Frontier Housing
Frontier Housing is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution serving low-to-moderate-income individuals across 22 Appalachian Kentucky counties through new home construction, mortgage lending, free credit counseling, home repair, and rental housing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersMorehead, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Frontier Housing does
Frontier Housing, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1974 and headquartered in Morehead, Kentucky, that delivers an integrated affordable housing platform across a 22-county service region in Appalachian Kentucky. Its product suite spans six core lines: Build a Home (Mutual Self-Help new construction with AmeriCorps volunteer labor), Get a Home Loan (USDA, FHA, VA, HomeReady, and in-house Frontier loans with down payment assistance and the Hometown Heroes 0.25% rate deduction), Buy a Home (existing energy-efficient inventory), Build My Credit (free HUD-certified financial counseling), Repair a Home (free rehabilitation for income-qualified owners, averaging ~$23,725 per project), and Rent a Home (~100+ units accepting rental assistance vouchers). Distribution combines Morehead and Ashland offices, an online intake/loan portal on Salesforce, and the RentCafe resident platform.
The business model blends one-time home sale proceeds, recurring mortgage interest income, recurring rental revenue, and a substantial grant and tax-credit stack drawn from federal (HUD HOME, USDA, VA, FHA, EPA Brownfields, CDFI Fund), state (Kentucky Housing Corporation Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, CDBG-DR, Team Kentucky), and philanthropic sources (Fahe, Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Rural Housing Trust Fund). Pricing is mission-driven rather than market-clearing: home repairs are free for households at or below 80% AMI with assets under $49,999, mortgages use government-backed products with down-payment assistance, and homebuyer education costs $99 with a $50 application fee. The customer base is exclusively individual low-to-moderate-income households; there is no enterprise or B2B segment.
Frontier is currently executing three large development projects that materially extend its footprint: Park View Apartments (40-unit LIHTC-financed rental complex in Morehead, completed December 2025), New Hope Estates (~40 homes for 2022 flood survivors in Floyd County, first families welcomed March 2026), and the Hayswood Hospital brownfield remediation and adaptive reuse in Maysville (41 mixed-income apartments). Capital structure rests on a $1,999,900 EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant (May 2023), a $1,735,000 CDFI Fund award (February 2025), and tax-credit equity intermediated through Marble Cliff Capital. The organization employs approximately 15-20 named staff across Construction, Real Estate & Multifamily, Homeownership, and Finance & Administration, and operates a wholly-owned staffing subsidiary, GoalSource, Inc., established in May 2023. Leadership is currently in transition, with Chelsa Hamilton serving as Interim President & CEO while retaining CFO duties following Tom Manning-Beavin.
Frontier Housing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Frontier Housing
- Legal name
- Frontier Housing, Inc.
- Website
- https://frontierky.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Frontier Housing is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution serving low-to-moderate-income individuals across 22 Appalachian Kentucky counties through new home construction, mortgage lending, free credit counseling, home repair, and rental housing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Frontier Housing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Services
- NAICS
- Other Community Housing Services (624229), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL)
Keywords
Where Frontier Housing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morehead
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Frontier Housing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Home Sales: Revenue from selling newly constructed and existing energy-efficient homes to income-eligible homebuyers
- Mortgage Lending: Interest income from home loans originated to borrowers. Offers various loan products including USDA, FHA, VA, HomeReady, and Frontier Housing loans
- Rental Housing Income: Rental income from approximately 100+ rental housing units across their 22-county service region
- Grants and Donations: Funding from government grants (EPA Brownfields, CDBG, HUD HOME, Kentucky Housing Corporation), foundations, and individual donations to support operations and community development projects
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free home repairs for income-eligible homeowners |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Home construction with fees |
| Subscription | Monthly | Home loans with various programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Frontier Housing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Frontier Housing is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that builds, finances, repairs, and rents affordable homes for low-to-moderate income individuals and families across 22 counties in northeastern Kentucky. Its core offerings include six integrated service lines: new home construction (Build a Home), mortgage lending with multiple loan products (Home Loans), existing home purchases (Buy a Home), free credit and financial coaching (Build My Credit), free home rehabilitation (Repair a Home), and rental housing accepting vouchers (Rent a Home). The organization was founded in 1974 and is a NeighborWorks America member.
Product overview
Frontier Housing is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a comprehensive suite of affordable housing solutions. The core product portfolio includes six integrated service lines: Build a Home (new construction), Home Loans (mortgage lending with multiple loan products), Buy a Home (existing home purchases), Build My Credit (free credit counseling), Repair a Home (free home rehabilitation), and Rent a Home (rental housing with vouchers). Additionally, the organization manages major development projects including the Hayswood Hospital redevelopment in Maysville (conversion to 41 mixed-income apartments), New Hope Estates flood recovery housing in Floyd County (~40 homes), and Park View Apartments (40-unit complex in Morehead). The services are designed to guide individuals from rental/rebuilding through to homeownership, supported by financial coaching and flexible lending options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Build a Home New construction home building service where customers select house plans and Frontier Housing handles contractors, materials, and inspections. Part of the Mutual Self-Help program bringing homebuyers into build groups of 4-7 households. Available across 22 counties in northeastern Kentucky.
- Home Loans Mortgage lending services including USDA Guaranteed Loans, USDA Direct Loans, VA Loans, FHA Loans, HomeReady Mortgage Loans, and refinance options. Offers down payment assistance and serves borrowers who may have been turned down by traditional banks. Includes Hometown Heroes program with 0.25% interest rate deduction for eligible professionals.
- Buy a Home Purchase of existing energy-efficient homes offered by Frontier Housing across their 22-county service region in northeastern Kentucky, with flexible financing options available to homebuyers.
- Build My Credit Free credit building and financial coaching services to help individuals improve credit scores, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio for homeownership readiness. Includes a $99 online homebuyer education course.
- Repair a Home Free home repair and rehabilitation services for income-qualified homeowners. Typical repairs include roof replacement, HVAC installation, flooring, bathroom modifications, porch/deck installation, ramps, and safety improvements. Income must be at or below 80% AMI and assets cannot exceed $49,999 excluding primary residence.
- Rent a Home Rental housing units across the 22-county service region that accepts rental assistance vouchers, designed for those rebuilding credit, saving for a down payment, or not yet ready for homeownership. Tenants can make payments and request maintenance through RentCafe resident portal.
- Hayswood Hospital Redevelopment Conversion of the historic Hayswood Hospital in Maysville, KY into mixed-income housing with 41 apartments (10 one-bedroom, 21 two-bedroom, 8 three-bedroom, 2 four-bedroom units). Funded by $1.99M EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant for environmental remediation.
- New Hope Estates High-ground neighborhood development in Floyd County for flood survivors, featuring approximately 40 homes built for Kentuckians who lost homes in the 2022 floods. Funded through CDBG-DR, Team Kentucky, Rural Housing Trust Fund, and Fahe partnerships.
- Park View Apartments 40-unit apartment complex in Morehead with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units, completed December 2025. Financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (~$7.5 million equity) and Affordable Housing Trust Funds from Kentucky Housing Corporation ($300,000).
Quantifiable outcome
- $9.77 million total investment in 2024-2025 fiscal year
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Frontier Housing
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Frontier Housing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Frontier Housing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- National Environmental Contractors (NEC)majorNEC of Louisville was awarded the abatement contractor bid for Hayswood Hospital. Completed hazardous material abatement including asbestos, lead-based paint, and universal wastes.
- FahemajorAppalachian membership organization supporting community development. Partner in flood recovery efforts, helping determine eligibility and provide housing process assistance.
- Buffalo Trace Area Development DistrictcoreBTADD provides project administration, technical assistance, and community outreach for Hayswood Hospital project. Assisted with grant application process and continues to lead community engagement efforts.
- Linebach Funkhouser, Inc.coreEnvironmental engineering firm selected through competitive bid to lead cleanup activities at Hayswood Hospital. LFI has completed over 30 USEPA Grant Projects in Kentucky totaling more than $12 million in USEPA grant funding.
- NeighborWorks AmericacoreFrontier Housing is a member of NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit that provides support, technical assistance, and training to community-based housing organizations. This affiliation provides access to professional development, credentialing, and network resources.
- AmeriCorps NCCCcoreAmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) members volunteer with Frontier to help families build homes at Mutual Self-Help sites. Volunteers work alongside homebuyers in build groups of 4-7 households.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Frontier Housing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fahe: A larger Appalachian membership network of CDFIs and housing nonprofits; Frontier is already a Fahe partner in New Hope Estates flood recovery. Highly comparable mission, geography, and member-driven model across the same 22-county footprint.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Operates the Mutual Self-Help build model that Frontier uses, alongside home construction, mortgage lending (HFHI's Habitat Mortgage Solutions), and home repair (A Brush with Kindness) for low-income households. Direct functional peer in non-profit affordable housing delivery.
- Community Ventures: A Kentucky-based CDFI providing small business and community development lending, with overlapping board and partner relationships with Frontier. Comparable in being a Kentucky-rooted nonprofit financial institution serving low-income populations.
- Housing Assistance Council: National nonprofit focused on rural affordable housing, financing rural housing development, and providing technical assistance to rural housing organizations. Frontier is a recipient of HAC financing on the Park View Apartments project; closely aligned rural-housing mission.
- Appalachian Service Project: A regional nonprofit providing critical home repair, replacement housing, and disaster recovery in Central Appalachia. Directly comparable to Frontier's Repair a Home and New Hope Estates programs in mission and geographic overlap.
- Mountain Association: A community development financial institution serving Eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia with lending, energy efficiency, and community facility programs. Comparable mission and geography to Frontier's housing, lending, and weatherization activities.
Broad incumbents
- NeighborWorks America: A national network of more than 250 community-based housing organizations of which Frontier is a member. Provides training, capital, and credentialing that shape Frontier's operating model; a broader umbrella peer rather than a direct competitor.
Others
- Kentucky Housing Corporation: State housing finance agency that is one of Frontier's largest funders (Affordable Housing Trust Fund, HOME, LIHTC allocation, flood recovery). Comparable in being a Kentucky affordable housing capital source, but functions as a capital provider rather than an operator.
- USDA Rural Development: Federal program that finances rural single-family housing via Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed loans, which Frontier originates and services. Functions as a capital and guarantee partner rather than a direct operator, but a key peer in the rural housing finance ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Rural LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National CDFI and rural community development funder that supports housing and economic development in underserved rural places. Comparable in deploying flexible capital and technical assistance to rural housing partners across the country.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Frontier Housing social profiles
Digital presenceFrontier Housing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Frontier Housing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Frontier Housing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Frontier Housing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frontier Housing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Frontier Housing
What does Frontier Housing do?
Frontier Housing is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that builds, finances, repairs, and rents affordable homes for low-to-moderate income individuals and families across 22 counties in northeastern Kentucky. Its core offerings include six integrated service lines: new home construction (Build a Home), mortgage lending with multiple loan products (Home Loans), existing home purchases (Buy a Home), free credit and financial coaching (Build My Credit), free home rehabilitation (Repair a Home), and rental housing accepting vouchers (Rent a Home). The organization was founded in 1974 and is a NeighborWorks America member.
Is Frontier Housing a public or private company?
Frontier Housing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Frontier Housing founded?
Frontier Housing was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Frontier Housing based?
Frontier Housing is headquartered in Morehead, United States, in the North America region.
How does Frontier Housing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Home Sales are the primary driver. The others are mortgage Lending, rental Housing Income and grants and Donations.
Who are Frontier Housing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fahe, Habitat for Humanity International, Community Ventures, Housing Assistance Council, Appalachian Service Project and Mountain Association. NeighborWorks America is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Kentucky Housing Corporation and USDA Rural Development. Rural LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Frontier Housing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Frontier Housing.
What industry is Frontier Housing in?
Frontier Housing's product category is Affordable Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts), with a secondary code of FSALAKAL, Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs. Its NAICS code is 624229 and its SIC code is 7340.