From 2020 to 2022, Austin leaders faced strong public backlash over plans to purchase and convert six hotels and motels into homeless shelters and transitional housing. Opponents argued that businesses and homeowners were concerned about crime and safety, threatening legal action to stop the hotel conversion effort, while city leaders insisted that the hotels would provide more permanent supportive housing.
An American-Statesman reader recently asked about what became of those facilities. Here’s what we found out.
Which hotels were converted and what did they become?
The city said that all hotels are currently occupied either as shelter or as housing.
- The Rodeway Inn, located in South Austin, became Southbridge shelter, which opened in June 2021 to support the city’s program to close encampments and redirect encampment residents to shelters.
- The Country Inn, located in North Austin, became the Northbridge shelter, which opened in August 2021 to support the city’s encampment closing program.
- Towne Place Suites by Marriott Austin Arboretum, located in North Austin, became Balcones Terrace and opened in August 2024 as supportive housing operated by Foundation Communities. It serves people exiting homelessness, people with extremely low incomes and people with fixed incomes such as veterans and seniors.
- Candlewood Suites Hotel, located in Northwest Austin, became Pecan Gardens and opened in October 2024 as permanent supportive housing operated by the nonprofit Family Eldercare. It serves seniors over the age of 55 who are exiting homelessness.
- Texas Bungalows Hotel and Suites, located in North Austin, became the Bungalows at Century Park and opened in November 2024 as permanent supportive housing operated by the nonprofit Integral Care. It serves single adults experiencing chronic homelessness and a disabling condition in Travis County.
- The Super 8 Motel, located in Northeast Austin, became the SAFE Alliance Shelter and opened in September 2025 to support families fleeing violence.
How much did hotel conversions cost the city?
The city spent nearly $54 million to turn the six lodging facilities into shelters or permanent housing.
- The Rodeway Inn (now Southbridge Shelter) was acquired on April 17, 2020 for $6.3 million.
- The Country Inn (now Northbridge Shelter) was acquired on October 15, 2020 for $8.2 million.
- Candlewood Suites (now Pecan Gardens) was acquired on August 24, 2021, for $9.55 million.
- Texas Bungalows (now the Bungalows at Century Park) was acquired on August 2, 2021 for $6.5 million.
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott Austin Arboretum (now the Balcones Terrace) was acquired on August 31, 2021 for $16.13 million.
- The Super 8 (now the SAFE Alliance Shelter) was acquired on April 28, 2022 for $6.8 million.
How many units do the apartments support?
The total occupancy for each housing or shelter option fluctuates at any given time, the city said. But here is the total capacity for each lodging facility:
The motels and hotels created 188 permanent supportive housing units:
- Pecan Gardens – 78 units.
- Bungalows at Century Park – 50 units
- Balcones Terrace – 60 units
- The hotels also created 267 shelter beds and 40 shelter units
- SAFE Alliance Shelter – 40 units
- Northbridge Shelter – 125 beds
- Southbridge Shelter – 142 beds
What share of the city’s total shelter and supportive housing capacity do these facilities represent?
The Northbridge, Southbridge and SAFE Alliance shelters make up 20% of the city’s current shelter inventory while Balcones Terrace, Pecan Gardens and the Bungalows at Century Park make up 15% of the city’s total project-based permanent supportive housing units, according to the city…