The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs' (TDHCA) Housing Resource Center has released several new tools to help simplify the multifamily compliance process for affirmative marketing and tenant selection criteria rules for TDHCA-monitored properties.

The tools include the following:

Updated Multifamily (MF) Affirmative Marketing Tool: This mapping tool provides a safe harbor for determining least likely to apply populations for additional marketing. The map now includes individual TDHCA-monitored properties and allows for search optimization using city, zip code, and street addresses. The tool includes updated how-to instructions, and how to fill out HUD 935.2A forms. Access the MF Affirmative Marketing Tool at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/MF-Affirmative-Marketing-Tool. 

Simplified Affirmative Marketing Plan Form: Properties participating in TDHCA programs that do not have to use a HUD 935.2A form can use this form for their affirmative marketing plans. The form follows TDHCA's affirmative marketing rules and includes only items required under those rules. The form is less than two pages compared to HUD 935.2A form's 12 pages. Access the Affirmative Marketing Plan Form at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/sites/default/files/fair-housing/docs/MF-AF….

Affirmative Marketing Checklist: Staff preparing affirmative marketing plans can use the checklist to identify major areas of non-compliance to help ensure plans are compliant with TDHCA rules, even when the affirmative marketing plan will not need to be reviewed. The checklist's yes/no questions will identify compliance issues and common errors found on affirmative marketing plans. Access the Affirmative Marketing Checklist on TDHCA's Fair Housing Resources page under "TDHCA Fair Housing Forms and Tools" at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/fair-housing-toolkits-sample-forms-and-downloads. 

Written Policies and Procedures/Tenant Selection Criteria Checklist: Staff preparing or editing a property's tenant selection criteria or written policies and procedures can use the checklist to identify areas of non-compliance with TDHCA rules. The yes/no questions help identify compliance issues and common errors found in tenant selection criteria. Access the Written Policies and Procedures/Tenant Selection Criteria Checklist on TDHCA's Fair Housing Resources page under "TDHCA Fair Housing Forms and Tools" at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/fair-housing-toolkits-sample-forms-and-downloads. 

These updates are designed to help property owners and managers remain compliant with TDHCA's affirmative marketing and written policies and procedures rules, and significantly lower administrative burden without sacrificing protections for tenants and applicants at TDHCA-monitored properties.

For any questions, please email fair.housing@tdhca.texas.gov or call (512) 475-0306.