Foundation Communities

Street Address:
3036 S. 1st St., Suite 200
Austin, TX 78704-6382


Phone: 512-447-2026
Fax: 512-447-0288
Website: www.foundcom.org

Walter Moreau, Executive Director

Contact Name: Walter Moreau
Phone: 512-447-2026x16
Fax: 512-447-0288
Email: walter.moreau@foundcom.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 96    Part Time: 36

Background
Founded in 1989, Foundation Communities provides affordable rental housing, asset building opportunities, and educational services to families and individual with low incomes in three Texas communities. Foundation Communities (FC) owns and manages twelve affordable housing communities in Austin (9), Arlington (2) and Carrollton (1). These 1,900 units are home to families and individuals who would otherwise have difficulty finding quality housing. FC has developed a model of service-enriched housing that enables families with low incomes to permanently improve their educational and economic standing. On-site Community Learning Centers provide free after-school and summer youth programs; courses in money management and home ownership; and classes in ESL and computer skills. The Individual Development Account (IDA) matched savings program enables residents to save for college, buying a home or starting a business, earning a 2-to-1 match. In 2005, FC opened five Community Tax Centers to help working families file their taxes at no charge and receive the Earned Income Tax Credit. FC is a partner agency of United Way Capital Area and a charter member of NeighborWorks Network, a national alliance of nonprofit housing and community development organizations. FC is designated as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and is a member of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporations national NeighborWorks network.

Mission
To create housing where families succeed.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $12,388,931

 Lines of Business
  • Asset and Property Management

  • Community Based Economic Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing
  • NeighborWorks Multifamily Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 36 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 116 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 6 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 2163 rental units.
  • Invested $ in the community through Foundation Communities's revolving loan fund, which leveraged $14,329,725 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $14,329,725.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    1/1/2005 Enrolled 75 low-income children in the S.E.E.D. Initiative, a national 5-year pilot program that educated children about saving and provides svaings incentives.
    1/1/2005 In 2005, matched 125 families' savings accounts with $121,785.
    1/1/2005 In 2005, increased the financial literacy of over 250 low-income families and individuals through courses in money management and home ownership.
    1/1/2005 Saved residents approximately $1.5 million in rent (compared with market rates).
    1/1/2006 Educated 800 school-age children at on-site after-school programs in 2005.
    1/1/2006 Enabled 86 families in 2005 to invest in an asset--purchase a home, attend college, or start a small business--25 families during 2004.
    7/10/2006 Own and manage housing for more than 2,000 low-income families & individuals in three Texas Cities (Austin, Arlington and Carrollton).
    1/15/2005 Opened 5 Community Tax Centers, which prepared and filed taxes free of charge for 7413 families and individuals, and helped eligible familes claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
    1/1/2004 Launched the Children's HOME Initiative, a program that provies housing and case management for 45 families with very-low incomes.
    4/1/2003 Opened Garden Terrace, Austin's first supportive housing for formerly homeless and very-low income adults who live alone.
    1/21/2006 Expanded Community Tax Center Program to six locations plus one mobile tax center.
    1/1/2006 Provided housing or support to over 650 Hurricane Katrina evacuees who relocated to Austin.
    1/1/2006 Preparing to open Spring Terrace in the summer of 2006. It will be Austin's second supportive housing for formerly homeless and very low income adults who live alone.
    10/14/2008 Foundation Communities -- Nonprofit of the Month, Greenlights, May 2008 -- Going Green Award – Nonprofit/Agency winner, Austin Business Journal, 2008 -- Garden Terrace -- Finalist, MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing, 2008 -- Skyline Terrace -- Finalist, Readers’ Choice Award, Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, 2008 -- Recognized for meeting stringent Green Communities Criteria, Enterprise, 2008 -- Community Tax Centers -- Community Capacity Builder – Public/Government, Governor’s One Star Foundation Volunteer Award, 2008 (awarded to The Tax Practicum in the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and the Community Tax Centers) -- Jennifer Daughtrey, Development Project Manager -- Top Ten “Next Generation of Affordable Housing Leaders” in the country, Affordable Housing Finance’s 2008 Young Leaders, Affordable Housing Finance magazine, 2008.
    12/1/2007 Staff Awards:-- Sandra Lumley, Property Director -- Professional Designate of the Year Award, Austin Apartment Association, 2007 -- Robin Bradford, Development Director -- Community Sabbatical Research Leave Program grant, the University of Texas Humanities Institute, 2007 -- Spring Terrace -- Beautification Award, Keep Austin Beautiful, 2007 -- Silver Award for Municipal Excellence, National League of Cities, 2007 (awarded to City of Austin for innovative and collaborative work with Foundation Communities to help develop Austin’s first “green” supportive housing community, Spring Terrace).

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  •  Tenant Organizing

  • Family Health Programs

  •  Christmas-Adopt a Family Program

  •  English as a Second Language Classes

  •  Food Bank

  •  Job Training / Youth Employment Project

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Elderly Tax Information

  •  Financial Education

  •  IDA Savings Program

  •  Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  •  Indoor Environment Quality

  •  Renewable Energy Resources

  •  Sustainable Site Planning

  •  Water Quality and Conservation

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  HomeBuyers Club

  •  Housing for Homeless

  •  Section 8 Housing

  •  Transitional Housing for Homeless Families


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Lew AldridgeBoard MemberBusinessAlori Properties 
    Theresa AlvarezBoard MemberBusinessWells FargoCommunity Development Officer
    Socar Chatmon-ThomasBoard MemberBusinessColdwell Banker, United RealtorsRealtor
    Tom ChmielewskiBoard Member  
    Ken CianiBoard TreasurerCiani FinancialFinancial Advisor
    Christina CoheeBoard Member  
    Yolanda DavilaBoard SecretaryState GovernmentTexas Legislative Budget Board 
    Irene ForresterBoard MemberResident  
    Danny HamiltonBoard Vice ChairGoldman, Sachs & Co. 
    Debbie KnightBoard MemberResident  
    Kevin J Prince, Ph.D.Board MemberResidentJelani Institute of AustinFounder, Executive Director
    Jason QunellBoard MemberCapital One Bank 
    Gina RichardsonBoard PresidentBusinessMartin Instruments 

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  Rocky Mountain
    Name:  Josie Martinez-Littig
    Phone:  303-782-4805
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  303-782-5568
    Email:  jlittig@nw.org