GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
SAAA advocates for a much-improved housing voucher incentive ordinance
By Hector Morales , Jr ., MPAff and Alison Cohen , San Antonio Apartment Associatio Government Affairs staff
T he San Antonio Apartment Association took the lead in defeating a misguided source of income policy proposal in San Antonio and used the opportunity to direct city leaders to implement a more sensible housing policy — the Housing Voucher Incentive Program ( HVIP ).
Key takeaways
• The San Antonio Apartment Association successfully worked with local leaders to rework a proposed “ source of income ” ordinance into a new policy that incentivizes property owners to work with the federal housing choice voucher program .
• The effort involved lots of communication with city council members and staff , as well as marshaling the support of other real estate and industry groups .
• Members involved in providing and developing affordable housing were key to the success of this effort .
Background : In 2015 , the Texas Apartment Association , along with leaders and staff from local affiliates across the state , successfully lobbied for the passage of a statewide pre-emption of source of income legislation . Cities can , however , prohibit such discrimination on properties that receive support from the city .
At the end of an already challenging 2020 , the City of San Antonio recommended a source of income discrimination ordinance ( SOID ). Source of income discrimination refers to the practice of refusing to rent to a housing applicant because of the person ’ s lawful form of income . A source of income discrimination ordinance makes it illegal for housing providers to not accept housing vouchers as a source of income for rent payment .
The city staff ’ s initial recommendation was made to the City Council Planning and Land Development Committee and was a policy drafted similar to the City of Dallas ’ SOID ordinance , with a focus on having the ordinance apply only to properties that receive city funds and / or support .
For San Antonio Apartment Association staff , there was little time to welcome 2021 . If the City Council Planning and Land Development Committee voted to move forward on the proposed ordinance , the city council could then vote it into law . SAAA immediately stepped up its advocacy to oppose the recommendation and educate city officials about this policy ’ s faults .
SAAA advocated for property owners
SAAA volunteer leaders and SAAA staff met with San Antonio city staff who authored and had proposed this ordinance , and also met with councilmembers who sat on the Planning and Land Development Committee .
These initial meetings focused on educating city staff and city council members on incentivizing affordable housing projects from the industry perspective and making development desirable for investors .
Under the recommended ordinance , property owners who receive city incentives and / or have contracts with the city would not have been able to refuse federal housing vouchers from a tenant applying for housing . It essentially required a property owner receiving benefits from the city or having a contract with the city to participate in the federal housing voucher program or else lose those benefits or contracts .
SAAA volunteer leaders who work with subsidized affordable housing projects emphasized to city officials that the ordinance would create a deterrent for housing providers applying for city funds . Apartment owners would have to participate in the program , regardless of the circumstances of their businesses , or be denied the use of city funding or incentives to provide housing .
Initial committee approval
One of the most glaring issues with the ordinance was that city staff could not provide any tangible evidence to back up claims that vouchers were not being accepted on a large scale throughout the city at properties whose rents were affordableble for voucher holders . More specifically , staff could point to no tangible evidence showing this was happening at properties that received city funding incentives or benefits .
Despite the association ’ s efforts , the Planning and Land Development Committee voted to send the ordinance to the full city council for consideration . SAAA firmed up its case and met with more city council members and city staff before the item reached the council for a vote .
www . saaaonline . org | AUGUST 2021 41