Frequently Asked Questions

Texas Housing Foundation is a regional housing authority and nonprofit housing organization created under Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code. THF partners with local governments and community organizations to respond to housing challenges, strengthen local housing resources, expand access to housing solutions tailored to each community’s needs.

Through cooperation agreements with local governing bodies, THF is able to work in communities across the State of Texas.

THF works with communities across the State of Texas, with a primary focus on rural and regional housing needs. THF currently operates properties and housing initiatives in communities ranging from near the Oklahoma border to the Texas coast, including partnerships throughout Central Texas and other regions of the state.

Through cooperation agreements with local governing bodies, THF partners with communities seeking practical attainable housing solutions tailored to local needs.

THF combines housing advocacy, regional collaboration, and long-term housing development strategies in one organization. THF works alongside local governments, community partners, and service providers to help communities address both immediate housing challenges and long-term attainable housing needs.

As a regional housing authority created under Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code, THF supports a wide range of housing tools and partnerships, including participation in financing structures such as tax-exempt bond programs and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments.

THF’s approach is designed to support practical, community-driven housing solutions tailored to local priorities and conditions.

Yes. THF may provide temporary housing assistance, motel lodging support, disaster response coordination, housing advocacy, and other housing stabilization services depending on program availability, funding, and community partnerships.

THF focuses on housing support, emergency motel lodging coordination, housing advocacy, crisis response, and long-term attainable housing solutions. Rather than operating large congregate shelter systems, THF works with local governments, service providers, and community partners to help communities respond to housing crises in ways that reflect local needs and available resources. Programs and services may vary by community, funding availability, and local partnerships.

Individuals seeking assistance may contact us at the Texas Housing Foundation Community Resource Center. Programs and eligibility vary based on funding and individual circumstances.

• Texas Housing Foundation Community Resource Center: 830-693-0700

Some THF programs may assist with temporary housing-related needs, including rental assistance, utility assistance, motel lodging support, or other housing stabilization services when funding is available. Assistance programs vary by community, funding source, eligibility requirements, and household circumstances.

THF believes there is no single solution to today’s housing challenges. Communities often face complex housing needs with a limited set of tools available to address them.

That’s why THF is committed to using as many tools in the housing toolbox as possible. Depending on local needs, we may support multifamily housing, land banking, housing assistance programs, public-private partnerships, and housing preservation efforts alongside traditional housing programs provided by HUD, USDA, and TDHCA.

THF also recognizes that traditional approaches alone won’t solve every challenge. We actively explore innovative, community-driven solutions that expand housing opportunities and help communities think beyond conventional housing models.

Land banking is the practice of acquiring and preserving property for future housing development. It helps communities plan ahead and maintain opportunities for attainable housing as land costs increase.

THF can work with local governments and community partners to identify and preserve strategic properties that support long-term housing needs and community priorities.

Texas Housing Foundation’s approach to attainable housing focuses on long-term community benefit rather than short-term development activity. THF supports strategies designed to help preserve affordability, maintain local housing access, and encourage responsible long-term stewardship of housing resources.

Depending on the project and partnership structure, these strategies may include land banking, long-term ground leases, public-private partnerships, and participation in affordable housing financing programs such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments.

As a regional housing authority created under Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code, THF may also utilize tools that help reduce development and operating costs, including property tax exemptions and sales tax exemptions related to eligible housing activities and construction. These tools can help communities improve long-term housing affordability while supporting financially sustainable housing developments.

THF’s goal is to help communities create attainable housing solutions that remain viable and beneficial for future generations.

Housing innovation pilots are small-scale projects designed to test practical new approaches to housing challenges facing Texas communities. These initiatives may explore creative housing models, regional partnerships, temporary housing solutions, or other community-driven approaches tailored to local needs.

Pilot projects allow communities and housing partners to evaluate potential solutions on a smaller scale before pursuing larger long-term investments or development efforts.

Donations to THF support a broad range of housing-related efforts, including housing advocacy, crisis response, motel lodging assistance, disaster response coordination, housing innovation initiatives, and long-term accessible housing strategies.

THF works alongside local governments, developers, employers, healthcare systems, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, and other community stakeholders to support practical and accessible housing solutions across Texas.

THF’s partnership model is designed to help communities explore housing strategies that reflect local priorities, infrastructure capacity, workforce needs, and long-term community goals. Depending on the community and project, partnerships may include housing advocacy, regional collaboration, land banking, housing development initiatives, financing partnerships, housing innovation pilots, or other community-driven housing efforts.

Yes. THF operates as a nonprofit regional housing authority created under Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code.

This structure allows THF to work alongside local governments, community organizations, developers, and other stakeholders to support attainable housing solutions, housing advocacy, and long-term community housing strategies across Texas.

As a regional housing authority, THF is able to utilize a variety of housing tools, partnerships, and financing structures designed to help communities address local housing challenges in practical and locally tailored ways.

Housing challenges grow more difficult and more expensive when communities are forced to respond only after a crisis occurs. THF believes communities need both immediate housing support for households facing urgent situations today and long-term strategies that expand attainable housing opportunities for the future.

Following the 2025 Central Texas floods, THF worked directly with dozens of families seeking temporary and permanent housing solutions after losing housing stability. That experience reinforced the importance of local housing resilience and the need for communities to have stronger housing systems in place before emergencies occur.

As a result, THF sharpened its focus on housing advocacy, crisis response, and long-term housing solutions designed to help communities prevent displacement, respond to emergencies, and strengthen local housing opportunities over time.

THF welcomes conversations with local governments, employers, community organizations, developers, landowners, and residents interested in exploring practical housing solutions tailored to local needs.

Housing challenges vary significantly between communities, and some of the most effective solutions begin with local ideas, partnerships, and community-driven collaboration. THF works alongside communities to help evaluate opportunities, identify potential housing strategies, and explore partnerships that support long-term housing resilience and attainable housing goals.

Communities or organizations interested in discussing housing ideas or potential partnerships are encouraged to contact THF directly.

We do not self-manage the properties we own. We partner with qualified third-party property management organizations while employing an in-house asset management team. This ensures our properties meet physical and compliance requirements and the standards we hold for our portfolio.

No. While both organizations support housing and are quasi-public, they are created under different Texas laws and serve different roles. Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs) are created under Chapter 394 of the Texas Local Government Code and primarily function as financing entities that issue tax-exempt bonds to support housing developments.

THF operates as a regional housing authority created under Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code. As a housing authority, THF is authorized to engage in a broader range of housing-related activities, including housing development, land banking, housing assistance programs, public-private partnerships, housing advocacy, and long-term community housing initiatives.

Unlike many statewide organizations, THF’s ability to work across Texas is grounded in a locally controlled process. Chapter 392 requires cooperation agreements approved by local governing bodies before THF may exercise its authority within a jurisdiction, ensuring that every partnership begins with local leadership, local consent, and local priorities.