National Housing Trust Fund

NHTF Update!

Read the most recent news from Memo to Members

Mixed Signals on NHTF in Senate Jobs Bill

Update on NHTF Regulations

Senate Banking Committee Members Ask President for Funding for NHTF, Other Housing Programs

 

Listen to a recording of Sheila Crowley’s January 19, 2010, national conference call to discuss the current state of play on the National Housing Trust Fund. Click here to listen to the call. Note: Play this audio recording from the 1:20 mark for best quality.

Read NLIHC's Preliminary Estimates of State Allocation Amounts from NHTF
for Every Billion Allocated and Invested - click here

Read HUD's reg impact analysis on NHTF. Also includes state allocation
estimates and reasoning behind allocation proposed rule - click here

Read the NHTF FAQ - click here   

NHTF Background

After years of hard work, challenges, and setbacks, advocates across the country celebrated the creation of a National Housing Trust Fund in July of 2008.

The National Housing Trust Fund was established as a provision of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The passage of National Housing Trust Fund legislation is a major victory for low income housing advocates and the lowest income people in our country with the most serious needs.

The housing trust fund will, once capitalized, provide communities with funds to build, preserve, and rehabilitate rental homes that are affordable for extremely and very low income households. The Housing Trust Fund’s most important features are:

  • It is a permanent program, and will have dedicated source of funding not subject to the annual appropriations process.
  • At least 90% of the funds must be used for the production, preservation, rehabilitation, or operation of rental housing. Up to 10% can be used for the following homeownership activities for first-time homebuyers: production, preservation, and rehabilitation; down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, and assistance for interest rate buy-downs.
  • At least 75% of the funds for rental housing must benefit extremely low income households and all funds must benefit very low income households.
Support the National Housing Trust Fund

The National Housing Trust Fund was signed into law because of the incredible and ongoing support of the more than 5,750 national, state, and local endorsers of the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign. Add your organization’s name to the endorser list by clicking here.
Take Additional Action

“What We Mean By Housing” More than 1,000 national, state and local organizations  have come together to call for funding for decent, affordable homes for households with the lowest incomes. Click here to read the open letter to Congress and the Administration. Then, to add your organization's name to the list, send the name of the organization, city, and state to outreach@nlihc.org , and please write in the "Subject" line, "What We Mean By Housing".
Learn More About National Housing Trust Fund
  • Listen to a recording of Sheila Crowley’s January 19, 2010, national conference call to discuss the current state of play on the National Housing Trust Fund. Click here to listen to the call. Note: Play this audio recording from the 1:20 mark for best quality.

  • Read a letter from NLIHC President Sheila Crowley to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi click here and Congressman Reid click here urging them to make sure that at least $1 billion is provided for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) before the year is out.

  • Administration Announces Intent To Identify Funding Source for NHTF
    NLIHC Call To Explain Unfolding Developments - Click here for call information

  • Listen to a recording of Sheila Crowley’s August 22, 2008, national call describing the new National Housing Trust Fund click here to listen to the call. For more information click here.
Press on the National Housing Trust Fund:

The National Housing Trust Fund has received editorial support from media outlets and columnists around the country. Find a list of articles about and endorsements of the National Housing Trust Fund here.  Recent articles include:

10/7/09  : New York Times Editorial - A Good Return on Investment  

07/31/09 : KPFK Pacifica Radio - Uprising with Sonalie Kolhatkar: Listen to the radio broadcast on the National Housing Trust Fund

02/07/09 : New York Times Editorial - A Stimulus For the Poor

07/31/08 : David Broder: When Congress Works, Editorial