Best place in Austin & surrounding areas for subsidized/low-income housing & good schools (Houston: section 8)

[family2]

I am a disabled parent with a pre-adolescent child seeking to relocate to the Austin area. What are the best areas with subsidized/low-income housing & good schools for me to direct my search? It does not have to be in Austin city proper; could be in adjacent towns or cities. Another criteria is best resources available for disabled & low-income persons as I will be starting over with nothing. I will need reasonable access to transportation & quality specialized medical care for myself & child, but as long as I have access to transportation to & from, am willing to travel into more metropolitan area as needed for medical needs.

[RoadWarrior12]

I would say that Austin, out of the "big four" cities in Texas, would be the worst option. Public transit is non-existent from outside the Austin area, and subsidized housing/good schools tend to be mutually exclusive around here. If you do find it, the transit piece is going to jump up and be a stopper.

I'd try the same search in San Antonio.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior12

I would say that Austin, out if the "big four" cities in Texas, would be the worst option. Public transit is non-existent from outside the Austin area, and subsidized housing/good schools tend to be mutually exclusive around here. If you do find it, the transit piece is going to jump up and be a stopper.

I'd try the same search in San Antonio.

100% Agree. And Austin is the most expensive of them all. And, while Austin has some good medical care/hospitals, Houston (especially)and Dallas offer some of the best in the country in addition to a lot more options.

Also, not sure where you are now, OP, but why Austin/TX?

[family2]

Thanks for prompt replies, Idlewile & RoadWarrior12! In response to Idlewile's query "Why Austin?", currently in East Texas between Houston & Dallas in middle of nowhere! Dallas too far north (cold weather aggravates medical condition) & knowledgeable of Houston's options (been there, done that). Austin because a long-time friend is seeking to relocate to either Austin or California from another country to start new business & I'm a Texan through & through, couldn't possibly consider California! Please bear with me as I'm totally new to forums & posting.

[CptnRn]

Cost of living and rents in Austin are some of the highest in the State, plus there is a housing shortage here due to the constant growth, so competition for available rentals is fierce. A lot of lower and middle income families are being priced out of their neighborhoods. I don't see those factors working out very well for family2.

Texas is also a low public service state, so what limited services there are probably have a long waiting list and I imagine anyone who has just moved here is going to go on the bottom of a very long waiting list. I recommend you check this out very carefully before you uproot your family and try to move here with limited resources to get you by.

[TXEX06]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior12

I would say that Austin, out of the "big four" cities in Texas, would be the worst option. Public transit is non-existent from outside the Austin area, and subsidized housing/good schools tend to be mutually exclusive around here. If you do find it, the transit piece is going to jump up and be a stopper.

I'd try the same search in San Antonio.

Why San Antonio? Better public transportation? Better school districts? Better hospitals?

[RoadWarrior12]

Originally Posted by TXEX06

Why San Antonio? Better public transportation? Better school districts? Better hospitals?

Better combination of everything the OP is looking for, without the sacrifices they'd have to make to force Austin to work.

[centralaustinite]

The last time I checked, the wait time for subsidized housing in the city of Austin was close to 8 years. I will try to find more current information.

Here, according to the city, the wait list for Section 8 housing isn't even OPEN! They hope to open the wait list for 8 days in October. AND then they will hold a lottery from among "all complete and unduplicated pre-applications received online will be entered into an online random lottery to select 2,500 pre-applications that will ultimately be placed on the waiting list and the order of placement."
Community Resources | Housing Authority of the City of Austin

Texas in general and Austin in particularly is a very tough place to be poor and disabled and dependent on public transportation. Do you have any family network here to help out?