How much does affordable housing really cost in Dallas? For many, it's not all that affordable.
Nowadays, the phone at the Texas Tenants’ Union rings off the hook: Eviction courts are packed, and people are facing triple-digit rent spikes despite their incomes remaining the same. “There is nothing that is helping them at this point,” Sandy Rollins, the Texas Tenants’ Union’s executive director, said of renters.
There are 19 TIF districts in Dallas, according to the city’s website. The funds can go toward different things, such as improving retail and restaurant space, art galleries or office space. It can also go toward residential units. Some housing developments that receive TIF funding must set aside 20% of their units for families making less than 80% of the area median family income .
“The ripple effect through the community and the result is the more affordable housing stock disappears,” Rollins said. “If [developers are] getting public dollars there should be public benefit.” She used to be a home economics teacher at a high school in North Texas. She left to get her master’s degree with the intention of returning to teaching. But then she had to care for her mother, who’d been diagnosed with cancer. She got married not long after that and was working part time in the food industry. For the next five years, she worked her way up to a managerial position.
“Out of every single [property] in the downtown area, only two of them had a waiting list, an actual waiting list,” Mary said. “Everyone else never called back after leaving messages. Some complexes never even answered, and I called repeatedly. Several other ones said I needed to call back every few weeks to see if they had available units.”
She’s glad she ended up where she did, but it could have been easier, and the homes could be more affordable. “I just feel like a lot of these properties aren’t being held accountable,” she said.
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