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Non-profit

National Housing Trust (NHT)

Website:

www.nationalhousingtrust.org
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

52-1477599
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $3,097,883
Expenses: $2,117,729
Assets: $7,056,268
Type:

Affordable Housing Advocate
Founded:

1986
President:

Priya Jayachandran

National Housing Trust (NHT) is a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. focused on low-income housing preservation through real estate development, lending, and housing-policy advocacy. NHT develops and maintains renewable energy solutions for low-income housing properties to support a left-of-center environmental agenda and provides programs and solutions to the low-income communities to “advance racial equity and reduce economic disparities.” 1

Background

Founded in 1986, National Housing Trust initially focused on housing policy advocacy to preserve low-income rental properties that are at risk of deterioration or conversion to more expensive housing. 2 NHT expanded into real estate ownership and development, resident support, ensuring long-term affordable housing, and lending through two community development financial institution (CDFI) affiliates. 3

Work Areas

Preservation and development includes the development of new low-income properties, acquisition and preservation of existing low-income properties, and property management. 4

Lending includes partnering with financial institutions to support the development and maintenance of properties. NHT often provides initial project investments through its affiliates, the National Housing Trust Community Development Fund (NHTCDF) and the Institute for Community Economics (ICE). 5

NHT develops and maintains environmentalist energy solutions and supports homeowners who want to implement these solutions. The organization continues to work to decarbonize its properties and leverages policy advocacy to support left-of-center environmentalism. 6

NHT partnered with environmentalist groups Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Energy Foundation, and Elevate Energy to create EEFA (Energy Efficiency for All), a collection of 12 state coalitions “building power to advance racial equity and environmental and energy justice” for the low-income housing communities. 7

The organization’s community outreach and impact includes programs and services to the NHT communities to improve the lives of the residents and sustain the communities, “overcoming systematic barriers, most often rooted in levels of oppression.” Services include supporting resident leadership in the communities, civic engagement activities, and youth development. 8

The NHT policy innovation focuses on housing policies at the federal, state, and local levels. 9

Policy Work

NHT created the Preservation Working Group (PWG), a coalition of affordable housing preservation advocates and practitioners, to advocate for federal, state, and local program administration to support the preservation of low-income housing. 10

NHT has developed a toolkit to educate housing finance agencies on the right-of-first-refusal provisions, which can impact long-term housing affordability, and provide policies and processes that can be implemented to address this. 11

In August 2022 NHT provided comments on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) with recommendations to “strengthen the ability of CRA to advance racial equity, decarbonization and resilience goals” and to “preserve and fortify the ability of CRA to invest in community development, particularly through CDFIs,” or community development financial institutions. NHT has two affiliated CDFIs. 12

In October 2022 NHT submitted comments to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on the design of the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, which is part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that affordable housing residents and providers can access the rebates associated with the program. 13

In December 2022 NHT and 17 other organizations submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to request the EPA focus Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund investments on low-income housing. 14

In March 2023 NHT co-signed a letter to the Biden administration along with several organizations including the National Housing Conference, Enterprise Community Partners, Housing Assistance Council, National Association of Realtors, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation voicing concerns over the Build America, Buy America Act provisions that require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue standards for construction materials, indicating that this would impact the affordability of low-income housing. The letter requests that low-income housing be excluded from OMB standards. 15

Related tax-exempt organizations controlled by National Housing Trust are lending institutions Institute for Community Economics and National Housing Trust Community Development Fund, and affordable housing provider NHT Communities. 16

Institute for Community Economics and National Housing Trust Community Development Fund are Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)  17 which are typically focused on lending to support low-income communities. 18

NHT Communities was previously known as National Housing Trust Enterprise Preservation Corporation until 2019. 19 It is the real estate acquisition and management arm of National Housing Trust. 20

Funding

National Housing Trust reported 2020 revenues of $3,097,883 and expenses of $2,117,729. 21

The NHT website lists philanthropic partners as JPB Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Energy Foundation, Movement Strategy Center, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo. 22

2019 donors include National League of Cities Institute (NLCI), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and New Venture Fund (NVF). 23

Leadership

Priya Jayachandran became president and CEO in 2018. Previously she was a senior vice president at Volunteers of America (VOA) focused on affordable housing development. Prior to VOA she was a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) focused on multifamily housing. 24 Jayachandran is also president of affiliate organizations NHT Communities and National Housing Trust Community Development Fund. 25 26

Danielle Arigoni is managing director for policy and solutions, heading up NHT’s policy advocacy. She is a board member of Smart Growth America. Previously Arigoni was a director at AARP. 27

Jane Graf is NHT board chair. She retired as president of Mercy Housing in 2020 and was with Mercy since 1993. 28 Mercy Housing is an affordable housing organization that renovates and develops low-income housing. 29

Some of the board members for National Housing Trust are also board members for NHT Communities, National Housing Trust Community Development Fund, and Institute for Community Economics. 30

References

  1. National Housing Trust home page. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/
  2. Position Profile Executive Director National Housing Trust. National Housing Trust. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/sites/default/files/news_file_attachments/CEO%20Position%20Profile%20NHT.pdf
  3. CRA Rulemaking Comment Letter: National Housing Trust (NHT). Novogradac. August 4, 2022. https://www.novoco.com/sites/default/files/atoms/files/occ-cra-rulemaking-2022-0002-national-housing-trust-08042022.pdf
  4.  “Preservation & Development.” National Housing Trust – Our Work. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/our-work/preservation-development
  5. “Lending.” National Housing Trust – Our Work. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/our-work/lending
  6. “Energy Solutions.” National Housing Trust – Our Work. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/our-work/energy-solutions
  7. “About Energy Efficiency for All.” Energy Efficiency for All – About. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.energyefficiencyforall.org/about/
  8. “Community Outreach & Impact.” National Housing Trust – Our Work. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/our-work/community-outreach-impact
  9. “Policy Innovation.” National Housing Trust – Our Work. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/our-work/policy-innovation
  10.  “Preservation Working Group.” National Housing Trust – Our Work – Policy Innovation. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/our-work/policy-innovation/preservation-working-group
  11. “NHT Offers Toolkit to Help Housing Agencies Strengthen Right of First Refusal Provisions Promoting Housing Stability.” National Housing Trust – News. March 10, 2023. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/news/nht-offers-toolkit-help-housing-agencies-strengthen-right-first-refusal-provisions-promoting
  12.  CRA Rulemaking Comment Letter: National Housing Trust (NHT). Novogradac. August 4, 2022. https://www.novoco.com/sites/default/files/atoms/files/occ-cra-rulemaking-2022-0002-national-housing-trust-08042022.pdf
  13. Todd Nedwick. “NHT JOINS NEARLY 50 ORGANIZATIONS URGING DOE ACTION ON IRA HOME ENERGY REBATE PROGRAMS.” National Housing Trust. March 8, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/news/nht-joins-nearly-50-organizations-urging-doe-action-ira-home-energy-rebate-programs
  14. Todd Nedwick. “NHT JOINS NEARLY 50 ORGANIZATIONS URGING DOE ACTION ON IRA HOME ENERGY REBATE PROGRAMS.” National Housing Trust. March 8, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/news/nht-joins-nearly-50-organizations-urging-doe-action-ira-home-energy-rebate-programs
  15. David Krechevsky. “Housing Industry Groups Raise Concerns About BABA.” National Mortgage Professional. March 28, 2023. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/housing-industry-groups-raise-concerns-about-baba
  16. National Housing Trust. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Schedule R). 2020.
  17. CRA Rulemaking Comment Letter: National Housing Trust (NHT). Novogradac. August 4, 2022. https://www.novoco.com/sites/default/files/atoms/files/occ-cra-rulemaking-2022-0002-national-housing-trust-08042022.pdf
  18. Emily Guy Birken, Daphne Foreman. “What Is A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)?” Forbes Advisor. September 29, 2020. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/what-is-a-cdfi-community-development-financial-institution/
  19. NHT Communities. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2019.
  20. Donna Kimura. “Nonprofits Acquire Maryland NOAH Property.” Affordable Housing Finance. August 19, 2021. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.housingfinance.com/developments/nonprofits-acquire-maryland-noah-property_o
  21. National Housing Trust. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2020.
  22. “Partner With Us.” National Housing Trust – Take Action. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://nationalhousingtrust.org/take-action/partner-us
  23. “National Housing Trust.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer Search. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?q=national+housing+trust
  24. “National Housing Trust Names Priya Jayachandran President.” NH&RA (National Housing & Rehabilitation Association). Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.housingonline.com/2018/01/10/national-housing-trust-names-priya-jayachandran-president/
  25. NHT Communities. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VII). 2020.
  26. National Housing Trust Community Development Fund. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VII). 2019.
  27. LinkedIn – Danielle Arigoni. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-arigoni-b5b5006/
  28. LinkedIn – Jane Graf. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-graf-4446594/
  29. LinkedIn – Mercy Housing. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/mercy-housing/about/
  30. National Housing Trust. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Schedule O). 2020.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: December 1, 1986

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $3,097,883 $2,117,729 $7,056,268 $680,498 N $2,870,508 $193,917 $41,350 $0
    2019 Dec Form 990 $808,682 $886,117 $6,117,853 $711,108 N $580,169 $204,008 $30,399 $203,322 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $2,942,233 $4,315,560 $6,066,800 $644,911 N $736,652 $2,116,909 $46,853 $994,028 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $6,410,577 $4,658,089 $7,491,843 $694,119 Y $4,104,061 $2,254,008 $38,068 $1,131,076 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $2,384,808 $3,910,758 $5,492,659 $567,661 N $418,492 $1,886,872 $64,787 $1,324,324
    2015 Jun Form 990 $2,822,899 $3,934,348 $6,008,764 $452,603 N $907,593 $1,821,091 $75,376 $1,413,376 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $4,841,995 $4,230,103 $7,433,012 $744,364 N $3,008,131 $1,699,776 $84,654 $1,022,367 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $4,472,511 $3,682,311 $6,299,633 $276,218 N $2,112,419 $2,185,096 $95,438 $601,015 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $3,684,546 $3,654,711 $5,603,682 $399,962 N $1,580,439 $1,959,568 $96,402 $577,162 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $3,463,502 $3,169,931 $5,387,108 $131,178 N $1,375,740 $1,938,958 $92,065 $523,932 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Map image for National Housing Trust (NHT)

    National Housing Trust (NHT)

    1101 30TH ST NW STE 100A
    WASHINGTON, DC 20007-3706