In a move targeting the acute challenge of housing affordability faced by educators, Hays CISD is reportedly examining a novel initiative in partnership with Upward Communities. This collaboration could usher in a wave of affordable housing options specifically crafted for district staff, providing much-needed relief amidst escalating living costs. According to KVUE, the homes under consideration would include four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with rent caps at $2,000 per month. A significant detail is that Hays CISD would potentially donate the homes to employees, thereby extending the benefit to a wide spectrum of personnel within the district.
The partnership is poised to potentially provide a long-term solution by sidestepping the typical affordable housing project models. "We'd love to offer homeownership and those things, but the number one goal first is to solve the income problem," Upward Communities co-founder and CEO Jason Roberts was quoted as telling Community Impact. Emphasizing efficiency, Roberts indicated that the best way to tackle the income conundrum is to cut down on overhead and focus primarily on the affordability aspect.
As Superintendent Eric Wright pointed out in an interview with Community Impact, the move comes at a critical juncture where the district is experiencing robust growth, projecting an influx of 1,000 to 1,100 new students annually. This growth is a driver for the housing initiative as it presents an opportunity to address the teacher attrition rate which currently stands at 6.6%. Meanwhile, Chief Human Resources Officer Christina Courson highlighted the existing partnership with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation, but cited the setbacks faced due to the unavailability of units and existing waitlists. This underscores the district's pressing need for additional affordable housing avenues.
Keeping in view the pressing demand, Upward Communities has vowed to shoulder the construction costs, a gesture that not only aims to provide immediate housing relief but also build a stable foundation for the district's workforce. "We're not here to make a rainy day of income one day," Roberts emphasized to Community Impact. The developer is planning to present the school board with a trio of strategically chosen locations within Hays County, which continues to burgeon, and the board is expected to potentially take a vote on this proposal in the early months of 2025.
Trustee Johnny Flores, in acknowledging the urgency of improving retention of teachers and staff, underscored the significance of this initiative during a board meeting. "The battle for retention of teachers and taking care of our employees—that's basically a priority for us," Flores stated, also expressing a desire to evaluate the effectiveness of similar initiatives in districts of comparable size. The forthcoming months are set to be a decisive period, with Upward Communities prepared to navigate the approval process, provided their proposal gains the green light from the Hays CISD school board.
