New Hampshire Housing 2017 QAP Forum
If you haven’t done so already, please Register today! On January 25, 2016 from 1:30-3:30 New Hampshire Housing will have a public forum at the New Hampshire Audubon facility at 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, New Hampshire.
In order to encourage discussion on a range of topics, this public forum will be conducted as a series of small discussion groups, with each group discussing the questions listed below for approximately 15 minutes per question. After each group has had a chance to discuss each question, there will be a “report-out” during which the larger group will convene and share thoughts from their discussion. Please come equipped to discuss these questions.
- New Hampshire Housing wants the housing it finances to be flexible and accessible by individuals from a range of ages and physical ability levels. How can we encourage design that is more universal in a way that is effective and cost efficient?
- How do we find the balance between preservation of existing affordable housing and creation of new affordable housing?
- To what extent should NH Housing encourage energy efficiency in LIHTC projects? What are the most effective ways to do that?
- New Hampshire Housing is considering doing away with the senior set-aside for the 2017 QAP. Do you have any concerns about the existing scoring categories that could unintentionally cause senior projects to have a major advantage or disadvantage relative to non-age-restricted?
- Nationally, there is a debate about the relative weight that should be given to siting affordable housing in “high-opportunity*” areas vs. in areas that are generally less wealthy and have suffered from a lack of investment.
- Do you have an opinion on which priority should be weighted more heavily in NH?
- What NH-specific factors should influence our decisions on this topic?
- How should we implement those priorities?
* “High Opportunity Areas” are generally defined as communities with good access to jobs, quality schools, and other economic and social benefits.