of the three affordable housing communities: Alexander Oaks and Summit Oaks Apartments.
On December 7, 2017, the Housing Authority of Travis County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to create The HATC Foundation, a Texas nonprofit corporation dedicated to furthering the authority's public purpose and mission. The Foundation was established to better support low and moderate-income residents of Travis County by expanding on the HATC's core functions.
2019
On March 7, 2019, the HATC Foundation received its official notification of tax exemption status as a 501(c)(3) via the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide supportive services to HATC residents and HCV program participants.
2020
In early 2020, the agency received $2 million from TDHCA’s Multifamily Direct Loan Program and an additional $1 million from the City of Austin’s Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) program to complement $800,000 in agency funds for the rehabilitation of the remaining 30-unit property in southeast Travis County –Eastern Oaks Apartments.
2021
On January 7, 2021, HATC received notification from HUD that it has been selected for the Moving To Work (MTW) Demonstration (Expansion) Program – Cohort 1.  Designed for smaller housing authorities, this designation has afforded HATC the flexibility to address§  local housing needs and achieve program objectives while still achieving the required statutory objectives.
2023
On May 17, 2023, HATC held a groundbreaking ceremony for Manor Town II, a new 20-unit apartment complex in Manor, Texas, aimed to provide additional income- and age-restricted housing for seniors.
2025
In February 2025, Manor Town II's 20-unit residential building opens its doors for Seniors 62 and over, and persons with disabilities
On July 7, 2025, tenants of HATC's Carson Creek Homes began returning to their units after a period of relocation, following a substantial rehabilitation effort that cost over $2 million.
Today, HATC has affordable housing developments with nearly 174 units (of which Carson Creek Homes, Manor Town Apartments and Manor Town II Apartments are non-subsidized, but are managed as affordable units), and administers the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program to subsidize housing in the private rental market for almost 691 low-income individuals and families. HATC’s HCV special purchase vouchers serve highly vulnerable populations. Additionally, HATC has added more than 2,000 units of high-quality affordable rental units for extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income families through our affiliate, Travis County Facilities Corporation (TCFC).
Contact us
502 East Highland Mall Boulevard, Suite 106-B, Austin, TX 78752
(512) 854-8245
Monday – Thursday,
8 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 1 pm (closed)
1 pm – 4 pm
‍
Friday, 8 am – 12 pm
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We are an Equal Housing Opportunity Provider. We provide housing without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental handicap, familial status, national origin, or other protected class.