Washington, D.C. – The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released today a series of updated Housing Trust Fund Project resources. This includes the State & Local Housing Trust Fund report, which outlines the current landscape of housing trust funds across the country. Additionally, NLIHC has curated a virtual hub for best practices and key elements of housing trust funds.
Currently, there are 780 local and 63 state housing trust funds managed by various state and local entities, including government agencies, housing finance authorities, and nonprofit organizations. The new report offers an overview of how these housing trust funds are structured, administered, and funded. It details the types of activities supported by the funds and examines their impact on the lowest income individuals.
“Given that there are only 35 affordable and available homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households across the country, we must establish sustainable programs to ensure that individuals with the lowest incomes have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing,” said NLIHC President and CEO Renee Willis. “This report underscores that housing trust funds, whether at the state or local levels, can effectively promote long-term housing stability. Housing trust funds support the important initiatives that invest in preserving and expanding the housing supply.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Revenue for sustained housing trust fund projects can be generated through intentional legislation. At least 376 housing trust funds utilize housing developer fees, legislated through their state, as dedicated revenue sources to support affordable housing initiatives.
- Housing trust funds can offer property- and tenant-based rental assistance, helping to bridge the gap between incomes and housing costs. In fiscal year 2024, ten housing trust fund projects assisted a total of 4,310 households with rental assistance.
- Many housing trust funds prioritize serving the lowest income individuals. At least 57% of housing trust funds surveyed target resources to individuals earning 50% of AMI or below and/or people experiencing homelessness.
The report summarizes the findings from a national survey of state and local housing trust funds, which was distributed to administrators in February and March of 2025. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, community developers, housing advocacy organizers, and others seeking to garner support for the ongoing funding of housing trust funds.
NLIHC’s virtual hub provides up-to-date information on efforts to advance the housing trust fund initiative—both current and new—as well as state-specific details. The virtual hub offers comprehensive best practices, including information on distribution of funds, oversight and reporting, eligible uses and applicants, and more.
“Every state can adapt and adopt resources from the housing trust fund project to enable their communities to grow and thrive," said Willis.
View the complete State & Local Housing Trust Fund report and interactive elements of the Housing Trust Fund Project at: https://nlihc.org/housing-trust-fund-project
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