Builders of Hope Breaks Ground On Affordable West Dallas Rentals

Builders of Hope, a West Dallas-based housing nonprofit, broke ground earlier this month on its latest mixed-income affordable housing project. The new Trinity West Villas marks a significant shift from the nonprofit’s typical single-family home developments. 

The 31-unit complex will be the first Builders of Hope development of multifamily rental units, and will include 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom floor plans. The project aligns with the nonprofit’s mission to address the affordable housing gap in Dallas’ historically redlined neighborhoods.

The 1-bedroom floor plans are expected to range anywhere from $750-$1,000 a month, while 2- and 3-bedroom options will be available to rent for less than $2,500.

Builders of Hope President and CEO James Armstrong says Dallas needs more affordable homes for families — specifically middle-class wage earners such as first responders, teachers and government workers. 

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as housing in which the homeowner or renter is paying no more than a third of their income for housing costs, including utilities. This means that aside from basic bills, such as electricity, water and rent, residents still have money for other necessities.

A Dallas Housing Needs Assessment released by the City of Dallas Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee points to rapid new development in the City and continuous population growth as causes for the housing affordability crisis. As of 2022, 62% of renters and 50% of homeowners earning between $35,000 and $50,000 were spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

Some of the units in Trinity West Village will be income restricted for individuals who make as low as 50% of the area median income (AMI), Armstrong says. HUD currently defines Dallas’ median income as $110,330, so an individual earning $38,650 or less annually would qualify for those units.

A Rental Housing Needs Assessment conducted by the Child Poverty Action Lab found that as of 2023 the City had a 33,660 rental unit gap for households that are making 50% or below the AMI. Their findings show that this number will skyrocket to a gap of 83,500 rental units by 2030 without intervention. 

Currently, the apartments are not able to be rented yet, Armstrong says that lease applications will become available as they progress through construction.

“We want the people from West Dallas who have housing needs to be the ones who take advantage of Trinity West Villas,” Armstrong says.  

The $7.4 million Trinity West Villas project is funded by the City of Dallas’ Department of Housing through the Neighborhood Stabilization program and HOME Investment Partnerships. Project partners for the new housing development include JP Morgan Chase’s Equitable Development Initiative and the City of Dallas.

Historically, both Trinity West Villas and the adjacent Trinity West homes by Lennar were part of a racist federal housing project that opened in 1955. Greenleaf Ventures, the developer behind the 18-acre site that is home to Trinity West’ single-family homes and the neighboring villas, was approved to purchase the land from the Dallas Housing Authority as long as it would be used for mixed-income housing development.

Ethan Reynolds, a resident of Trinity West, purchased his home around five months ago. He found out about the groundbreaking through his homeowners association.

“I’m just hoping that driving in and out of the neighborhood, it doesn’t get too congested,” Reynolds says.“Something that worries some of the neighbors is guest parking overflowing into our subdivision.”  

Armstrong says that the development has allocated parking spaces for visitors to reduce overflow parking into the Trinity West subdivision. Trinity West Villas and the subdivision of Trinity West, made up of about 116 single family homes, will share one entry and exit in and out of the neighborhoods.

District 6 City Council member Omar Narvaez, who represents West Dallas, was very supportive of the development project.

“Because of your advocacy as a community with partnerships and organizations, we have created more work-force housing units in the city of Dallas than the entire rest of the city because we are focused on getting affordable housing,” Narvaez said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Builders of Hope was founded in 1998 with the goal of revitalizing West Dallas. Their work spans West Dallas, South Dallas and Pleasant Grove. They have constructed more than 500 housing projects since 1998.

Construction for Trinity West Villas is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025. As of now, the project does not have an expected completion date.