Allie, our Managing Director, represented disability-forward housing at the National Council of State Housing Agencies Annual Conference in New Orleans! State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) are organizations created by each state to support residents in meeting their affordable housing needs.
During their session, “Developing for Accessibility,” Allie shared how the Inclusive Design Standards are a critical tool for advancing housing for people with and without disabilities. She also offered policy and program recommendations that housing finance agencies can adopt to increase disability-forward housing supply, including but not limited to:
- Strengthening Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) through thresholds, points, and set-asides
- Incentivizing the use of tools and/or specific inclusive design elements in funding criteria for state programs
- Increasing partnerships and policy interventions for deep affordability & service-linked housing
Allie highlighted several state housing finance agencies leading the way, including Washington, D.C., along with 35 states implementing HUD’s Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance program, and Illinois, Virginia, and Indiana, which have dedicated funding for housing for people with disabilities through their QAPs.
State Housing Finance Agencies have enormous power in transforming housing opportunities for people with disabilities, and we’re grateful to convene with them to create a more equitable housing future.