Issue: Housing

Q Do you agree that increasing housing supply is only one side of the supply-demand equation for beating back Austin’s affordability crisis, and that Austin should refrain from subsidizing growth during times of rapid growth so as to reduce demand growth to levels that can be met with new supply? If so, in the Candidate Response section below, please tell us your ideas for ways to make Austin’s growth pay for itself. (Hint: You can refer to any of the materials parked on this page from the years of work conducted by local developers, Brian Rodgers and Ed Wendler, Jr., especially the power point at the bottom of the page Total Accounting and Impact Fees.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

Asked by IndyAustin

Q When considering affordable housing to be supported by the City, whether financial or other support, what are the top 4 or 5 criteria you would use to rank order a project to deem it worthy of support?

Asked by Affordable Housing Forum

Q Nearly one in five renters have difficulty paying rent, leading to formal and informal evictions. Evictions have long lasting detrimental economic effects on households. What city policies and roles can the city play to prevent formal and informal evictions among low income tenants?

Asked by Affordable Housing Forum

Q How would you encourage large employers and private sector partners in Austin to contribute to the provision of affordable housing for their workers and the industries serving them?

Asked by Affordable Housing Forum

Q Given that the market produces the majority of all Austin housing, how do you suggest we enable the market to build more attainable housing for families and individuals currently priced out of our market, but earning more than 80% MFI?

Asked by Affordable Housing Forum

Q The Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, adopted in April 2017, identified a need for 20,000 housing units affordable at 30% MFI and Below over ten years, including Permanent Supportive Housing & Home Repair. Funding mechanisms and tools currently used by the city are unable to meet this need at this affordability level. The Blueprint calls for “new funding, new regulations, new programs, new and deeper partnerships and collaborations with non-profit organizations, legislative changes, land development code changes, and participation from the private sector” in order to meet the growing need. What ideas do you envision to reach significant progress with the goals identified in the Blueprint?

Asked by Affordable Housing Forum

Q How do you plan to address the affordability and housing crises in Austin? Council discussions on affordability constantly use terms such as 80% or 60% MFI. Will you agree to use more specific numbers (e.g. how much do these units cost, in dollars) in public discussions?

Asked by Sierra Club – Austin Regional Group

Q Will you push to improve energy efficiency requirements for new homes, and to increase funding for such programs (weatherization, etc.) for existing homes, especially of low-income residents? YES or NO? How?

Asked by Sierra Club – Austin Regional Group

Q Affordable housing is a major problem in Austin. Large numbers of people who work in Austin cannot afford to live in Austin. Many families are moving outside the city to find affordable housing. Do you have any ideas to help create more affordable housing or to make existing housing more affordable?

Asked by Black Austin Democrats

Q November 6, 2018, Austin voters have the opportunity to pass a $925 million bond package which includes $250 million for affordable housing. How do you plan to expand and promote the development of diverse housing options that are affordable for seniors of different income levels?

Asked by Texas Alliance for Retired Americans