The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) program was established by Congress under Title I of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. NHTF is a formula grant program allocated from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to states to administer. The program complements existing federal, state and local efforts to provide capital funding to build, preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing for families and individuals with the lowest incomes – those earning at or below 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), including homeless families.
Cited from the Governing Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) – 24 CFR Part 94.
Washington’s NHTF program
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers the state’s National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) program. NHTF funds are awarded to non-profit organizations, housing authorities, and local and tribal governments through the state multifamily rental housing application process.
Note – Washington State refers to this program as the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), whereas HUD refers to the program as the Housing Trust Fund (HTF).
Consolidated Plan and Action Plan
Commerce’s NHTF program is governed by the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan.
- The Consolidated Plan is a five-year strategic plan that addresses affordable housing and development needs and Federal funding round priorities.
- The Action Plan is an annual amendment to the Consolidated Plan and describes how the state will use the year’s annual allocation of HUD formula funds to meet affordable housing and community development needs.
- Additionally, a Performance Evaluation Report is developed to describe how the state achieved the activities and accomplishments set forth in the annual Action Plan.
The Plans are crafted with extensive community input through public consultation and hearings with community organizations, other government agencies, and citizens throughout the state.
To view previous year’s plans and reports, please visit the CDBG Plans and Reports webpage.
Resources
Two handbooks are available for the HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs administered by the Department of Commerce.
Commerce, working together with a federal programs consulting specialist, created handbooks for the two federal programs. The handbooks clarify program and compliance requirements for both the HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs.
- Program Guidelines Handbook (PDF): provides insight on overall program intent, the application process, and financing terms.
- Rental Management Handbook (PDF): provides detail on compliance and reporting requirements, including an expansion of Compliance and Asset Management for the programs.