Some changes look forward. This one looks both ways at once.
Today, we are proud to announce that the Housing Authority of the City of Austin — the organization you may know as HACA — is officially returning to its original name: the Austin Housing Authority, or AHA.
It is the name we were founded with in 1937. It is the name that Lyndon B. Johnson, then a young U.S. senator from Texas, helped bring to life as part of the New Deal response to housing insecurity across America. And as we approach our 90th anniversary, it is the name we are returning to — because it is honest, clear, and built to last.
Why the Change?
Over the years, we have heard consistently from the people who matter most — our residents, our partners, and the broader Austin community — that our former name created confusion. Including “City of Austin” in our name led many people to believe we were a department of City government. We are not.
The Austin Housing Authority is an independent public agency. We are deeply rooted in this city and committed to its people, but we operate separately from City of Austin administration. Our new name makes that clear — simply, directly, and without fine print.
“We heard clearly from the people we serve: they wanted a name that reflected who we are and the impact we have. Returning to our original name is the right way to honor our legacy as we approach 90 years of service.” — Michael Gerber, CEO, Austin Housing Authority
A Name With History
The Austin Housing Authority was founded in 1937 — the same year Congress passed the U.S. Housing Act, which made public housing in America possible. Our very first communities, Santa Rita Courts and Rosewood Courts, opened in 1939 and still stand today as part of our ongoing commitment to East Austin and the families who call it home.
When our CEO Michael Gerber reflected on this moment, he put it simply:
“Austin Housing Authority was good enough for LBJ when he helped found this organization as a young senator in 1937. It’s good enough for me.”
That spirit — of honoring where we come from while building toward where we are going — is at the heart of everything we do.
A New Website Built for You
Alongside our new name, we are launching a brand-new website at austinha.org — and this one was built with our residents front and center.
The new site is easier to navigate, more accessible, available in multiple languages, and designed with a clean, modern interface that makes it simpler than ever to find information, access services, and connect with us. Whether you are a current resident, a prospective applicant, a community partner, or simply a neighbor who wants to know more about our work — austinha.org is your home base.
Stay Connected
Our new name comes with a new social media handle too. Follow us across platforms at @theaustinha for news, resident stories, program updates, and a front-row seat to the next chapter of the Austin Housing Authority.
We are nearly 90 years old — and we are just getting started.
