Housing Authority of Travis County Receives Mini-Grant

The Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) was the recent recipient of a Mini-Grant of $3,000 to provide signage and much-needed play equipment and its three public housing communities complements of Austin/Travis County Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) Program. CDPC works to promote health and quality of life throughout Austin and Travis County by working within the community to prevent and control disease.

Perusing CDPC’s website, http://www.austintexas.gov/department/chronic-disease-prevention, the program offers three primary recommendations for a healthy lifestyle:

• Active Living - Be active at least 150 minutes a week with moderate intensity physical activity, for at least 10 minutes at a time (or 30 minutes a day, five days a week); Do muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups on two or more days a week.
• Healthy Eating - Increase fruit and vegetable consumption to at least 5-9 servings a day; Reduce consumption of "junk" foods, or foods considered to have minimal nutritional value.
• Tobacco-Free Living - Do not use cigarettes, cigars,pipes, smokeless tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product; Minimize exposure to second-hand smoke.

HATC will utilize grant funds to erect as part of its Smoke-Free Public Housing Initiative. Additionally, the agency will erect play equipment at two of its public housing communities: Eastern Oaks, in Southeast Austin, and Alexander Oaks in Southwest Austin.

Housing Authority residents are particularly excited about the play equipment. “We are happy to finally get some play equipment for our kids – otherwise, they get into mischief because there is nothing else for them to do,” states Alexander Oaks resident Tonia Ross. HATC is seeking additional grant opportunities to provide additional recreational equipment for itsresidents. Additional information regarding The Housing Authority of Travis County can be foundby visiting www.hatctx.com.