Preservation of Affordable Housing

What Preservation of Affordable Housing does

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a Boston-based nonprofit developer, owner, and operator of affordable rental housing, founded in 2001 and incorporated in Massachusetts. The organization's mission is to preserve, create, and sustain affordable, healthy homes that support economic security and access to opportunity for low-to-moderate-income households. As of the most recent data, POAH's portfolio comprises 147 properties with 14,000+ apartments across 13 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 22,000 residents, with 40+ projects in the active development pipeline. Regional offices in Boston (HQ), Chicago, Washington DC, and Kansas City anchor operations in the four core geographies.

POAH delivers three core services: (1) Real Estate Development — new construction, acquisition, and renovation of at-risk affordable housing; (2) Resident Success — community impact coordinators connecting residents to skill-building, workforce certifications, and education programs; and (3) Ownership & Management — long-term stewardship ensuring financial and physical sustainability, including perpetual affordability covenants. Notable technical capabilities include Passive House certification under PHIUS (The Loop at Mattapan Station), a 60 kW solar array with 440 kWh battery storage making Kenzi Apartments Massachusetts' first all-electric building over four stories with city-permitted solar+storage, and DOE Zero Energy Ready construction at Lambert Woods North in Maine. The underlying "platform" is therefore a capital project execution stack rather than software: LIHTC syndication, tax-exempt bond underwriting, public-private partnership structuring, and green building delivery.

POAH's revenue model blends four streams: rental income from 14,000+ affordable units priced at 30%, 60%, and 80% of Area Median Income tiers on a monthly billing basis; government subsidies and tax credits (LIHTC, federal/state housing grants, NCI loans from DMPED); development fees earned from co-development partnerships with public housing authorities (DCHA, CHA, SLHA); and renovation project revenue funded through LIHTC equity and tax-exempt bonds (e.g., $15.9M from Hudson Housing Capital at Corcoran Place). Construction financing partners include JPMorgan Chase, Fannie Mae, Bank of America, and state housing finance agencies (MassHousing, DCHFA, R.I. Housing, EOHLC). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales to public-sector and institutional counterparties for development deals, with a self-serve leasing website (poahcommunities.com) for individual residents. Active multi-year projects include the Barry Farm New Communities Initiative redevelopment in DC (Asberry 108 units delivered 2024, Edmonson 139 units under construction, Hillsdale Flats Phase I 90 units groundbreaking June 2026), the $85M Island Terrace renovation in Chicago, the $40M Corcoran Place renovation in Chicago, the Clinton-Peabody full rebuild in St. Louis, and new developments in Boston, Miami, Maine, and Cape Cod.

Name

Preservation of Affordable Housing

Legal name

Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc.

Website

https://poah.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a Boston-based nonprofit developer, owner, and operator of affordable rental housing. With 14,000+ apartments across 13 states and DC, POAH serves low-to-moderate-income residents through new construction, renovation, and resident services programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Rental Housing Development and Management

NAICS

Residential Property Managers (531311), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Rental and Leasing Services (532)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

HOA / Condominium Association Management (BPAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Rental property management
• Resident services
• Housing preservation
• Nonprofit real estate

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Rental Income: POAH generates rental income from its portfolio of 13,000-14,000 affordable rental apartments across 12 states and DC. Rents are set at affordable rates based on Area Median Income (AMI) levels, typically ranging from 30% to 80% of AMI.
2. Government Subsidies and Tax Credits: Revenue from Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), tax-exempt bonds, federal and state housing subsidies, and government grants for affordable housing development and preservation.
3. Development Fees: Fees earned from co-developing properties with housing authorities and municipal governments, including Barry Farm redevelopment with DCHA and Morgan Park Commons with Far South CDC.
4. Property Renovation Services: Comprehensive renovation projects including the $40 million Corcoran Place renovation, $45 million Loomis Courts overhaul, and $85 million Island Terrace makeover, funded through tax credits and grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

POAH is a nonprofit developer, owner, and operator that acquires, builds, and renovates affordable rental housing for low-and-moderate-income households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income. The organization delivers three integrated services: real estate development (new construction, acquisition, and renovation of at-risk affordable properties), resident success programming through on-site community impact coordinators, and long-term ownership and property management to preserve affordability in perpetuity.

Product overview

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a nonprofit affordable housing developer, owner, and operator offering three core services: Real Estate Development (new construction and acquisition/renovation of affordable housing), Resident Success (community impact coordinators connecting residents to skill-building and education), and Ownership & Management (property stewardship and financial sustainability). The portfolio spans 147 properties with over 14,000 apartments across 13 states and Washington DC. Notable property developments include The Asberry at Barry Farm (108 units, Washington DC), The Loop at Mattapan Station (135 units, Boston), Meridian Point at Goulds Station (113 units, Miami), Hillsdale Flats (90 units, DC), Lawrence Hill (46 units, Wellfleet MA), Lambert Woods North (72 units, Maine), The Rose on Sixth Street (46 units, Cambridge MA), and The Kenzi at Bartlett Station (senior housing with solar+storage, Boston). Renovation projects include Island Terrace Apartments ($85M, Chicago) and Corcoran Place ($40M, Chicago).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Real Estate Development Vertical offering of new construction, acquisition, and renovation services that turn at-risk affordable housing into sustainable homes for low-and-moderate-income residents, delivered in partnership with housing authorities, municipal governments, and financial institutions.
• Resident Success On-site resident services delivered by community impact coordinators who connect affordable housing residents to skill-building, workforce certifications, and education programs across POAH's national portfolio.
• Ownership & Management Long-term property ownership and management covering financial and physical sustainability, financing strategy, and perpetual affordability stewardship for POAH's 147-property portfolio.
• The Asberry at Barry Farm 108-unit affordable mixed-use rental building in Washington, D.C.'s Barry Farm redevelopment, with preference for elderly families and on-site amenities including retail space, fitness, and community rooms. Tenants can apply through POAH Communities.
• The Loop at Mattapan Station 135-unit transit-oriented affordable rental development at 466 River St, Boston, MA, with PHIUS Passive House certification, rooftop solar array, battery backup, and 10,000 square feet of commercial space.
• Meridian Point at Goulds Station 113-unit new-construction affordable rental community in southern Miami-Dade County serving households earning 30%–80% of AMI, with priority units for displaced Cutler Manor residents.
• Hillsdale Flats 90-unit fully affordable housing community in Washington, D.C., part of the Barry Farm-Hillsdale redevelopment under the New Communities Initiative, offering 1–5 bedroom units with right-of-return priority for former public housing residents.
• Island Terrace Apartments Renovation 240-unit affordable high-rise renovation on Chicago's South Side delivering new kitchens, baths, electrical, plumbing, elevators, fiber/wi-fi, and security upgrades under an $85 million makeover.
• Lawrence Hill Apartments (The Residences at Lawrence Hill) 46-unit affordable rental community on Cape Cod in Wellfleet, MA, delivering year-round affordable housing for local workers through a mix of 24 townhome-style units and 22 apartments.
• Corcoran Place Apartments Renovation 94-unit West Side senior apartment renovation on Chicago's Austin Blvd. delivering all-electric HVAC, upgraded kitchens/baths, and full envelope repairs under a $40 million capital improvement.
• Lambert Woods North 72-unit DOE Zero Energy Ready affordable family housing development in Portland, Maine's North Deering neighborhood, with rooftop solar and units reserved for homeless shelter referrals.
• The Rose on Sixth Street 46-unit adaptive reuse affordable housing development in East Cambridge, MA, converting the historic Sacred Heart church rectory and school into permanently affordable apartments.
• Clinton-Peabody Redevelopment Complete demolition and rebuild of St. Louis' oldest public housing community (originally built 1942), developed in partnership with the St. Louis Housing Authority with new green space, walkways, and a sports field.
• The Kenzi at Bartlett Station Affordable senior (55+) rental building in Boston's Roxbury with Massachusetts' first all-electric solar+storage backup power system serving medically vulnerable residents.
• The Edmonson 139-unit fully affordable apartment property under construction at the Barry Farm redevelopment in Washington, D.C., scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
• Temple Landing II 27-unit affordable rental community in New Bedford, MA representing the final phase of a public housing site redevelopment funded through a $182 million state housing award.

Quantifiable outcome

• Created 2,068 construction jobs and engaged 60+ certified business enterprises since commencing Barry Farm redevelopment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026DCHA and POAH serve as co-developers for the Barry Farm site, a multi-phase redevelopment under the New Communities Initiative (NCI). DCHA provides housing authority oversight, resident coordination, and public housing replacement unit requirements. The partnership has delivered The Asberry (108 units) and Edmonson (139 units), with Hillsdale Flats Phase I (90 units) groundbreaking in June 2026.
• Deputy Mayor's Office for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026DMPED assists in coordination, planning, and execution of economic development efforts in DC, with the goal of creating and preserving affordable housing. DMPED provided NCI loans for predevelopment, infrastructure loans, and construction gap financing for Barry Farm redevelopment.
• Nuestra Comunidad Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner with POAH for The Loop at Mattapan Station, a 135-unit transit-oriented development on MBTA land. Selected through a competitive process by MBTA to create mixed-used development.
• Far South Community Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead developer for Morgan Park Commons, a $54.6 million mixed-income housing proposal in Chicago. POAH partnered with Far South CDC for development of 70 residential units (66 affordable) at 11420 S. Halsted St.
• Mass Bay Transit Authority (MBTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBTA owns the Mattapan Station parking lot site and entered a long-term ground lease with POAH/Nuestra Comunidad to develop The Loop at Mattapan Station on the 2.57-acre transit-oriented site.
• City of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for Boston affordable housing projects including The Loop at Mattapan Station and Flat 9 at Whittier redevelopment. Provides funding through Mayor's Office of Housing and Neighborhood Housing Trust.
• Housing Assistance (Cape Cod)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest developer of affordable housing on Cape Cod, partnering with POAH for Spring Rock Village, a 45-unit affordable housing project in Brewster, MA.
• Maine Cooperative Development Partners (MCDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal development partner that secured the Lambert Woods North property through an RFP process issued by the City of Portland in 2021. POAH is lead developer for this 72-unit Maine project.
• Community Development Partnership (CDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrleans-based nonprofit that co-developed the 46-unit Lawrence Hill apartments with POAH in Wellfleet, MA. CDP focuses on Cape Cod affordable housing and community development.
• Berglund ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChicago-based general contractor for the $40 million Corcoran Place renovation project.
• St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing authority partnering with POAH for Clinton-Peabody redevelopment, St. Louis' oldest public housing community built in 1942.
• Nauset ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for The Rose on Sixth Street adaptive reuse project converting historic Sacred Heart church rectory and school into 46 affordable apartments in East Cambridge.
• Caste CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer with POAH for 151 Cambridge Street West End Library replacement project combining a new public library with 119 affordable rental homes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Enterprise Community Partners: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit affordable housing developers, owners, and operators. Enterprise develops and preserves affordable rental housing across multiple states using LIHTC and similar financing — directly comparable mission, structure, and asset class to POAH.
• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer/operator with a large multifamily portfolio and resident services platform. Same 501(c)(3) structure, LIHTC-driven development model, and resident services orientation as POAH.
• National Housing Trust: Nonprofit affordable housing preservation-focused developer with portfolios across multiple states. Closely comparable to POAH's preservation-first mission and resident services focus.
• BRIDGE Housing: Mission-driven affordable housing developer/owner on the West Coast. Similar mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented development approach to POAH, though operating primarily in California.
• MidPen Housing: California-based nonprofit developer of high-quality affordable housing with comparable mixed-income, sustainable-design emphasis. Regional peer with similar asset class and resident services model.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Large nonprofit focused on affordable homeownership for low-income households. Compares on mission and nonprofit structure, though asset class (for-sale vs rental) and scale differ materially.

Broad incumbents

• The Related Companies (Affordable): Large for-profit developer with a substantial affordable housing arm (Related Affordable). Competes for the same LIHTC allocations and public partnerships as POAH but operates at greater scale with for-profit capital flexibility.
• WinnCompanies: Large multifamily owner/operator with a substantial affordable housing portfolio and third-party property management business. Comparable in scale and asset class, though for-profit and more management-weighted than POAH.

Others

• Housing Assistance Council: National nonprofit that supports rural affordable housing development through financing and technical assistance. Adjacent to POAH's mission but focuses on rural geographies and capacity building rather than direct ownership.
• RCLCO (Robert Charles Lesser): Real estate advisory that frequently consults on LIHTC and affordable housing strategy. Not a peer operator but a relevant ecosystem participant advising the same markets POAH operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/POAHCommunities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Preservation of Affordable Housing