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"Uprooted:" the name of an extensive study conducted by the University of Texas on residential displacement in Austin -- and what to do about it.
"This is a big problem, it's going to take bold action," said UT professor Heather Way.
The City asked for the study in August of last year. During Tuesday's council work session, Way, along with professors Elizabeth Mueller and Jake Wegmann presented their findings.
According to the study, Austin at one time was among the most affordable places to live in the country but there's been a dramatic uptick in housing costs since the 90's. Wealthier residents have moved inward, pushing low-income residents to the outskirts of Austin or completely out of the city.
"There are some areas where we know a lot of people living in those areas would have a hard time remaining if prices went up a lot and there are signs that change are happening in neighborhoods close to them so you know it's coming to them. But then there's a smaller set of neighborhoods where there's already a lot of pressure, a lot of increases in housing prices," Mueller said.
The study says the most vulnerable include communities of color, people 25 and older without a bachelor's degree and renters. The parts of town most affected: the Rundberg area, Rosewood in East Austin, Montopolis in the inner Southeast and more.
Instead of a list of recommendations, the study offers ideas like emergency rental assistance and land acquisition.
"If the city has the ability to buy land or it already owns land in this area or it can help a non-profit own land in that area that really gives us more control over different ways that we could help people stay," Mueller said.
Council Member Leslie Pool led the way on this study last year. She says Austin will put the measurement tool to good use.
"They have three different levels of it. Early, mid and late. And if we can get in on the front end on some of the early areas where displacement is occurring then we may be able to put into effect some of the early purchase, the homestead preservation and land banking," Pool said.
Council Member Ora Houston thanked the researchers for their work and pointed out the first study done on displacement in Austin was back in 2000. She asked why the city hasn't acted on it over the last 18 years and wondered if there's been a lack of political will.
"We're expecting the most vulnerable to do the most work when everybody sees what's happening and yet the people with the most power seem powerless to stop it," Houston said. " I hope that...in 18 more years we're not asking for another study because the people that are currently on the edges will be further out and we won't have anybody to study."
According to the researchers, other cities who have made an impact on the problem are putting tens of millions of dollars into anti-displacement programs.