Source: Community Impact
Austin officials and community members gathered on Rutland Drive on Aug. 9 to highlight the groundbreaking of Espero Rutland, a permanent supportive housing complex for people experiencing homelessness expected to open late next year.
The 171-unit development to be located at 1934 Rutland Drive, Austin, came together over the past several years through collaboration among the city of Austin, its housing finance corporation, housing developer Vecino Group and homeless nonprofit Caritas of Austin. Following the August groundbreaking event, project development at the 2-acre North Austin site is expected to wrap up next fall.
City officials attending the ceremony spoke both to the outlook for future Espero Rutland residents and the project’s place in Austin’s overall homeless strategy. District 4 Council Member Greg Casar, whose district includes the housing project, said the Espero development could end up being a model to be repeated throughout the city as officials work to find housing for its thousands of homeless residents.