Expanding Housing and Hope for Austin’s Youth with the Works III

Safe and stable housing is absolutely necessary for young people to advance their education and careers.  Last month, on World Homeless Day, LifeWorks advanced its mission to solve youth homelessness with the groundbreaking of The Works III. This 120-unit supportive housing community in East Austin will provide homes and stability for youth and young adults exiting homelessness.

Tonight, nearly 1,200 youth in Austin are unhoused. Approximately a third are young parents, and more than half have a history of foster care involvement. Without stable housing, the path to finishing school, finding employment, or building a secure future becomes all the more challenging. That’s why LifeWorks continues to focus on solutions that meet young people where they are—pairing safe, affordable housing with the consistent support it takes to move forward.

As the region’s leading provider of services for youth experiencing homelessness, LifeWorks operates a continuum of housing and supportive programs that help young people achieve stability and pursue a life they love. For more than a decade, LifeWorks has owned and operated deeply affordable apartment communities for youth.

The Works III builds on that success, deepening our commitment to housing that’s responsive to youth needs. Located near public transportation, Austin Community College’s Eastview campus, and LifeWorks’ own East site, this new community was designed to keep opportunity close. Residents will have access to on-site case management, mental health support, life skills training, and workforce services designed to help them set and achieve long-term goals. When young people have a safe place to live and trusted adults walking alongside them, they’re able to focus on building the future they deserve.

The groundbreaking of The Works III was four years in the making—four years of collaboration, planning, negotiation, and sheer persistence from dozens of partners who refused to give up on the vision. Four years of taking two steps forward and one step back, but moving ever closer to fruition. The Works III would not have been possible without bold public investment and shared commitment from Travis County, the City of Austin, and Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs—and the support of so many others.

At LifeWorks, we know that solving youth homelessness takes more than housing. It requires deep partnership and collaboration across systems and governmental entities. Long-term partners like the Sooch Foundation make this possible—sustaining the programs, staff, and services that help young people achieve lasting stability. Together, we believe every young person deserves not only a home, but a community that sees them, values them, and walks beside them as they grow.

The Works III stands as a testament to that belief—and to what’s possible when we come together to ensure that youth in our community have what every young person deserves: safety, belonging, and a path forward.