Policy, Equity, and Advocacy 101 — Season 2, Episode 3
Listen to this episode on Spotify
Season 2 — Episode 3
On this week’s episode of the EmpowHER Podcast, hosts Nicole Graham and Tanya Dempsey sit down with Jennifer Schwartz, Director of Tax and Housing Advocacy at the National Council of State Housing Agencies.
Jennifer leads federal policy and legislative advocacy on Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, tax-exempt bonds, HUD funding, and key housing initiatives that shape affordable housing production nationwide. With a career that began in direct service supporting survivors of domestic violence, she brings a deeply personal understanding of how policy decisions impact real families.
From expanding the Housing Credit to navigating bipartisan negotiations in a divided Congress, Jennifer shares what advocacy looks like behind the scenes. The strategy. The relationships. The persistence. And the belief that housing should never be partisan.
They Discuss:
- How housing policy decisions translate from Capitol Hill to families on the ground
- The expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and what it means for production
- The cost and implementation challenges of Build America, Buy America
- Balancing compliance, accountability, and affordability
- Playing both offense and defense in federal housing advocacy
- Why affordable housing must remain bipartisan
- Advice for emerging advocates who want to influence housing systems
Jennifer reminds us that policy is always about people, and that even the most technical legislative changes can ripple through communities in powerful ways.
___________________________________________________
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation with us. To catch up on past episodes or stay updated with new ones, visit //csgadvisors.com/podcast or follow us on Spotify.
If there’s a topic or theme you’d like to hear in a future episode, reach out to us at info@csgadvisors.com.
The views, opinions, and statements expressed by guests on this podcast are solely their own and do not represent the views or opinions of CSG or any of its associated persons. CSG does not endorse, adopt, or verify the accuracy of any statements made by podcast guests. This podcast is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute municipal advisory, financial, legal, or investment advice. Nothing discussed in this episode should be construed as a solicitation or recommendation of any kind. CSG Advisors is currently registered as a Municipal Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.
More EmpowHER Episodes
CSG Advisors Incorporated is a national, full service, independent financial advisor that assists public finance clients in the design, financing and implementation of affordable housing, urban redevelopment and economic development initiatives. Over the past 20 years, CSG has advised on more housing bonds than any other municipal advisor, as reported by Thompson Reuters.* CSG Advisors is entirely employee-owned and independent. Employee owners include minorities and women.
*Source: Securities Data. Volume amount in $ mill. Market share is % of all housing issues with or without advisors 2002-2024