INAUGURAL SESSION
23 JUL - 05 NOV 2026

Professional Certificate
in Affordable Housing Design

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Affordable housing is among the most efficacious ways architects can contribute meaningfully to mission-driven, high social impact projects that genuinely benefit our communities. These buildings tend toward higher performance and efficiency than market-rate multi-family buildings and offer opportunities for good design to serve greater needs than vain aesthetics.

Experience is often the largest barrier to entry for architects and firms who want to help provide access to quality housing. The complexity of overlapping subsidy regulations and the non-negotiable time constraints make developers hesitant to take a chance on a first-time designer.

This Professional Certificate Program aims to provide architects and designers with a combination of the hard and soft skills required of affordable housing designers. Hard technical skills include meeting the required criteria for documentation, site planning and programming, understanding the financial programs involved, and meeting code and quality criteria specific to these projects. Soft skills include community engagement, partnerships, politics, and design approaches that meet the needs of residents and improve their quality of life.

The program is a real-time simulation of a competitive 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application schedule for a project in Texas. Participants will complete an application set over the course of the program, while receiving site information, program requirements, and owner feedback, mirroring the timing of an actual application effort.

The application drawing set required to respond to a Qualified Allocation Plan for LIHTC funding is a very specific problem. In some ways, it resembles a Conceptual Design deliverable, and in others, it looks more like Design Development. Learning to meet the specific regulatory requirements while balancing the practical considerations of the owner and operator, and creating a quality design that retains flexibility for future design development, is the ideal model to address the gamut of affordable housing concepts and translate them into other funding types and programs.

The project site will be a property owned by the City of Austin that the Austin Housing Finance Corporation has identified as a potential 9% LIHTC site based on projected scoring criteria and other suitability metrics, and for which they intend to release an RFQ for development partners in the future. Thus, this experience may directly relate to a future project proposal.

Participant & Firm Benefits

Complete an example LIHTC Application Set to use in proposals and interviews as an indication of capacity to perform
Hold the accessibility training required for firm participation in TDHCA-funded projects
Earn AIA CE hours (total number and designations pending)
Network with potential developer clients and consultant partners
Show a commitment to growing expertise in affordable housing
Discuss best practices for staffing and operations for pursuing housing work

Program Details

Sixteen weekly sessions are scheduled as "long lunches" on Thursdays from noon to 2:00 PM, alternating between in-person Lecture Sessions (in the Barton Creek area) and virtual Studio sessions. Sessions for 2026 run weekly from 23 July to 05 November.

Participants will work in teams of up to three to complete the application set in addition to individual assignments. Firms can register a full team; individuals can register with teammates or be assigned to teams with other individual registrants.

The participation fee is $600 per individual or $1,200 per firm (up to 3 participants). A discounted participation fee of $500 per individual or $1,000 per firm is available for AIA members. Scholarships may be available; please contact the program instructor and/or program coordinator if cost is a barrier to participation.

In addition, each participant must complete a 5-hour TDHCA-approved accessibility course. This self-paced virtual training is available from third-party providers and is typically about $400. A recommended course is available from E&A Team.

For more detailed information,
read the Course Prospectus.

Topics Covered by Lecture Sessions

Affordable Housing Overview

Types of Affordable Housing; Architect's Roles at the Various Project Stages; Design Principles; Best Practices for Firm Operations

Funding & Regulations

Architect's Role in the Application Process; LIHTC Funding Structures; Scoring Overview & QAP Development Requirements

Site Planning & Entitlement

Site Considerations for Affordable Housing; Civil Engineer's Role; Zoning and Planning Principles and Obstacles; Permitting; Policy Advocacy

Community Engagement & Public Benefit

Local Politics; Partnerships and Collaboration; Neighborhood Engagement; The Role of the Architect in Graphic Communication of a project

Quality of Life & Design for Dignity

Programming Process and Benchmarking Typical Development Criteria, Types of Supportive Services Spaces for Different Populations; Trauma-informed Design

Accessibility & Inclusive Design

Why Accessibility and Inclusive Design are Important for Everyone; What is Different about Affordable Housing Accessibility; Going Beyond the Codes

Design for Operations & Maintenance

Life-cycle Cost Considerations; Building Standards; High-performance Buildings; Lessons Learned from Service Providers; Lessons Learned from Property Management

Sustainability & Resilience

Where the Architect Should Push the Envelope; Energy Poverty and Infrastructural Injustice; Resident Health, Safety, and Well-being; Humid Climate Particular Concerns

Instructors & Presenters

  • Jason John Paul Haskins, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

    PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR, STUDIO INSTRUCTOR

    With a focus on enacting and embodying solidarity, subsidiarity, and human dignity in the built environment, affordable housing architect and advocate Jason John Paul Haskins, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is the Principal Architect and Founder of Habitavit, which provides pro-and low-bono architectural services, consulting, community engagement, and education. In their day job, Jason is the Director of Construction and Design for Foundation Communities, the largest non-profit housing provider in Austin. Jason also serves as the Advocacy Commissioner for the AIA Austin Board and a member of the Executive Committee of the Austin Housing Coalition.

  • Judy Roessner

    PROGRAM COORDINATOR & SPONSOR

    Judy Roessner, AIA, NCARB, is a seasoned architect and the President of Sixthriver Architects, with over 30 years of experience

    in the industry. She is deeply committed to creating equitable, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing environments, especially in projects that bridge the gap between market-rate and affordable housing. With a strong foundation in both Interior Design and Architecture, Judy’s career is driven by her passion for integrating beauty with affordability and fostering communities that honor integrity and inclusivity.

  • Eleanor Parks

    MARKETING DIRECTOR

    Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.

  • Karl Holland

    CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

    Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.

Day Three

Look Forward & Wrap Up

We explore the possibilities beyond this moment, making space for growth, action, and forward momentum. As we end our time together, we honor the experience, the growth, and the connections made along the way.

Check-In

9:00 – 9:30am

Group Activity

11:00am

Lunch Break

12:30pm

Creative Workshop

2:00pm

Dinner

6:30pm

  • "What I love most is the flexibility. I can go at my own pace, revisit lessons, and keep learning whenever it works for me."

    Former Customer

  • "Even as a total beginner, I never felt lost. The step-by-step structure and encouragement along the way made all the difference."

    Former Customer

  • "This has been such a worthwhile investment in myself."

    Former Customer

How It Works

  • Browse our upcoming events to find the one that feels right for you. We host events year-round in all different locations and climates.

  • Sign up and pay all required fees to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the retreat start to receive a 50% refund.

  • After booking, we'll send you a Welcome Packet with everything you need to know—detailed schedules, packing list recommendations, add-ons to consider, and more.

  • We'd recommend booking your transportation to and from the event as soon as possible, to ensure you can arrive without any complications or delays.

  • Now all that's left to do is pack your bags and get excited for your new adventure.

Register