Imagine Austin is hosting a meetup at Wonderland (1104 E 6th) this Thursday evening from 6-9 to talk about household affordability–I’ll be attending if anyone would like to meet me there. Here’s their synopsis:
When we talk about affordability in Austin, we need to start talking
about more than just affordable housing. A comprehensive approach is
needed to define and provide household affordability for all Austinites.
In order to maintain and increase household affordability, we need to
take into consideration not only household costs such as mortgage, rent,
and utilities but also transportation and access to daily and weekly
needs as essential and inter-related components of household
affordability.
HousingWorks Austin will be our guest this month, with Executive Director Mandy DeMayo aiding
the conversation. We’ll be social, as usual, and we’ll have a way for
you to get more involved in the conversation and in our community.
Austin Housing Coalition Panel Discussion
August 26, 2015
09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
M Station
2906 E. MLK, Jr
Austin, TX 78702
On Wednesday, August 26th, the Austin Housing Coalition will host a panel discussion on the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. Administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), the tax credit program is the largest producer of affordable housing in Texas (and the United States). It’s a complicated program, with rules governed by a combination of federal tax law and the state-wide Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP).
QAP rules determine the competitive program’s scoring criteria and, ultimately, where affordable housing is located. TDHCA’s tax credit program made news recently, with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that upheld “disparate impact” claims under the federal Fair Housing Act. Essentially, the Supreme Court affirmed that discrimination (whether intentional or not) is unacceptable and violates the Fair Housing Act. Read more about the Supreme Court decision on the Texas Low Income Housing Information Services blog.
Our panelists include Janine Sisak, DMA Development Company, Sarah Andre, Structure Texas, and Jennifer Hicks, Foundation Communities. All three panelists have a wealth of experience and knowledge of the tax credit program. Come join the Austin Housing Coalition for a lively discussion on Wednesday, August 26th, from 9 – 10:30 am at M Station, 2906 E. MLK, Jr. Blvd.
http://housingworksaustin.org/pec-events/austin-housing-coalition-2/