A Message from TAAHP's Executive Director

By Roger Arriaga, TAAHP Executive Director

You mean a lot to us. Really. Every member, whether you’ve just joined or you’ve been with us a while, helps us make the argument for a growing industry and the growing demand for safe, quality, affordable housing in Texas. And as our membership increases, we are also growing our capacity to represent you.

Whether we’re working to promote legislation at the Texas Capitol, speaking to city councils or county commissioners, educating members of Congress, or being interviewed by various media outlets, representing a growing membership base gets attention. Our policy makers have hundreds of special interest groups demanding their attention and time. So how do they decide what to advocate for? It’s in the numbers. We received some attention when I started with TAAHP four legislative sessions ago in 2019. Today, TAAHP is just shy of 800 members, and we received much more recognition and attention for our policy issues during the recently ended 89th Legislature.

We are also excited to witness the remarkable growth of the Texas Housing Conference. With attendance now surpassing 2,000 participants, it has become the largest of its kind in the region, and rivals some of the most well-known national conferences in the industry.

LAMA’s on the Move

As TAAHP continues to grow its presence in Washington and in Austin, our Local and Municipal Affairs (LAMA) Groups are coming together for education, advocacy, and some fun. We often hear from many of you about how great the conference is but would also like other opportunities to connect with your TAAHP family. Our LAMA groups in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas/Ft. Worth are working to provide new opportunities to connect, learn, and extend TAAHP’s reach to impact local housing policy across the state. If you’re not already connected with your local LAMA group, take some time to get involved and make a difference with your local TAAHP members and represent the best of affordable housing providers in the cities where you live, work, and play!

TAAHP in the News

One of the biggest ways for TAAHP to spread the message for affordable housing is by serving as a resource for statewide media. This year, we’ve engaged with a public relations firm to open channels of interest with the biggest media outlets in Texas. We’ve had numerous interviews and housing education sessions with the likes of the Texas Tribune, the Dallas Morning News, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, the Houston Chronicle, Spectrum News, and ABC News Houston, among others.

Breaking News! Keep an eye out for TAAHP on the national stage too. This summer, TAAHP is partnering with PBS Television to produce a brief education segment on affordable housing that will be broadcasted nationally.

TAAHP’s Team – Up for the Challenge

To enhance our services and events, the TAAHP team is expanding to better support your needs. Please join me in welcoming our newest team members—Events Manager Theresa Claiborne and Digital Marketing Coordinator Emily Lowe. If you haven’t yet had the chance to meet our newest staff or our Deputy Executive Director Naomi Bludworth, Policy and Regulatory Manager Whitney Parra, and our Operations Manager, Amanda Doyle-Nicholls, I encourage you to connect with them. Their dedication and hard work have significantly contributed to our organization, our industry, and most importantly, to serving you.

TAAHP's continued growth reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing the affordable housing industry in Texas. With a thriving membership, expanding influence at state and national levels, and an increasingly active presence in local communities, we are better positioned than ever to advocate for the needs of our members and the communities they serve. Our expanding team, growing opportunities for engagement, and media efforts all serve to strengthen our collective voice. Together, we are making a meaningful difference—growing the tent and increasing our impact for the future of affordable housing across Texas.