Action Housing
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Action Housing does
Action Housing (ACTION-Housing, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the largest nonprofit affordable housing developer in Western Pennsylvania, having developed, preserved, or managed more than 4,500 housing units since 1985 across a portfolio of over 40 named projects spanning SRO housing, supportive housing, veteran and senior housing, autism-designated housing, artist live-work lofts, and family treatment facilities. The organization operates an integrated model combining real estate development (new construction, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse), in-house property management through its Supportive Housing Management Services (SHMS) subsidiary, and a portfolio of direct social services including Weatherization Assistance (25+ years), MyPlace youth programs, HOME Allegheny Repair Programs, Allegheny Lead Safe Homes, Housing Connector, mortgage counseling, and homebuyer assistance. Notable technical accomplishments include the first multi-family Passive House project in Pennsylvania (Uptown Lofts, 2015) and Energy Star-certified construction.
Revenue is generated through a mix of rental income from below-market affordable housing units, government contracts (HUD, PHFA, URA, Allegheny County), recurring county-wide service contracts (Weatherization, Emergency Rental Assistance, Whole-Home Repairs), philanthropic grants (Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Heinz Endowments, RK Mellon Foundation), corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. The customer base is bifurcated: end-users are income-eligible low-income households, veterans, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and youth aging out of foster care in Western Pennsylvania; while institutional customers (the de facto revenue sources) are concentrated federal, state, county, and major foundation funders. The go-to-market is community-led and direct: Action Housing identifies neighborhood needs, acquires and develops properties, and delivers both housing and wraparound supportive services in-house or through established partners such as UPMC Behavioral Health, Auberle, NHS Human Services, ACHIEVA, and Jewish Residential Services.
Action Housing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Action Housing
- Legal name
- ACTION-Housing, Inc.
- Website
- https://actionhousing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Action Housing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Development
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Residential Building Construction (2361)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI), Affordable Housing Property Management (BPAJAGAJ), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)
Keywords
Where Action Housing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Action Housing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Affordable Housing Development & Property Management: ACTION-Housing develops, owns, and manages affordable housing units across Western Pennsylvania. Revenue is generated through rental income from affordable units, property management fees, and development fees on new construction and rehabilitation projects.
- Government Contracts & Grants: Operates publicly-funded programs including the Weatherization Assistance Program (25+ years), Allegheny County Whole-Home Repairs Program (up to $50,000 per household), Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and other federal, state, and county contracts for social service delivery.
- Individual Donations & Sponsorships: Nonprofit fundraising through individual donations, annual meeting sponsorships (Cornerstone $10,000, Pillar $5,000, Partner $2,500, Advocate $1,500, Ally $500), and event-based giving.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Affordable housing rental rates (income-based) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Action Housing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Action Housing is a nonprofit affordable housing developer that acquires, develops, owns, and manages quality affordable and supportive housing units across Western Pennsylvania. Through its Supportive Housing Management Services (SHMS) division and service programs (Weatherization, MyPlace Youth, HOME Allegheny Repairs, Allegheny Lead Safe Homes, Housing Connector, Penn Hills Homebuyer Assistance, Allegheny Housing Stabilization Collaborative), the organization delivers wraparound supportive services to low-income individuals, families, veterans, seniors, youth aging out of foster care, and people with disabilities.
Product overview
Action Housing operates as Pittsburgh's largest nonprofit housing developer, offering a unified platform of housing development and supportive services rather than a modular software product. The core offerings include Real Estate Development (new construction, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse of affordable housing) and Supportive Housing Management Services (SHMS) for property oversight. The service portfolio encompasses Weatherization Assistance, MyPlace Youth Programs, HOME Allegheny Repair Programs, Allegheny Housing Stabilization Collaborative, Allegheny Lead Safe Homes, Housing Connector, and Penn Hills Homebuyer Assistance Program. The company manages a portfolio of affordable housing properties across housing for homeless, single room occupancy (SRO), and supportive housing categories serving veterans, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Supportive Housing Management Services (SHMS): Property management services division of Action Housing, managing supportive housing units.
Products and services
- Real Estate Development
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 4,500 units of housing developed and/or preserved since 1985
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Action Housing
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Action Housing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Action Housing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Operation Better BlockcorePartnership with Operation Better Block for the James T. Givner Building rehabilitation project in the Homewood South neighborhood, creating commercial spaces and affordable residential units anchored by this strategically located mixed-use development.
- AuberlecorePartner for the Family Healing Center, a first-of-its-kind residential treatment facility for families with young children where a parent or caretaker is in recovery from addiction. Auberle provides family services as part of the integrated service model.
- Allegheny County DHS (Department of Human Services)coreGovernment partner for the Family Healing Center, providing funding and service coordination for families receiving wraparound support in the residential treatment facility.
- UPMC Behavioral HealthcorePartner for the Family Healing Center, providing behavioral health services and clinical expertise for the residential treatment facility serving families affected by addiction.
- ACHIEVAcoreACHIEVA provides supportive services at Sixth Ward Flats for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, with 8 of 35 affordable apartments reserved for this population.
- Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS)coreIn 2019, ACTION-Housing partnered with PTS on the acquisition of three market-rate multifamily residential buildings in the East Liberty (Highland Park) neighborhood. PTS selected ACTION to purchase and redevelop the properties, converting all 54 units to affordable housing. This was a strategic acquisition to prevent displacement of low-income renters in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
- Bethlehem HavencoreACTION-Housing is acting as Development Consultant for the renovation of Bethlehem Haven's building at 1410 Fifth Avenue, providing real estate development expertise for a supportive housing facility serving women experiencing long-term housing instability.
- Jewish Residential Services (JRS)coreJRS operates the Howard Levin Clubhouse on the first two floors of Krause Commons and provides supportive services for residents with intellectual and/or mental health disabilities, eliminating isolation experienced in scattered-site housing.
- Bike PittsburghminorMyPlace Bikes collaboration between ACTION-Housing's MyPlace program and Bike Pittsburgh, helping MyPlace participants learn to ride bikes safely on city streets as part of independent living skills programming.
- NHS Human ServicescoreNHS Human Services provides supportive services to tenants at David Wright Apartments, which includes 21 units set aside for individuals on the autism spectrum in a purpose-built, soundproofed facility.
- 412 Food RescueminorPartnership to distribute food to residents at Centre Avenue YMCA during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring food security for residents facing barriers during the health crisis.
- Community Kitchen (Pittsburgh Community Kitchen)minorCommunity Kitchen operates out of an ACTION-owned property in Hazelwood (the former D'Imperios Market/Spahr Building), preparing meals for Centre Avenue YMCA residents and undertaking culinary job training programs.
- Kobol (private developer)coreFlats on Forward is a partnership between ACTION-Housing and Kobol, two private developers who own adjacent real estate on the block. The partnership created a mixed-use development blending 43 units of affordable housing with ground-floor office space.
- Carnegie Library of PittsburghminorAnchor tenant on the top floor of the Hazelwood Center, a multi-tenant nonprofit center redeveloped from a former church building, providing critical community library services in the Hazelwood neighborhood.
- 412 Food Rescueminor412 Food Rescue delivered food to Centre Avenue YMCA residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinated in partnership with ACTION-Housing and KDKA-TV.
- Hosanna HousecoreCommunity partner host for the Penn Lincoln Apartments groundbreaking ceremony in Wilkinsburg, marking a 41-unit affordable housing development in partnership with ACTION-Housing.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Action Housing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Enterprise Community Partners: One of the largest national nonprofit affordable housing developers and investors, operating LIHTC syndications, development, and policy advocacy across dozens of states. Comparable to Action Housing as a mission-driven nonprofit combining real estate development with resident services, but at vastly larger national scale.
Direct peers
- Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator with a portfolio of more than 50,000 affordable homes across 40+ states. Highly comparable to Action Housing in combining real estate development with wraparound supportive services for vulnerable populations, though at significantly larger geographic scale.
- BRIDGE Housing: Nonprofit affordable housing developer focused on California and the Pacific Northwest, developing and managing rental housing for low- and moderate-income families. Closely comparable to Action Housing as a regional nonprofit developer combining new construction, rehabilitation, and supportive services, but concentrated in West Coast markets.
- Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): National nonprofit focused on preserving and operating affordable housing for low-income families across multiple states. Comparable to Action Housing's preservation, supportive services, and resident stability orientation, though with a national rather than regional scope.
- The Community Builders: Nonprofit developer of affordable and mixed-income housing across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, including mixed-use and supportive housing developments. Comparable to Action Housing as a nonprofit combining development with property management and resident services, with overlapping geography in the Northeast.
- Beacon Communities: Nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Boston developing and managing more than 17,000 units of affordable and mixed-income housing. Comparable to Action Housing as a nonprofit combining new construction, preservation, and property management with resident services, but with larger scale and East Coast regional focus.
- Pennrose: Developer and manager of affordable and mixed-income rental housing across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest, including LIHTC-financed new construction and rehabilitation. Comparable to Action Housing as an affordable housing developer using LIHTC and public financing, with overlapping Mid-Atlantic/regional operating geography.
- National Church Residences: Nonprofit developer and operator of affordable senior housing and supportive services across more than 25 states, including the legacy ACTION-Housing Forest Hills Veteran and Senior Apartments use case. Comparable in mission and service-rich operations model, though predominantly senior-focused.
- NHP Foundation: Nonprofit affordable housing developer and owner serving low- and moderate-income families, seniors, and individuals with special needs across the Mid-Atlantic and other regions. Comparable to Action Housing in nonprofit status, mixed-income and supportive housing focus, and overlapping regional operating footprint.
Regional players
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh: Regional affiliate of Habitat for Humanity serving the Pittsburgh area, developing affordable for-sale housing for low-income families. Comparable to Action Housing as a regional nonprofit housing provider in Western Pennsylvania, but focused on homeownership rather than rental/supportive housing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Action Housing social profiles
Digital presenceAction Housing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Action Housing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Action Housing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Action Housing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Action Housing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Action 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 Action Housing
What does Action Housing do?
Action Housing is a nonprofit affordable housing developer that acquires, develops, owns, and manages quality affordable and supportive housing units across Western Pennsylvania. Through its Supportive Housing Management Services (SHMS) division and service programs (Weatherization, MyPlace Youth, HOME Allegheny Repairs, Allegheny Lead Safe Homes, Housing Connector, Penn Hills Homebuyer Assistance, Allegheny Housing Stabilization Collaborative), the organization delivers wraparound supportive services to low-income individuals, families, veterans, seniors, youth aging out of foster care, and people with disabilities.
Is Action Housing a public or private company?
Action Housing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Action Housing founded?
Action Housing was founded in 1957. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Action Housing based?
Action Housing is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Action Housing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Affordable Housing Development & Property Management is the primary driver. The others are government Contracts & Grants and individual Donations & Sponsorships.
Who are Action Housing's main competitors?
Enterprise Community Partners is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Mercy Housing, BRIDGE Housing, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), The Community Builders, Beacon Communities, Pennrose, National Church Residences and NHP Foundation. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh is listed as a regional player.
Does Action Housing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Action Housing.
What industry is Action Housing in?
Action Housing's product category is Affordable Housing Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts), with a secondary code of IMAFABAI, Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.