Questions By Affordable Housing Forum

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?