What Is Sustainability?

Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability is the integration of environmental health, social equity and economic vitality to create thriving, healthy, diverse and resilient communities for this generation and generations to come.

We want to be able to meet the needs of our present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What Drives Our Efforts?

The effects of climate change are all around us – waves of impact are affecting disadvantaged populations first and the strongest, though they contribute the least to global warming. We have all experienced more frequent and intense droughts, storms, and extreme temperatures, as well as related power outages.

Since the operations of man-made buildings account for nearly 30% of total national greenhouse gas emissions, Foundation Communities believes that as lifelong owners of our communities, it is our responsibility to make sustainable design and operating choices.

Foundation Communities has had an established Sustainability Department for nearly 15 years, so we have extensive experience integrating mindfulness, health, equity, and efficiency into our communities. We are a pioneer for sustainable affordable housing, and are involved on a local, regional, and national level with informing policies and programs that help encourage other low-income housing providers to greenify their portfolios.

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As we start Earth Day 2025, we want to share just a few of our organization-wide sustainability efforts:

– Greenhouse Gas Emissions: There are national and global efforts to encourage buildings owners across several industries to retrofit our built environment to promote energy efficiency. We are partners with the Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, which commits us to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions over 10 years. Currently, we are sitting at a 36% reduction in greenhouse emissions from a 2017 baseline. We have been able to achieve this progress through a variety of carbon-saving initiatives including energy efficiency improvements, our vast solar portfolio, and the overall greening of the electric grid, as less of our energy is produced from coal and natural gas.

– Energy & Solar: We partnered with The Department of Energy for the Better Buildings Challenge, which commits us to a 20% reduction in energy use intensity over 10 years – we have achieved 18% so far! We use energy efficient design, incorporating LED lighting, tight building envelopes and insulation, as well as Energy Star rated windows and appliances. To top it off, we have one of the largest solar portfolios in Austin with panels generating 1.5 MW installed across 15 properties and another 500kW to be installed by the end of this year.

– Water: Foundation Communities has also committed to a 20% reduction in water use intensity over a 10 year period. Since we pay for water at nearly all of our low-income properties, the savings we see from the reduction in water consumption can be reinvested into our many incredible resident programs. We install 100% low-flow toilets, showerheads, and aerators in our units. Foundation Communities also has a policy of landscaping with only native, drought-resistant plants to minimize our irrigation consumption. With these standards, in conjunction with robust staff and resident education, we stand at a 15% reduction in our overall water use intensity.

– Waste: Foundation Communities is mindful of the resources we consume and the waste we produce. All of our properties are in compliance with the City of Austin’s Universal Recycling Ordinance, which provides residents with ample access and education on proper recycling. Recently, this ordinance has also expanded to include the provision of composting at our properties. We compost at our main office as well, in addition to diverting hard-to-recycle items like thin plastic, light bulbs, Styrofoam, and batteries through Ridwell. FC’s Welcome Home Luncheon is our biggest annual fundraising effort with over 400 staff and attendees. Our Sustainability Team helps to make this a zero-waste event.

– Climate Resiliency: Foundation Communities formed a Resiliency Working Group this year with the purpose of planning and implementing a myriad of resiliency measures to strengthen our communities in the face of more severe weather and related power outages. We are extremely excited to say that we’ve partnered with the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute to pilot resilience hubs at two of our properties in North Texas. We will install solar systems at our Shadow Brook and Sleepy Hollow Learning Centers with connected back-up battery storage so they can serve as a place of refuge for our residents in the face of power outages. We hope to learn best practices and standards during this pilot so we can plan how we might be able to build these resilience hubs at all of our communities, eventually.

We hope you enjoyed learning about Foundation Communities’ green initiatives ❤

Happy Earth Day!

Every other Monday, Nikki Rivera takes a walk to the main building at Laurel Creek Apartments where her family has lived for two years. Her 8-year-old son Kaydyn walks alongside and her 1-year-old daughter Kayaura rides in a wagon that will soon be filled with food. They’re headed to the Healthy Food Pantry, one of many around Austin hosted by the Foundation Communities Health Initiatives team where residents and neighbors receive healthy food at no cost.

A single-income family, the Riveras, like many, have been affected by the rising cost of healthy food. “The way that I’m able to nourish my children’s bodies is by the pantry because without that we wouldn’t have as many things in the kitchen,” said Nikki. “So, it means a lot.” Click on the video below to watch the Rivera family visit the Healthy Food Pantry and use the food to prepare a meal.

In 2024, Foundation Communities served approximately 383,000 pounds of food and other essential items through 346 food pantries, reaching over 2,000 different households. It’s a lifeline for many people facing food insecurity.

“At Foundation Communities, we believe everyone deserves access to healthy food, quality health care and the resources to lead a healthier, fuller life,” said Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau.

On Wednesday, January 29th, Foundation Communities, along with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Austin City Council Member Chito Vela and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes celebrated the start of tax season and the availability of free tax preparation assistance for Central Texans through our Prosper Tax Help program. This is the 21st tax season for the program which has aided in filing more than 331,000 returns , saving over $533,000,000 for Central Texans. You can watch video of the entire celebration below.

When more families access credits and tax refunds, that means additional money for them and importantly, millions more for the local economy. Rep. Doggett and other speakers touched on how to sign up for free, bilingual, unbiased help in filing taxes, the advantages of doing it now, and how to ensure families do not leave money on the table when filing their taxes during the 2025 season. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the EITC. Rosie Young, SPEC Area 3 Executive Director, at the IRS shared remarks to highlight the milestone.

Astrid McKinney, a veteran and government employee, spoke about the positive experiences she has had using Foundation Communities tax services for the past three years. “The Prosper Tax Help program has been a lifesaver when it comes to understanding taxes,” said McKinney. “Foundation Communities makes the process of filing taxes less intimidating and ensures everything is filed correctly. They genuinely care about helping people like me feel confident and supported. It’s an incredible service that I encourage everyone who qualifies to try.”

Parker Lane Apartments began welcoming home residents in November of 2024, and on February 12, 2025, the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place in the community’s Learning Center. Many in attendance had played a role in helping make Parker Lane Apartments, a beautiful, newly-constructed apartment community, a reality. “I just want to say thank you for being here to help us celebrate,” said Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau. “It’s a lot of work to build affordable housing.” You can watch video of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Parker Lane Apartments below. 

The community features 135 1,2,and 3-bedroom apartments, all set aside for families and individuals making less than 60 percent of the area’s median family income (MFI). Twenty-four of the units will be deeply affordable for families at risk of becoming homeless. The community is located in a vibrant, diverse and transit-rich part of southeast Austin on land that was home to a United Methodist Church for more than 60 years before it closed in 2019. The construction was made possible through a land lease partnership between Foundation Communities and the United Methodist Church (UMC). A district lay leader for the church organization, Brooks Schuelke, spoke about how the partnership began. He said church leaders felt having affordable housing built on the property would honor the church’s legacy of community service, especially since FC has a housing plus services model.

“They’re not just about affordable housing,” said Schuelke.”They have a number of wraparound services. They’ve got the Learning Center, they’ve got the after-school programs, they’ve got the food pantry, they do job trainings, they do so much more. All of the stuff that we want our churches to do to serve their communities, Parker Lane and Foundation Communities continues to do that and serves this community.” Schuelke added that the church will maintain office space at Parker Lane Apartments for its immigration legal services, and church members can find volunteer opportunities and meeting spaces at Parker Lane Apartments to retain a connection with the neighborhood.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was a chance to celebrate and thank all the people who helped to make Parker Lane Apartments possible. Among the speakers were representatives of some of the project’s largest funding partners, including Wells Fargo Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas which delivered a large ceremonial check for a $3.1 million grant. The project also received approximately $9.7 million from the City of Austin – $4.1 million in funds from 2022 General Obligation (GO) Bonds and $5.6 million from Project Connect. Austin City Council Member José Velásquez extended congratulations to everyone who helped build Parker Lane Apartments and to the families who will find a home and success there. Development of Parker Lane Apartments was also made possible by $15 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)

The Vice President of Community Investments for St David’s Foundation, Regan Gruber Moffitt, said,”We’ve learned just about everything we know about the connection between housing and health walking side-by-side with our partner Foundation Communities. You can see here that they know how to build beautiful spaces that are an asset to the neighborhoods and the city overall. But, it’s really about the communities that they form and the idea of neighbors knowing neighbors and after a long day having a place to exhale.”

Perhaps the most moving speech was from Paulette Fresch, a mother who is raising two sons by herself at another Foundation Communities property for families. Fresch described how affordable housing and support services took her family from the brink of homelessness to a place of hopefulness. Describing the day they moved into their new apartment, she said, “I remember seeing the bright sunlight shining through the windows. It just seemed like we had been in a dark place for years and to see the beautiful sunshine felt like the skies were the limit for us.”

Parker Lane Apartments was designed with features to help residents feel safe, including clearly-marked entrances, easy to understand signs, and ample lighting throughout. Those who visit Parker Lane Apartments will notice features that honor the legacy of Parker Lane United Methodist Church, including stained glass windows, majestic oak trees and wildflower gardens, something people in the neighborhood enjoyed about the property for many years. Those who attended the Ribbon Cutting got an opportunity to take a guided tour of the apartment community. You can watch video of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Parker Lane Apartments below. Learn more about Parker Lane Apartments on its Foundation Communities webpage.

Every other Monday, Nikki Rivera takes a walk to the main building at Laurel Creek Apartments where her family has lived for two years. Her 8-year-old son Kaydyn walks alongside and her 1-year-old daughter Kayaura rides in a wagon that will soon be filled with food. They’re headed to the Healthy Food Pantry, one of many around Austin hosted by the Foundation Communities Health Initiatives team where residents and neighbors receive healthy food at no cost.

A single-income family, the Riveras, like many, have been affected by the rising cost of healthy food. “The way that I’m able to nourish my children’s bodies is by the pantry because without that we wouldn’t have as many things in the kitchen,” said Nikki. “So, it means a lot.” Click on the video below to watch the Rivera family visit the Healthy Food Pantry and use the food to prepare a meal.

In 2024, Foundation Communities served approximately 383,000 pounds of food and other essential items through 346 food pantries, reaching over 2,000 different households. It’s a lifeline for many people facing food insecurity.

“At Foundation Communities, we believe everyone deserves access to healthy food, quality health care and the resources to lead a healthier, fuller life,” said Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau.

Ten times around the building. For someone with health and mobility issues, it can be a challenge. It can also spark a new life-saving commitment to fitness. That’s the goal of the Spring Terrace 2-Miler, an annual event organized by our Health Initiatives and Supportive Housing teams.

The event took place on Halloween, and residents from our Supportive Housing communities, many wearing costumes, converged at Spring Terrace to run, walk or roll around the building. The event also builds community. Staff and other residents came to encourage the participants. You can see pictures from the event at the gallery below.

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Since 2013, Foundation Communities has helped more than 60,000 Central Texans enroll in affordable health insurance through the federal Marketplace. Open Enrollment for 2025 runs from November 1 through January 15. Prosper Health Coverage, the largest Navigator program in Central Texas, is poised to help thousands of our neighbors.

“We take the stress out of finding the best insurance plan,” said Erika Leos, Director of Prosper Programs.

There is a wide range of plans available, hundreds in Travis County. For some enrollees, the cost will be as little as $0 a month after subsidies. On October 30, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Austin City Council Member Jose “Chito” Vela joined representatives of Foundation Communities and the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) at Prosper Center South to kick off Open Enrollment. Doggett urged enrollment by December 15 to be sure coverage begins on January 1. Learn more at ProsperHealthCoverage.org.

You can watch video of the Health Coverage Kickoff event below.

Everyone had a wonderful time at Bluebonnet Studios on September 12 at the Foundation Communities Art & Wellness Show. There’s a wealth of artistic talent in our supportive housing communities and many of these creative residents entered the show hoping to sell their works of art, or just to put them on display. Take a look at photos from the Art & Wellness Show in the gallery below and sample the musical offerings from residents and some staff in video. This annual event is a collaboration by our Supportive Housing and Health Initiatives teams. Several health-related companies and organizations were there as well delivering information to those in attendance.

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As part of its commitment to using sustainable initiatives in its affordable housing, in 2022 Foundation Communities signed onto the US Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge. That came with a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at its growing portfolio of affordable housing communities in Austin and North Texas by 50 percent over 10 years. Foundation Communities has already achieved more than 36 percent emissions reduction. Since 2014, the organization has more than doubled its solar capacity. Now the largest nonprofit producer of solar energy in Central Texas, it has 1.5 megawatts installed across 15 properties with four more projects in the works.

On Friday, September 13, Congressman Lloyd Doggett and representatives from the US Departments of Energy and Housing and Urban Development recognized Foundation Communities for its environmental stewardship and toured its Homestead Oaks Apartments, an Austin Energy 4-Star and LEED Gold certified community. Participants viewed green features in the leasing office, an apartment, and on the grounds, including solar meters, cisterns and the community garden. Along the way, they learned about Foundation Communities’ deep green building strategies and sustainable operations and maintenance policies. The focus is on energy and water conservation, healthy indoor air and waste reduction.

“We view the green initiatives managed by our Sustainability Department as an investment in the success of our residents and our properties, which we plan to own indefinitely,” said Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau. “We are grateful for the funding from public and private partners that make these initiatives possible.”

You can watch video of the entire Better Climate Challenge event at Homestead Oaks below. And, below that, please take a listen to what longtime Homestead Oaks residents Peggy Schwartz and Alicia Marshall have to say about how the community’s green initiatives affect their families.

Foundation Communities received certification to move residents into Balcones Terrace in September, and that process will begin this month.The permanent supportive housing community will be home for 123 single adults who are transitioning from homelessness or are living on extremely low and fixed incomes such as veterans and seniors. The development near MoPac and Capital of Texas Hwy in North Austin was a two-building, four-story extended stay hotel which we have redesigned and renovated. The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) owns the property and has executed a 55-year lease agreement with Foundation Communities as the long-term manager and service provider.

“We are excited to be opening Balcones Terrace,” said Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau. “It will provide a home for 123 of our neighbors who have struggled to find housing they could afford in Austin, as well as a supportive community.”

Following Foundation Communities’ housing + services model, residents of Balcones Terrace will have access to various on-site services and amenities, including case management, a food pantry, community room, courtyard, community kitchen, exercise room, computer lab, and TV room. Fifty project-based vouchers from the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) have been awarded to Balcones Terrace to serve individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness.

The conversion of Balcones Terrace was possible thanks to a combination of funding sources. This includes $10 million from the City of Austin and $10 million from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

On August 7, Mayor Kirk Watson and other City of Austin and HUD officials spoke at a ribbon cutting ceremony for Balcones Terrace. This event will also celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the CDBG program which has awarded Austin more than $350 million for low-income housing and economic opportunities. Mayor Watson said this is more than just a roof over heads, but a new chance, hope, stability and love that otherwise would be lost. You can learn more about Balcones Terrace and watch video of the entire ribbon cutting ceremony below.