Low-Income Housing May Make Frisco Home

City says Frisco needs affordable housing, but residents fear rise in crime

Low-income housing could be coming to one of North Texas' most affluent cities.

Developers will ask the Housing Trust Fund Board of Frisco permission to build two affordable housing developments in Frisco.

Developers get tax credits to build affordable housing. As part of the agreement, 25 percent of the units will be made available to Section 8 voucher holders.

Section 8 is a goverment-subsidized program that puts low-income households into privately owned rental homes and apartments.

"The people can't make over a certain amount, and that's moderate income people such as teachers, firefighters, and some of the units are held for people that make a lower amount of money," said Stacy Brown, the city's Housing and Grants administrator.

Some say it's a sign of Frisco's exponential growth.

"There's a lot of retailers that have requested, 'Is there anyway we can get some affordable housing in here, because a lot of our people have to travel to get up here, and that takes a lot of their income just to get here?' Brown said.

Business owners say it's difficult to fill their staff because low- to moderate-income workers don't want to travel the distance to Frisco and can't afford to live there.

But Frisco residents are concerned about what low-income housing could bring.

"What I've read about it is that it does cause crime to go up, and that certainly concerns me," Mark Walsh said.

Brown said creating affordable housing is imperative to Frisco's growth.

"To grow with our businesses, we need those workers. We need them to be able to come here. Otherwise, we can't staff our restaurants, hotels, retail," Brown said.

Still, residents say their afraid their property values will drop.

"At this point, I just want people to be informed and ask the question, 'How is this in the best interest of Frisco and why?'" Walsh said.

If the Housing Trust Fund Board approves the proposal, it will go before the Frisco City Council. The council has the final say.

Brown said the council has no reason to reject the proposal, because the developers have met all the criteria.

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