Peace Lutheran Church is preparing to open a new shelter for families facing hardship—only the second of its kind in the area, according to Lynne Williams, executive director of HomeAid Austin.
The church hopes this new initiative will become the blueprint for other aid organizations in Travis and Williamson counties that aim to help families facing serious issues such as homelessness, food insecurity and instability while keeping families together.

The approach: Peace Lutheran Church is in the process of developing a transitional housing facility for homeless families in far Northwest Austin. The $1.2 million project is expected to break ground in early 2026 and include four apartments, which can house a maximum of six families at a time until permanent housing is secured.

The city of Cedar Park broke ground on a new expansion and improvements project along Toro Grande Boulevard on Nov. 7.

The details: Representatives from the city and Williamson County came out to officially open construction on the major infrastructure project. Once complete, the project will provide a new four-lane connection between New Hope Drive and Parmer Lane. The roadway will also alleviate traffic at Parmer and Whitestone Boulevard and improve mobility throughout the region, according to a news release from the city.

The $36.5 million project, which was funded through 2015 and 2022 bond programs and 2020 and 2024 interlocal agreements with Williamson County, is expected to be complete in fall 2027.

The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter’s Finder to Foster program, which allows those who find lost pets to care for them, served a record-breaking 163 pets this fiscal year.

The number is 45% higher than the program's previous fiscal year, and more than double the pets helped two years ago, according to a WCRAS news release.

About the program: The F2F program places lost pets with the community member who finds them by allowing them to be a temporary foster. Rather than the pet staying in the WCRAS shelter, these pets can stay in the comfort of a nearby home.

Participants in the F2F program receive a free T-shirt from WCRAS.

The impact: Keeping lost pets near where they are found increases the likelihood of reuniting the pet with their family, according to the release. Most lost animals are located just miles from their home, and staying in the neighborhood increases their visibility, the release states.

A 36-mile trail project along the Capital Metro Red Line could transform neighborhoods across Austin, linking communities from Downtown to Leander. The Red Line Parkway Initiative, first envisioned over 20 years ago, is set to become the largest trail system north of Lady Bird Lake, connecting major trails in a unique way, said Tom Wald, executive director of the initiative.

The big picture: Following a transit-oriented development model, the trail will weave along Red Line rail stations, linking neighborhoods where daily needs are accessible without a car. Completed segments are already popular, with some seeing 1,500 users per day, according to Wald.

The project draws inspiration from Atlanta’s Beltline, which combined public and private funding to create a $10 billion economic hub supporting businesses, jobs and thousands of residential units.

The outlook: In Austin, the Red Line Parkway Initiative is now fundraising and planning public engagement to finalize trail routes and uses. Redeveloping industrial areas, like North Austin, are seen as prime locations for integrating transit and community amenities.

Here are the top Community Impact stories in the Austin area from Nov. 10-14.

1. Johnson Development planning 1,900-home community in Liberty Hill

2. Georgie’s restaurant in Georgetown serves up fresh seafood and cocktails

3. CI Foodie: Coffee, barbecue and more dining updates in Austin and nearby

4. Georgetown scraps Berry Creek Trail project due to resident feedback

5. Three Round Rock businesses slated for southwest corner of A.W. Grimes, E. Palm Valley boulevards

6. Proposed Skybox data center moves forward in Round Rock