Spotlight On Giving: Austin Non-Profits Offer Pathways to Success

AUSTIN, TX -- According to the US Census Bureau, Travis County reported a 13.9% poverty rate as part of its American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate study conducted at the end of 2017. That translates to roughly 1.5 million Austin residents living at or below the poverty level. While Austin is touted as a city of growth and success and frequently ranks nationally as a top spot for places to live, it's easy to forget about the struggles many residents face especially during the holidays.

As Austin continues to grow, local non-profits find ways to keep up with needs of the community. From offering affordable housing to promoting literacy to the underserved. The following list spotlights the unique work several Austin-based non-profits perform to ensure all residents have improved opportunities for success.

• Foundation Communities provides affordable and attractive homes with free on-site support services for families with children, senior, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Foundation Communities offers housing in 23 communities throughout Austin and North Texas. In 2017, the Austin Chronicle awarded the non-profit with its Best of Austin Critics Pick and named them the year's Best Affordable Housing Superhero. For details on the important work of Foundation Communities, please visit Foundcom.org.
• Inside Books Project is an Austin-based non-profit agency that works with volunteers to send free books and educational materials to prisoners in Texas. In addition to promoting reading, literacy and education among the incarcerated, Inside Books Project looks to educate the community on issues relating to incarceration. Inside Books Project distributes over 35,000 free books annually to the prison community. Book donations are always welcomed, please visit Insidebooksproject.org for more information.
• A Glimmer of Hope Austin offers programs to improve the lives of youth and seniors experiencing exclusion, social injustice and neglect. Since 2003 Glimmer Austin has distributed over $5 million in grants to benefit over 100,000 Austin residents. For a complete overview of the valuable services Glimmer Austin provides their community, visit aglimmerofhopeaustin.org.
• Urban Roots uses food and farming to transform the lives of young people and inspire, engage, and nourish the community. Annually, Urban Roots provides paid internships and fellowships to young people ages 17-23 and work with more than 1,000 community volunteers to grow more than 25,000 pounds of fresh food. Partnering with 12 local non-profits, Urban Roots delivers fresh produce to those who need it. For more information on the great work by Urban Roots visit urbanrootsatx.org.

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