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Brownsville's LIHTC Program: A Two-Decade Effort in Affordable Housing
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Brownsville, Texas, a city on the western Gulf Coast near the U.S.-Mexico border, has implemented a significant Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing program. The city's LIHTC program has funded 1,498 total units, with 1,230 designated as low-income units. Based on an estimated housing inventory of 72,560 units, LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 2.06% of the city's housing stock.
Brownsville has received $2,075,405 in project tax credits for affordable housing through the LIHTC program. With approximately 20 projects, this equates to an average of $103,770 in federal funding per project. The total tax credits divided by the number of LIHTC-funded units results in an average of $1,385 in federal funding per unit. Brownsville holds 1.78% of the total state LIHTC funding for Texas.
The city's LIHTC-funded affordable housing development spans nearly two decades. The earliest projects, Paseo Plaza Apartments and Valley Resaca Palms Apartments, were completed in 1997. The most recent project with a known completion date is Retama Park, finished in 2016. The 2000s saw the most affordable housing development, with projects such as Rancho Del Cielo Phase I (2001), Rosemont of El Dorado (2003), and multiple completions in 2006 including Villa Del Sol and Tropical Gardens at Boca Chica.
Brownsville's LIHTC-funded housing stock offers a range of unit types. The inventory includes 12 efficiencies, 192 one-bedroom units, 283 two-bedroom units, 241 three-bedroom units, and 72 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on accommodating various household sizes, with an emphasis on families requiring two or three-bedroom homes.
Brownsville has experienced modest population growth over the past decade, increasing from 180,077 in 2012 to 189,381 in 2022. The city's median income has shown significant improvement, rising from $33,821 in 2013 to $46,912 in 2022. This 38.7% increase in median income over nine years suggests an overall economic improvement for the city's residents.
The continued development of LIHTC projects through 2016, despite the positive trend in median income, indicates an ongoing need for affordable housing. This could be attributed to income inequality or specific segments of the population still requiring affordable options despite overall economic growth.
Brownsville's LIHTC-funded affordable housing program has made a notable contribution to the city's housing stock, providing 1,498 units with 1,230 designated for low-income residents. The program has received over $2 million in tax credits, representing 1.78% of Texas's total LIHTC funding. The city's affordable housing development has been consistent over nearly two decades, with a particular focus in the 2000s. While the city has experienced economic growth as evidenced by rising median incomes, the continued development of LIHTC projects suggests an ongoing need for affordable housing options in Brownsville.
