Mark Shelburne: QAPs: The Hidden Force Behind Affordable Housing - Episode 005

Mark Shelburne didn't set out to become one of the country's leading experts on Qualified Allocation Plans. He stumbled into affordable housing the same way a lot of people do — through a chance connection and a job that turned out to be a lot more interesting than the strip mall law work he'd left behind. In this episode, Leah and Marty sit down with Mark, housing policy consultant at Novogradac, for a wide-ranging conversation about the documents that quietly control billions of dollars in affordable housing resources every year. Mark breaks down what QAPs actually are, how states use them to allocate Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and why understanding them matters for anyone working in affordable housing development — whether you're a developer, an allocating agency, or somewhere in between. He also gets into the role of technology in affordable housing, why residential construction is overdue for a major leap forward, and what gives him the most hope for the future of the industry. If you've ever wanted to understand how affordable housing actually gets funded and built in America, this is a good place to start.