In the town of New Braunfels, Texas — just a short drive from San Antonio — rapid population growth has made it difficult for people to find affordable housing, or any housing at all.
So, when Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, realized there was a vacant lot next to the New Braunfels branch of the food bank, a lightbulb went off.
“What we know about a food-insecure household is that rent eats first in every household budget,” Cooper told Fast Company.
“If we can provide food, that in some ways allows a family to cost-shift their dollars to stay housed.”
The New Braunfels branch of the San Antonio Food Bank. Photo courtesy of San Antonio Food Bank
The McKenna Foundation and NB Housing Partners have supported the purchase of the land, turning to the food bank to oversee the new apartments, which are now being constructed. The apartment building, called Appleseed Apartments, has 51 units that will be rented to families with children for 24 to 36 months.
They are designed for people in transitional phases, to help them get on their feet and find stability within a short time, so others who need help can move in next.
The price of rent in these affordable units has not yet been announced, but they are reserved for families earning 80% or less of the area’s median income.
Cooper said residents will have access to financial literacy classes and will receive a stipend to help support them when it’s time to move out.
“In some ways, there was this thought that … we don’t do housing; we do food. But after the journey, we were like, what do we do? We do people,” Cooper said. “We know neighbors, and we help neighbors.”
The Appleseed build is not quite complete, but Woolsey Design Build gets closer to finishing the project every day.
“By pairing safe, high-quality homes with job training, nutrition programs, and financial-literacy resources, Appleseed helps neighbors stay rooted in the city they work in and love, instead of being priced out,” Woolsey said in a social media post.
“Woolsey Design Build is honored to turn this vision into reality. From framing to final finishes, our team is pouring decades of craft and community pride into every square foot so that future residents have a place to live, connect, and thrive.”
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A version of this article was originally published in The 2026 Home Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image courtesy of San Antonio Food Bank
