In a recent government meeting, officials outlined key initiatives seeking funding to enhance affordable housing in Austin. The proposed activities include updating the Strategic Housing Blueprint and Opportunity Mapping Index, which have not been revised since 2017. The updates aim to incorporate new programs and policies, such as Project Connect and displacement prevention efforts, as well as recent council resolutions.

Additionally, the city plans to collaborate with the planning department to develop new zoning tools designed to facilitate the creation of \"missing middle\" housing and mixed-use developments. This initiative is expected to expedite necessary amendments already on the planning department's agenda.

A significant focus of the funding request is to support affordable housing projects near planned light rail investments, particularly along the North Lamar and South Congress corridors. The funding opportunity comes from a recent HUD grant, which has increased its budget to $100 million for the second round, allowing applicants to request up to $7 million over a six-year performance period. Priority will be given to those demonstrating commitment to overcoming housing barriers, especially in high-demand areas like Austin.

During the meeting, officials highlighted the pressing need for affordable housing in Austin, citing challenges such as stagnant income growth compared to rising home values, uneven distribution of affordable housing, and an aging rental stock. They identified three categories of barriers to affordable housing: sociopolitical, regulatory, and economic. Each proposed activity aims to address these barriers, with plans for an action plan to navigate sociopolitical challenges, continued updates to the land development code for regulatory issues, and investments in affordable housing to improve access to transit, jobs, and services.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to produce a new opportunity index map and an updated action plan for the Strategic Housing Blueprint, emphasizing the importance of creating new actions to meet the city's ambitious housing goals.