State-by-State Green Priorities in Affordable Housing Tax Credit Programs

In early 2023, NHT embarked on the process of reviewing the Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) from all 50 state Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) and three local allocating agencies (Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C.) to identify the strategies used to promote housing stability in the Housing Credit program.
This webinar will focus on our QAP analysis and highlight how state HFAs are integrating policies around electrification, third-party green building standards, whole-building energy performance, and renewable energy to create and preserve affordable housing.
NHT has a history of working with state and local agencies to strengthen their affordable housing policies, especially specific to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) program. The Housing Credit program is the largest federal source of financing for affordable housing, supporting the development and preservation of over 3.55 million units since 1987*. With our deep understanding of this critical resource, NHT’s efforts have helped to transform the program from one that favored new construction to one that preserves hundreds of thousands of units of affordable housing across the country.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Health, Materials, Water, Place
• American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)
• State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
• Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
Lessons Learned
1. Understand the importance of integrating policies around electrification, third-party green building standards, whole-building energy performance, and renewable energy to promote health in affordable housing. How it's related to total decarbonization.
2. Analyze the impact of implementing Green QAP Policy on the safety of affordable housing residents.
3. Introduce the concept of sustainable construction practices in QAPs to articulate the benefits of welfare for affordable housing residents.
4. Articulate the importance of promoting housing stability through the integration of Green QAP Policy in affordable housing projects.
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
Speaker
Madeleine McCullough serves as Program Coordinator and Analyst for National Housing Trust's Policy team. In this role, Madeleine works to advance clean energy policy, and builds the capacity of affordable housing developers and state agencies to ensure low-income residents have access to clean, affordable, and resilient housing.
Todd Nedwick is the National Housing Trust’s Senior Director of Sustainability Policy. Todd leads NHT’s engagement with public and private stakeholders to advance the use of housing and energy resources for affordable housing. He currently directs NHT’s involvement in Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA). EEFA builds power to ensure that all renters live in homes that are affordable and healthy by uniting people from diverse sectors and backgrounds to collectively make multifamily affordable homes energy and water efficient. Todd holds a B.A. in Political Science from American University and a Master’s in Public Policy with a concentration in Social Policy from the University of Maryland, School of Public Policy.

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Large roof overhangs add beauty and protect the doors, windows and siding from rain and sun damage.
Architects need to include larger overhangs in their plans and drawings.

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Bicycles, ebikes, electric cargo bicycles, robo taxis and escooters are great options for last mile, short distance travel.
Reduced transportation costs and fossil fuels free transportation.
Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles by providing SAFE, PROTECTED BIKE LANES and trails. Every adult and child should own a bicycle and ride it regularly. Bicycles are healthy exercise and fossil fuels free transportation. Electric bicycles are bringing many older adults back to cycling. Ride to work, ride to school, ride for health or ride for fun. Children should be able to ride a bicycle to school without having to dodge cars and trucks. Separated and protected bike lanes are required. It will also make the roads safer for automobile drivers. Transportation planners and elected officials need to encourage people to walk, bike and take public transportation. Healthy exercise and fossil fuels free transportation. In the future cities will be redesigned for people not cars. Crazy big parking lots will be transformed with solar canopies generating free energy from the sun.

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Every home and business should install a rain water collection and storage system along with solar panels.
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the future is electric. Wind and solar energy along with electric vehicles are the future. Stop using fossil fuels. There is a climate crisis.