He was born Donald Ray Griffin, but he prefers to be called “Cowboy.” At Garden Terrace, he also answers to “The Puzzle Man.” Cowboy can often be seen there working on a puzzle. It’s been a passion of his since he was a small child, and he has turned some of the common areas in the supportive community for single adults into an art gallery with about 140 puzzles adorning the walls.

“It keeps my mind off everything in the world,” said Cowboy. “(People) come over and see what I’m doing, and they tell me you’re doing a good job. I like that.”

Life hasn’t always been so kind to this native Austinite. Several years ago, Cowboy’s wife passed away, and soon after he became homeless and began living at the ARCH shelter in Downtown Austin. He says it was not a good experience. Caseworkers helped him apply for affordable housing, and in 2020 he was approved to move into Garden Terrace.

Cowboy admits when he arrived at Garden Terrace he was afraid he wouldn’t like living there as well, but his outlook improved when he spotted two large, unfinished puzzles on a table in the community room. A program manager told him he was welcome to work on them. With his knack for figuring out where pieces fit based on their shapes, Cowboy quickly had both puzzles finished. The manager could tell the activity was having a positive effect on Cowboy, so she mounted the puzzles on the wall and bought four more puzzles.

Six years and numerous puzzles later, Cowboy is still piecing it together at Garden Terrace, with occasional help from other residents. Supper Club volunteers are often so impressed by the vibrant and varied display they donate more puzzles for Cowboy to work on. He says he is proud of his handiwork, and he has no plans to stop.

“I think it makes people happy,” said Cowboy. “They don’t have to look at an empty wall. Empty wall seems like you’re closed in. This has livened up the place.”

Here’s a look at many of the puzzles Cowboy and his partners have finished and are on display at Garden Terrace.

Our Back-to-School Drive is continuing at foundcom.org/btsd, and we want to share a very thoughtful message supporter Cheryl Peak sent to her coworkers at Cushing Terrell.

“These back-to-school drives are incredibly important to the children in FC communities. The funds raised provide Learning Centers and the children they serve with the resources and tools needed to succeed.

I cut over on St. Elmo every day on my way home from work, and during the school year, I often see children being safely escorted back to their Learning Centers. There are caring Learning Center staff members at the front, middle, and back of each group, ensuring everyone’s safety. The children are always smiling, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company, which speaks volumes about the positive environment being created for them.

When I drop off gifts for the Holiday Assistance Program, I get another glimpse of the impact these centers have. I see children enjoying nutritious meals, playing games, receiving tutoring, and participating in activities that help them learn and grow. It’s truly inspiring to witness this part of FC’s mission in action and to see firsthand the difference these programs make in the lives of so many children and families.

These programs also provide valuable support for parents who might not otherwise be able to afford after-school care or daycare. By giving their children a safe place to go after school, parents can continue working, pursue educational opportunities, and build a better future for their families. It’s an investment that benefits not only the children, but the entire family and community.”

Great job, Cheryl, and thanks for your support!

Don’t forget, Amazon is matching donations up to $25,000, so donate today and double your impact! foundcom.org/btsd

As we look ahead to our annual Back to School Drive, we’re sharing the inspiring story of the Hernandez family. Jannette Hernandez and her seven children came to our Homestead Oaks Apartments in 2023 through our Children’s HOME Initiative program (CHI) after struggling with housing. With help from CHI and no-cost childcare through our Learning Center programs, the family is now thriving and looking forward to moving into their own home very soon. You can watch a video about their success story below.

You can help more families find success by donating to the Foundation Communities Back to School Drive at foundcom.org/btsd. This year, we are hoping to raise $100,000 so our Learning Center students will start the next school year with all the supplies, technology and healthy meals they need to be successful.

It took many people and entities to build Juniper Creek Apartments on North Lamar. On February 12, Foundation Communities hosted a Ribbon Cutting at the Laurel Creek Learning Center next door to say thank you. Area leaders, major funding partners, and others in attendance also had a chance to tour the affordable community.

Laurel Creek resident Tattoo Hernandez shared about her family’s journey to affordable housing through Foundation Communities, and about the free support services they take advantage of.You can watch video of the Ribbon Cutting ceremony below.

Prior to the start of the 2026 Tax Season, Foundation Communities IRS-certified tax preparers in Austin and North Texas spent time learning the new tax laws, including new and higher deductions. Our tax services are free for individuals earning less than $60,000 and families of 2-to 4 earning less than $85,000 (plus $5,000 for each additional member).

In its 22nd year, Prosper Tax Help has about 450 IRS-certified volunteers and nine locations across Travis and Williamson Counties. Karol Iruegas has been a client since 2019. She spoke at the January 16 kickoff event. “Through Prosper Tax Help and Foundation Communities’ Financial Wellness programs, I now feel more confident and in control of my finances,” said Karol. Also speaking were Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter, and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Jose “Chito” Vela. You can view the kickoff below.

Learn more about Prosper Tax Help and schedule an appointment at ProsperTaxHelp.org.

Construction crews are on track to complete Burleson Studios by next summer. On October 15, we held a celebration of the progress on this supportive community for single adults who have struggled maintaining housing. We also thanked the various partners that funded the development. You can watch video of the celebration below.

“There was no question that one way or another we were going to open our doors on November 1st. So here we are. Bring it on. We’re ready!” Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau teared up as he made this declaration at the Prosper Health Coverage kickoff on October 31. Getting ready for the program’s 13th open enrollment season has not been easy. In February, the federal government withdrew $2.4 million from Prosper Health Coverage, money used for staff and outreach to uninsured Central Texans. We are very grateful that Central Health replaced half of that lost funding, $1.2 million.

Getting ready also involved doubling the number of volunteer enrollment counselors to 200. They are now working to help clients find the best Healthcare.gov plan for them. That help is more important with the federal government limiting coverage and subsidies for plans through the Affordable Care Act, causing some premiums to double. Also speaking at the kickoff were Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Central Health President and CEO Dr. Patrick Lee, and Paul Scott, the CEO for HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians). HAAM musician Lindsey Verrill (pictured here) talked about how easy the counselors make signing up for health insurance. She also performed. You can watch video of the entire kickoff below.

Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2026. If you need health insurance you can afford, set up an appointment by calling 512-381-4520, or go to ProsperHealthCoverage.org.

 One of the original residents of our Zilker Studios supportive community for single adults, Kelas Lloyd recently reflected on the past several years. Kelas says there is no roadmap, that anyone’s life can take surprising and devastating turns. 

“In 1995, I was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease,” said Kelas. “My body began to fail me. About a decade later I was forced to go on disability.” 

Kelas says they quickly found that disability was not keeping up with the cost of living in Austin. 

They shared housing costs with a roommate, until the roommate suddenly had to leave Austin. Kelas’ lease was ending and they couldn’t afford to renew. They planned to move into a room in a friend’s home, but the friend just stopped responding to messages. Kelas was now homeless. 

They checked into an extended stay hotel until they could camp out in another friend’s home office temporarily.Their search for a long-term solution only turned up apartments that seemed “creepy or like a scam.” Kelas remembers the anxiety of wondering what would happen if their friend needed them to move out of her house before something turned up. Were they headed for the street, like so many others around Austin? Kelas wasn’t sure they could survive that with the chronic pain they were living with. Then a life-changing call came. Foundation Communities was opening Zilker Studios and leasing affordable apartments for lower-income adults. Kelas quickly applied, not wanting to miss this opportunity, and moved in in the summer of 2023. 

Now, Kelas participates in a variety of activities at Zilker Studios designed to foster a community spirit – the Resident Council, Coffee Hours, outings and events for residents.

Kelas says, “Living at Zilker Studios has been transformative. Before, I was just existing. Now, I’m able to seek out things I enjoy.” 

Staff at Zilker Studios introduced Kelas to the Art from the Streets organization. They now enjoy painting regularly and getting positive responses from their creative work. Also, Kelas has a new roommate, a cat named Ser Bartholomew. 

On September 5, Kelas Lloyd spoke at the kickoff to support Proposition Q in Austin, sharing their experiences struggling to afford housing in Austin, and how supportive housing and services have made a huge difference in their life. You can watch their entire speech below.

Due to the high cost of housing and other necessities, many families and individuals in the Austin area who are living on $13/hour or less are just one hardship away from losing their homes. Earlier this year, Cardinal Point Apartments resident Maddison and her two children began preparing themselves emotionally for becoming homeless. Both of her children are living with disabilities.

“Between juggling their care needs and experiencing a temporary loss of income, I fell a month behind on rent,” said Maddison. “Things were incredibly tight, and I had no safety net to fall back on.”

The family was looking into shelters and where they could store their belongings when they found out from their property manager that they could apply for emergency rent assistance from Foundation Communities. Their application was approved.

“This support helped me stabilize things for my kids and gave me just enough of a break to not lose our home. The process was respectful and kind, which made it a lot easier to ask for help during such a vulnerable time.”

Maddison was able to find a temporary job, but it will end soon. So, her family is still facing financial uncertainty. Still, she says she is grateful for the assistance they received.

With help from our generous supporters, Foundation Communities helped 87 families and individuals with emergency rental assistance totaling over $93,800 in the first six months of 2025. We greatly appreciate the donors for helping us support our residents in times of critical need.