During a board meeting on Monday, trustees were presented with a proposal for a formal partnership between the district and the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to offering economic development, education, and workforce housing opportunities for Texas residents.
The Hays Consolidated Independent School District (Hays CISD) is considering measures to provide affordable housing options for its employees
According to the agenda item, the rising cost of living has prompted the district to seek viable solutions for affordable housing for its staff. The foundation aims to assist Hays Consolidated Independent School District employees in accessing rental housing at significantly reduced rates compared to market prices. Adam Harden, the attorney representing the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation, emphasized the pressing need for such initiatives, given the escalating rental costs.
Harden outlined plans to focus on multifamily workforce housing within the district boundaries, potentially involving new construction projects or existing properties in Hays County. The aim is to secure these properties using tax-exempt bonds, granting priority access not only to teachers but to all district employees. Rent payments would be capped at 30% of an employee’s income, with additional financial support provided by the foundation.
This program is designed to benefit Hays Consolidated Independent School District employees earning between 30% and 80% of the area’s median income
The Hays Consolidated Independent School District’s approach has garnered significant interest from human resource departments, recognizing its potential as a powerful recruitment and retention tool for the district. By offering substantial savings on housing costs, the program effectively provides employees with the equivalent of a $3,000 annual raise.
While Hays Consolidated Independent School District is at the forefront of this initiative, other districts are also taking similar steps. Pflugerville ISD recently partnered with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation to facilitate affordable rent in select apartment complexes. In Williamson County, Round Rock ISD has established an agreement with the foundation, allocating funds to lower rent prices and assist staff with housing-related expenses.
For educators like Jayme Salinas, an art teacher at Hays Consolidated Independent School District, the prospect of more affordable housing is a positive development, though she emphasizes the need for higher pay raises to truly address the challenges posed by the cost of living. Salinas believes that affordable housing initiatives would provide much-needed relief for many teachers, potentially alleviating the financial burden they face in today’s housing market.
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