The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) has been the backbone of affordable rental housing since 1986, bringing thousands of units online across the Central Pines region. But a new challenge is emerging: within the next decade, many LIHTC affordability agreements will expire. What happens when these protections end — and what does it mean for vulnerable renters, local governments, and the region’s housing market?
Central Pines Regional Council’s Housing Program has taken a deep dive into this issue, exploring:
- The scale of the problem: How many units are at risk of transitioning to market rate, and where?
- The regional impact: What expirations mean for displacement, homelessness, and our already growing housing shortage.
- The tools available: Strategies local governments can use to preserve affordability — and where the gaps remain.
- The path forward: What a coordinated, regional preservation strategy could look like, and lessons we can draw from other states and models.
Our new white paper lays out the data, the risks, and the opportunities for action. The choices we make today will determine whether Central Pines can protect its affordable housing supply — or lose ground in the years ahead.