About the National Housing Trust Fund
The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) is a federal program administered in the State of Tennessee by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) Multifamily Development Division to provide funding for the production, preservation, rehabilitation, and operation of affordable rental housing for extremely low income (ELI) households. ELI is defined as earning no more than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or the federal poverty limit for the county in which the housing is located.
NHTF loans are awarded through a competitive application process in conjunction with low income housing tax credits. Applications for the NHTF program are accepted concurrent with and as a part of an application for Competitive LIHTC, and are targeted towards proposals for permanent Supportive Housing and proposals for multifamily housing in Rural Counties. Eligible recipients are local public housing authorities and non-profit organizations. There is a 30-year affordability period requirement.
The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) was established under Title I of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008, Section 1131 (Public Law 110-289). Section 1131 of HERA amended the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) (Act) to add a new section 1337, entitled “Affordable Housing Allocation” and a new section 1338, entitled “Housing Trust Fund.”
This program is governed by Title 24 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 91 and 93; Interim Rule. Those regulations are incorporated by reference into the Program Descriptions provided below.