Housing Trust Funds

Housing trust funds (HTFs) are organizations or programs that receive dedicated revenue that is used to produce or preserve affordable housing.  There are more than 300 HTFs throughout the United States and perhaps 30 or 40 in California.  Most are government agencies, though a number are nonprofit corporations.  Many HTFs are created after a dedicated revenue source is identified or approved.  Others are created first, and then seek dedicated revenues. 

There is an ongoing effort to create a National Housing Trust Fund.  While few people realize it, the State of California has long had a housing trust funds.  It just doesn't get funded.  Proposition 46 included funds for local housing trust fund matching grant program and a proposition to create a dedicated revenue source for housing is currently being considered. 

This page was developed to provide a broad resource for people who are interested in housing trust funds.  It includes local, state and national links to housing trust funds, housing trust fund campaigns and research material.

Housing Trust Fund Project

The HTF Project of the Center for Community Change provides information, technical assistance and advocacy for the creation and ongoing funding of state and local housing trust funds.  The Project is headed by Mary Brooks, who has lobbied for housing trust funds for more than 20 years.  Considerable information is available from the HTF Project's website, including both free and low-cost publications and copies of current and past newsletters.

News from the Housing Trust Fund Project

Winter 2008

Fall 2007

Summer 2007

Spring 2007

Winter 2007

Fall 2006

Summer 2006

Spring 2006

Winter 2006

Fall 2005

Summer 2005

Spring 2005

Fall 2004

Summer 2004

Spring 2004

Winter 2004

Summer 2003

Spring 2003

Summer 2002

Spring 2002

Winter 2002

Other Information on Housing Trust Funds

National Association of Realtors Field Guide to HTFs

PolicyLink on Housing Trust Funds

California Housing Trust Fund

While the State of California has a state Housing Trust Fund, it does not receive regular funding and never received enough funds to make a difference on housing needs in California. 

Proposition 46 of 2002 provided $2.1 billion dollars for affordable housing throughout California, but will run out of funds shortly.  The California Local Housing Trust Fund Matching Grant Program received only $25 million from Prop 46 and the funds were committed in early 2004. 

While Proposition 1C of 2006 did not include funding for the HTF Matching Grant Program, SB586 of 2007 appropriate $35 million form Prop 1C's Innovative Housing Fund to the program.  These funds should be allocated in 2008.

National Housing Trust Fund

The National Housing Trust Fund Campaign is an ongoing effort to create a national HTF the provides local resources to produce and preserve affordable housing.  More than 5600 organizations and community leaders endorse a National Housing Trust Fund Campaign. 

On October 10, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives approved HR 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007.  The legislation passed the House with a 264-148 vote.  The Senate will soon consider the legislation.

Local Housing Trust Funds in California

Housing Trust of Santa Clara County

Housing Endowment and Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County

Sacramento Housing Trust Fund

San Diego Housing Trust Fund  

City of Berkeley Housing Trust Fund

City of Los Angeles