Dear Colleagues & Staff,
Please provide feedback on the following resolution I am proposing for adoptions.
JGA
Tenants Bill of Rights Implementation Plan
Whereas, on October 5th, 2021, the Travis County Commissioners Court instructed Strategic HFC to adopt a Tenants Bill of Rights with the provisions specified in Appendix A of this resolution, and
Whereas, the Strategic HFC Board of Directors has since worked to increase adoption of the provisions of the Tenants Bill of Rights specified by the Travis County Commissioners Court in its existing and new partnerships, and
Whereas, the Strategic HFC Board of Directors has sought creative mechanisms to implement tenant protections, such as public benefit bonuses for so-called workforce deals, and
Whereas, Strategic HFC has revamped its enterprise organizational chart and policy-making function since the transmittal of the Travis County Commissioners Court’s instructions on a Tenants Bill of Rights, and
Whereas, the Strategic HFC Board of Directors wishes to develop a comprehensive approach to measuring and improving tenant well-being at its portfolio properties,
Now Therefore, Be it resolved that the Strategic HFC Board of Directors reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of a Tenants Bill of Rights,
Further resolved, the Strategic HFC Board of Directors requests that the Executive Director develop an implementation plan for the provisions included in the Tenants Bill of Rights. The implementation plan may include segmented and/or truncated implementation of the different provisions, recommendations for modifications and/or additions of certain provisions, and creative deal terms or investments to incentivize adoption of the provisions of the Tenant Bill of Rights.
Further resolved, the requested Tenants Bill of Rights implementation plan will be designed to be complementary to other Strategic HFC tenant well-being initiatives,
Further resolved, the Strategic HFC Board of Directors requests that the Executive Director provide the Tenants Bill of Rights implementation plan for Board adoption no later than the Board’s December 2025 meeting. The Strategic HFC Board of Directors requests that the Executive Director provide an update briefing on the status of the Tenants Bill of Rights implementation plan to the full Board at a date no later than the Board’s June 2025 meeting.
Appendix A – Original Tenants Bill of Rights Adopted by Travis County Commissioners Court on 10/5/21
Subject to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and tax credit rules and regulations, and any lease agreements in effect prior to the implementation of a Tenants Bill of Rights, and effective September 24, 2021, SHFC shall adopt a tenants bill of rights that must incorporate the City of Austin’s lease addendum, the version in effect as of October 5, 2021 for RHDA funded properties for all future leases to be included in any property-wide rules at all SHFC properties. SHFC must also incorporate the tenants bill of rights into any service contracts that are for the benefit of the tenants. The tenants bill of rights shall include:
• Keeping properties suitable for occupancy and good repair, including, timely repairs, information about the status and timeline of completion for any repair, inspection reports for any of the tenants’ units
• Following fair housing laws including granting requests for reasonable accommodations, modifications, and information about the status of the request including accommodations related to transfers to first floor units
• Policies on handling tenant complaints and unlawful discrimination, distribute surveys addressing property repair needs, management responsiveness, and resident relations. Make surveys available to tenants of each SHFC property. Survey results must be available to all tenants and a summary provided to the SHFC board, the Travis County Commissioners Court, and the public.
• Use and maintenance of common areas
• Habitability rights including the right to return to a unit if any repairs require relocation and that SHFC bear the cost of any necessary relocation
• SHFC will not interfere with the right to organize and participate in a tenants’ association including the right to invite third party organizers to assist in organizing activities. SHFC will, whenever possible, collaborate with tenants individually to resolve tenant concerns
• Tenants have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, give feedback to the landlord on property issues including staffing matters, and access to communications within the tenants spoken language.
