For close to 80 years, generations of Liza Nevarez’ family has called Dripping Springs home.
But living in a deteriorating residence deemed unsafe by officials led Nevarez to worry about what her next move could be.
Through the help of a nonprofit organization, Nevarez and her family will be receiving a new manufactured home to live in, ensuring they stay in the city for years to come.
However, officials are trying to find ways to accommodate similar projects, while also ensuring city rules are maintained.
With the approval by the Dripping Springs City Council Oct. 9, nonprofit organization Hometown Missions will provide the Nevarez family with an entirely new home, free of charge.
The city council unanimously approved to grant a variance to city ordinance allowing Nevarez and her family a new manufactured home on the property. However, the discussion raised questions on possible precedence, and how the city will provide these variances for other landowners looking to develop new housing on their property.
Dripping Springs Planning & Zoning Commission chairman Mim James said he would like the city to brainstorm alternative routes for property owners to develop on their land, rather than going through the timely process of P&Z and city council.
A similar issue came to the city council when a family wanted to bring a manufactured home to Ramirez Lane, an area of the city that has residents of generational families looking to update their housing needs.
In that particular case, the city council approved a variance allowing a new manufactured home on the property. But these properties typically do not have surveys, which the city looks at to determine property lines to adhere to zoning requirements for setbacks.
“This issue is not unique to Dripping Springs,” said Jason Lutz, planning director for the city. “In this area of town, there is a lack of surveys, and these properties have been passed down for generations. Our concern was about waiving the survey requirements without knowing if the new home would be in violation of setbacks.”
Lutz said the city will look to alleviate some of these time constraints by seeking solutions to allow families to move new homes efficiently and in compliance with the city’s ordinances.
“This is the second issue we had come up in a short time frame, and we want to make this process easier for everyone,” Lutz said.
Despite these challenges, Hometown Missions has spent the past nine years helping those living in substandard housing in Dripping Springs.
“We serve those living in what you would call substandard housing, and our goal is to help improve housing so families, specifically children, can live in a healthy and safe environment,” said Robin Robinson, board member of Hometown Missions. “Our work is all donations. We can help repair roofs, landscaping and any other major concerns damaged houses may have.”
In Nevarez’ case, her home was developing a major mold problem, which was impacting her son’s asthma. This led to efforts from Hometown Missions to provide a new manufactured home to be transported to the family’s property, per the city council’s approval.
In the coming weeks, Hometown Missions will be working on transporting the new home to the family’s property, adding a new septic system that must also be in compliance with the city’s ordinances.
Nevarez and her family will be staying in Austin with her sister while her old house is demolished for her new home.
As more homes begin to wither with age, the city wants to address how nonprofits can provide new housing options for residents who wish to stay on land that has belonged to their family for generations.
Hometown Missions estimates that 25 percent of children in Dripping Springs live below the poverty line, an issue that the nonprofit looks to alleviate by providing adequate housing.
“We have a passion around building and helping people,” Robinson said. “The big issue we see is that kids without a healthy place to live struggle in school and other parts of life. The goal is to provide people with an affordable and safe environment to live in.”
