Harvard Joint Center Paper: Low Income Housing Tax Credit Policy Issues.

Thanks to tip from the weekly Novogradac Podcast, recent Harvard Joint Center for Housing Policy paper is HERE.

Questions addressed in the paper include the following:

1. Where does LIHTC fit in national affordable housing policy?
2. Should the tax credit be made flexible enough to reach those with the lowest incomes or encourage mixed income developments?
3. Should the LIHTC program provide special incentives to produce housing in middle and higher income communities?
4. What are the benefits and drawbacks of the LIHTC program structure?
5. Is the LIHTC program transparent enough to support housing policy research and evaluation?
6. What additional federal policy objectives could the LIHTC program serve?
7. How broad should the LIHTC investor base be?
8. How can LIHTC be redesigned to mitigate “tax liability” risk?
9. Can the housing tax credit be made more liquid?
10. Is there any way to address geographic differences in demand?
11. Do program regulations and incentives effectively support operating costs and future capital needs of LIHTC properties?
12. Is there adequate provision made for asset management during the initial 15-year compliance term?
13. Are incentives aligned for the best outcomes at the end of the initial compliance period?

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.