Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is the state's lead agency responsible for homeownership, affordable rental housing, community and energy assistance programs, and colonia activities serving primarily low income Texans.

[7] SB 80 was then signed into law in June 1971 by Governor Preston Smith, creating the department to be "effective at once.

"[5] The TDCA was headed by an executive director which was appointed by the Texas governor and had an Advisory Council made up of 12 people who could be considered stakeholders.

[8] The first executive director of TDCA was Fritz Lanham, who had previously worked as the city manager of Baytown, Texas.

[14] Governor Ann Richards was interested in creating a combined agency after THA was under investigation and had suffered from allegations of mismanagement.

However, TDHCA, through an interagency contract with ORCA, administers 2.5 percent of the CDBG funds used for the Self-Help Centers along the Texas-Mexico border.

Effective September 1, 2002, in accordance with Senate Bill 322, the Manufactured Housing Division became an independent entity administratively attached to TDHCA.

TDHCA accomplishes this mission by administering a variety of housing and community affairs programs.

A primary function of TDHCA is to act as a conduit for federal grant funds for housing and community services.