Travis County interviews Beatrice Arce for tenant representative seat on Strategic Housing Finance Corporation

Travis County Commissioners Court on May 1, 2025, approved interview questions and interviewed Beatrice Arce for the tenant representative position on the Strategic Housing Finance Corporation, but made no appointment and scheduled a second interview for Tuesday.

The tenant representative role gives tenants a seat on the SHFC board, which county officials described as part of the county’s oversight and engagement with affordable housing developments. Commissioners approved the draft interview questions by voice vote before conducting today’s interview.

Commissioner Howard moved to approve the draft interview questions; Commissioner Gomez seconded the motion and it “passes unanimously,” the court recorded. After that vote, the court conducted one interview; a second candidate was unable to attend and will be interviewed at a later date.

Beatrice Arce described her understanding of the corporation’s work and why she applied. “My understanding of what strategic housing does is they pretty much provide bond tax credit breaks, for developers as they continue to build, as an incentive to, build affordable housing, for low to moderate income people,” she said. On her motivation she said, “I wanna give back to my community.”

Arce told the court she has experience as both a tenant in tax-credit housing and as a property manager, and she described barriers she sees to accessing affordable housing, including lack of public knowledge about programs and property staff errors in income qualification. “Sometimes people are not informed that these types of homes exist,” she said, adding that staff at some properties may not fully understand the income breakdowns that determine eligibility.

Arce also described advocacy work earlier in life and involvement during the Rosemont relocation process, saying she helped neighbors find meetings and resources. She said she has nine years of experience in finance at a bank, some commercial-construction experience, and prior property-management experience; she told the court she is able to meet the time commitments SHFC requires.

No formal selection was made. Court staff said the second candidate’s interview will be held Tuesday and the court will make a final appointment after completing both interviews. Court staff (Julie and Cicely) will follow up with applicants.

The court distinguished the procedural steps it took (approving interview questions and conducting one interview) from a final action: no appointment or vote to fill the tenant representative seat occurred on May 1.