The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) program complements existing federal, state and local efforts 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).
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.
Commerce’s NHTF program is governed by the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan.
Every spring an annual Action Plan is developed to describe how the state will use the year’s annual allocation of HUD formula funds to meet affordable housing and community development needs. Action Plans are annual amendments to the five-year Consolidated Plan and encompasses all HUD programs, including NHTF.
Funding availability
Funds are awarded to non-profit organizations, housing authorities, and local and tribal governments through the state Housing Trust Fund (HTF) application process. For current funding opportunities, please visit the Funding Opportunities for Multifamily Rental Housing 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.