SHFC
Strategic Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC)
Overview
Strategic Housing Finance Corporation of Travis County (SHFC) works with private developers and public entities to research and create opportunities to provide affordable housing.
SHFC was incorporated in 2004 as a nonprofit corporation and a public instrumentality of Travis County, Texas, organized and existing under the Texas Housing Finance Corporations Act, Chapter 394, Texas Local Government Code (the “Act”), for the public purpose of providing financing for housing development projects and initiatives within Travis County that will provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for persons of low and moderate income at prices they can afford.
The Act authorizes the Corporation to issue its revenue obligations to accomplish its public purpose. Pursuant to the Act, SHFC is exempt from state taxation. The corporation is also exempt from federal taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 115 as a political subdivision of a state.
The primary business activity of SHFC is the issuance of revenue bonds for affordable multi-family housing projects that will be owned by SHFC or a controlled entity.
SHFC has entered into an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the Housing Authority of Travis County, Texas in order to leverage resources of the two entities and maximize affordability and housing options to Travis County residents of low and moderate income.
Cities in Travis County
- Austin (County seat; partial)
- Bee Cave
- Cedar Park (Partial)
- Creedmoor
- Elgin (Partial)
- Jonestown
- Lago Vista
- Lakeway
- Leander (Partial)
- Manor
- Mustang Ridge (Partial)
- Pflugerville
- Rollingwood
- Round Rock (Partial)
- Sunset Valley
- West Lake Hills
Service Map
Strategic Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC)
Governance
It is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of five (5) Travis County, Texas residents appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court, and has a full-time staff of two employees.
SHFC Board of DirectorS
Eddie Karam
president
Eddie Karam, a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, has been active in the real estate industry through all its segments for several years – brokerage, construction, development, and renovation- in both residential and commercial properties.
Hailing from the City of El Paso, Mr. Karam was very involved within the community, serving on City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Airport Board, City Charter Re-write Committee, in addition to the Vestry and Trust Committee of the Church of St. Clement.
Now residing in Austin, in addition to his work with the Housing Authority of Travis County Board, Mr. Karam serves on a local Municipal Utility District Board, and volunteers with the Samaritan Center (non-profit organization that provides professional counseling, integrative medicine, telepsychiatry, and wellness education for low-income families and military veterans), serving as Chair of their Annual Golf Tournament.
Mr. Karam serves on the Board’s Real Estate Committee.
Wilmer Roberts
VICE president
Wilmer Roberts is a retired program manager from the Texas Military Force’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) program and has served as Deputy Division Director for the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Education, and Elder Outreach Division. Additionally, Mr. Roberts has served as Planning Commissioner for the City of Beaumont, Texas.
Aside from his duties as a HATC Board member, Mr. Roberts remains active in a number of community efforts. Mr. Roberts is board member for the McKinley Heights Developmental Corporation, a non-profit of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, providing housing to disabled and seniors, and also serves as President of Travis County Municipal Utility District #2 Board of Directors.
Currently, Mr. Roberts is an agent for the American Equity Life Insurance Company, selling insurance to National Guard Soldiers and International Fire Fighter Union members.
Mr. Roberts serves on the Board’s Finance, Governance and Administration Committee.
Ann Denton
director
Ann Denton is a national expert on effective systems and interventions for persons with disabilities, including implementation of evidence-based practices such as Permanent Supportive Housing. She provides technical assistance and training on all aspects of housing for persons with disabilities. She has provided technical assistance and training to Continuum of Care systems across the country, has provided HUD-sponsored training to cities and states.
She has knowledge and experience with system change, integrated systems of care, evidence-based practices, homelessness and housing issues for people with mental illness and other disabilities. From 2011 – 2015, Ms. Denton was the Director of the Homeless and Housing Resource Network (HHRN), a SAMHSA-funded initiative that provided coordinated technical assistance to all of SAMHSA’s grantees focused on serving homeless persons. Ms. Denton has conducted monitoring site visits for federal HHS programs, including Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and SAMHSA (CSAT and CMHS) and played a leadership role in the development of SAMHSA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Toolkit.
John Hernandez
director
John Hernandez is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, with both a BBA degree in Accounting and an MBA degree from St Edward’s University.
Mr. Hernandez previously served as Chairman of Board of Trustees for Austin Community College. Additionally, Mr. Hernandez has served on the Board of Directors for Austin Partners in Education, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Travis County Central Appraisal District, Zachary Scott Theatre, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and YMCA of Austin. Mr. Hernandez is a graduate Leadership Austin. Mr. Hernandez served in the United States Air Force 1969 – 1972, Republic of Vietnam 1971.
Robbye Meyer
director
Robbye Meyer, owner, Arx Advantage, LLC, a real estate development consulting firm. Previously, she was the Director of Multifamily Finance for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Robbye has directed the activities of numerous housing programs and has been involved in the production of over 90,000 units of affordable housing. She has over thirty-two years of experience and extensive knowledge in housing, real estate, and finance.
Robbye worked with the Internal Revenue Service, Dell Computer Corporation, Oakwood Homes, Ford Motor Company and Nash/Phillips Corpus Real Estate. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas State University; however, she is a die-hard Fight’in Texas Aggie born and raised Bryan/College Station, Texas.
Ms. Meyer has completed the Texas Housing Association’s Housing Authority Commissioner Basics course
Ms. Meyer serves on the Board’s Real Estate Committee.
SHFC Contact Information
Office Location: 502 East Highland Mall Boulevard, Suite 106-B, Austin, TX 78752
Office Telephone: (512) 854-8245
Executive Director & CEO
Patrick B. Howard
E-mail: Patrick.B.Howard@traviscountytx.gov
Director of Real Estate Development
Robert Onion
E-mail: Robert.Onion@traviscountytx.gov
