Affordable housing complex breaks ground

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Construction is underway on new affordable housing in Austin.

The group LifeWorks is behind the project. They help thousands of at-risk youth every year find jobs. Now, they're helping them find homes.

There is no one cheering louder in this groundbreaking than Bryan Juarez. He grew up in foster care and aged out at 18.

"That was very scary for me not knowing what to do,’” Juarez said. “What do adults do? You usually have adults there to guide you. I just knew the basics of going to school."

Lifeworks was there to guide him. The non-profit helps 10,000 people every year.

"Almost 25 percent of youth who have been in foster care and graduate from foster care are homeless within a couple of years," said Lifeworks executive director Susan McDowell.

"They were there, no matter what,” Juarez said, “that was the main thing, they were everywhere."

Now the group will be in East Austin with a 45-unit apartment complex that will be called “The Works at Pleasant Valley.”

One of the units will be for Juarez.

"Being in supportive housing, it takes a little bit of the stress away from paying everything,” he said. “We save up and save up, and we eventually able to afford our own apartments or homes or anything we need during that time. It makes us more and more sufficient."

Construction will be complete in the fall with room for 78-100 people. Monthly rent will be based on income and range anywhere from $300-700.