Housing Development Center

Operating conditions for rent-restricted affordable housing are extraordinarily challenging and volatile today, and many projects are faltering out of the gate. But HDC's Kimberly Taylor (KT) has 12 practical tips on how developers and asset managers can collaborate, at every phase of the development process, to bolster the operational resiliency of affordable housing properties being planned today. Tip 1: Sketch out realistic operating projections. Tip 2: Plan and implement a cross-disciplinary investment review process. Tip 3: Carefully review partner agreements and renegotiate as needed. Tip 4: Revisit the lease-up budget and lease-up reserve account. (Then increase both.) Tip 5: Make tough calls and respond to crises in a hurry.   Tip 6: Bring your organization’s housing design manual to design meetings. Tip 7: Refine and implement a lease-up plan, starting 6 to 8 months before TCO.  Tip 8: Book expenses and revenues correctly. Tip 9: Make collaboration possible by doing it efficiently. Tip 10: Manage information flow, don’t obstruct it. Tip 11: Come to the process prepared. Tip 12: Use your power to negotiate—and to say no. How and why should you do these 12 things? Read the full article for the details. You can also watch a video of the panel discussion that the article recaps. It contains a trove of wisdom from #AffordableHousing #AssetManagement experts Mary Eileen Langsdorf Hanson of Community Development Partners, Melissa Baker of Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. and our own Natalie Thornton. Thanks to all the panelists, and enjoy the read! https://lnkd.in/gCzujkAS

This is the second national article this week to highlight the threats to Smith Tower, a 170-unit senior housing community HDC is working with other partners to rehabilitate and preserve. Funding cuts by the Trump administration "could disrupt efforts to maintain tens of thousands of [housing] units for low-income Americans." The "$1 billion affordable housing program" the author is referring to the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), passed by Congress in 2022. GRRP funds are used to preserve and improve existing affordable housing communities like Smith Tower--projects built with public investments. Terminating programs like the GRRP is anything but an efficient way to address our housing crisis. Tell your lawmakers to restore GRRP funds so that housing communities like Smith Tower can continue to serve vulnerable residents for decades into the future! https://lnkd.in/gKtxDG7Q

Al Hase lives at the Smith Tower, home to 170 low-income senior households in Vancouver. Hase says it is "terrifying" that the future of his affordable home is at risk because of government efficiency efforts by Trump and DOGE. By halting a $1 billion program passed by Congress in 2022, the new administration has left a $10 million gap in the budget to rehabilitate and preserve the 60-year-old building--an effort HDC is working alongside other partners to complete. Filling the gap will take time and "will inevitably make the project more expensive," HDC's Travis Phillips told AP reporter Jesse Bedayn. Bedayn's excellent story looks at the damaging impacts of the funding freeze on residents like Hase:   "On its face, the over $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, passed by Congress in 2022, is intended for energy-efficiency improvements. It is distributed in grants and loans to owners of affordable housing in need of updating, including replacing or repairing heating and cooling systems, leaky roofs, aging insulation or windows, or undertaking floodproofing.   "But the money plays a much larger role in preserving affordable units.   "Projects that use the funds are required to keep their buildings affordable for up to 25 years. The money is also leveraged to pull in other investments for major repairs and renovations needed to keep the buildings livable."   Our communities are counting on funds committed through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to ensure that seniors living on fixed incomes don't become homeless. Lawmakers must act to reinstate the GRRP and other HUD programs that are essential to addressing our regional and national housing crisis.   https://lnkd.in/gbYjJ2dn

Our friends at Salem Housing Authority are #hiring!

DAY OF ACTION: Protect HUD, protect affordable homes! Today, Monday, March 10, join organizations and people all over the country who are taking action to protect HUD and the affordable homes it makes possible. What's happening: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s approximately 8,300 employees are responsible for managing affordable housing programs that serve millions of people nationwide, including children, veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities. The administration has asked HUD to cut its workforce by about half, with deep cuts in field offices nationwide and threatened reductions to programs and funding. Staff and funding cuts to an already under-resourced HUD will reduce government efficiency, increase housing instability and homelessness (especially for low-income families and individuals), and worsen an already historic national affordable housing crisis. The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) is urging folks to call their senators and representatives today and ask them to stop harmful cuts of HUD staff and funding! Follow this link to sign their NLIHC's) letter and contact your reps with one click. https://lnkd.in/eMS-H7g5

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and constituents held a press conference to explain how the federal funding freeze is harming Washingtonians. Our friend Greg Franks, president of Manor Management Services, spoke to the impacts on seniors who live at Smith Tower, the iconic Vancouver affordable housing community that HDC is working with Manor to preserve and renovate. Greg said, “After nearly 60 years of local organized labor leaders coming together and providing 170 affordable rental homes in Vancouver, Washington, to low- and extremely-low-income seniors, Smith Tower is in need of improvements to preserve the affordability and the structure for the next 60 years or more. "Our government must ensure the predictable and timely delivery of funding commitments already made by HUD and EPA in order to avoid additional costs which could derail the project entirely and put at risk the stability and safety of these seniors’ homes and hundreds of jobs.” Smith Tower was awarded a $10 million loan through HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program in 2024, as well as an $11.5 million loan from EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This funding, although already awarded, is currently frozen by the Trump administration and at risk. Smith Tower has a unique history and is home to 170 senior households who are awaiting essential safety and energy upgrades to their building. We will continue to work with Manor Management and our other project partners to move this important project forward--when promised funds are unfrozen. Learn more about the funding freeze on businesses and organizations across Washington state by watching the virtual press conference: https://lnkd.in/gCr26N64

The Family Reunion Fundraiser is a great opportunity to support Path Home's work to ensure that families with children who experience homelessness have what they need get back into housing and thrive!

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Four great opportunities are open at Latino Network!

"As our country heads into difficult and uncharted territory, HDC’s mission and values are firm. We stand for, and with, historically oppressed members of our community. We will continue to steer toward a vision of care and abundance for every person." #dei #BelovedCommmunity Read more from HDC Executive Director Traci Manning's message at https://lnkd.in/gpu-SQwq