I believe you have to start with your local housing authority.

I receive messages almost daily from Hard money lenders looking to finance my deals but once I tell them that we could be in the deal 18+ months they quickly back out, You aren't always aware what strategy you will be exiting with and most banks/lenders would see this as too much a risk.

I hope it loosens up, most of my investors aren't willing to deal with them right now. 

You can still house hack, but the terms aren't as good. 

And honestly, the numbers aren't interesting without recouping that monthly income.What, if any, are my options to either up the rent on the current good tenants, or have them move and get a new family in there at current market rates? 

And if you do this to others, a lot of folks will likely ignore you and some may complain to you or the admin about your unsolicited requests if you aren't clear and polite about what you are doing. 

The tax credit (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) program that you mentioned you would be able to get information from your state's Housing Development Authority.

Get their card, get an idea of what they charge, and be sure to mention that you aren't planning to lend out of your IRA, if that is the case. 

Again, the lighter it is, the more flexibility they should be showing, and the more information you should be provided on why this situation arose (ex. are you looking at a townhome in an area with very few similar props so there just aren't enough comps to justify a higher appraisal figure?).

No aging absentee landlord answering to the name of Jimmy having the tranquility of his nap in the Greek islands disturbed to authorize paying the property manager, the plumber, and the county inspector their respective pounds of flesh for the repair.I do it for lousy tenants and for good tenants.