Strengthening communities through affordable housing

A Veteran finally holds the keys to her own home. Expectant parents dream about their baby’s nursery. A family no longer struggles to pay their next heating bill. A senior citizen can cover his payments after being threatened with eviction.

Whether we are facilitating construction of affordable housing units in Texas or helping to lower the upfront cost of energy-efficient upgrades for residents in Colorado, we uplift communities by developing supportive housing solutions for the people who need it most.

Our teams leverage expertise in funding, compliance, and project evaluation so that more people have a place to call home and a foundation to thrive.

Developing housing units to address homelessness in Austin, Texas

Communities in Travis County, Texas, home to the City of Austin, faced a homelessness crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. County leaders partnered with local nonprofit organizations to deploy $110 million in federal funds and develop housing for people experiencing or on the verge of homelessness.

But the county and its nonprofit partners needed guidance for financing these complex real estate projects and aligning with state, local, and private-sector financing sources. County leaders turned to us for help with making their Supportive Housing Initiative Pipeline (SHIP), one of the most ambitious supportive housing programs in the nation, a reality.

We applied our deep expertise and extensive knowledge of federal funding to help the county invest the funds in complex, innovative projects while complying with the most up-to-date federal guidance.

During the planning phase, our team created a framework for overall project review and evaluation and ensured that each development was ready to receive public funds. This work required seamlessly combining our experts in federal grants, affordable housing finance, real estate, and construction monitoring and reporting. We created a thorough due diligence and cost-benefit analysis process that enabled the county to review projects effectively, close loans, and minimize its risk.

Once these projects are financed and shovels are in the ground, we will help oversee construction. Our achievements on this project have included developing a construction process user guide, conducting regular site visits, streamlining reporting and communications, and verifying that all development projects adhere to relevant federal and county compliance standards.

The impact will be significant. Eleven funded projects will create more than 2,000 units of supportive housing by the end of 2027. Units will be rented at below-market rates, and many tenants will receive additional rental subsidies. Each project will provide critical supportive services on-site, including case management, peer support, housing navigation, medical and mental health services, and job training.