Action Housing

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.

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

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

• Affordable housing development
• Supportive housing services
• Property management
• Weatherization assistance programs
• Homelessness prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Operation Better BlockcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership 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.
• AuberlecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Government partner for the Family Healing Center, providing funding and service coordination for families receiving wraparound support in the residential treatment facility.
• UPMC Behavioral HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner for the Family Healing Center, providing behavioral health services and clinical expertise for the residential treatment facility serving families affected by addiction.
• ACHIEVAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ACHIEVA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In 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 HavencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ACTION-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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017JRS 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 PittsburghminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017MyPlace 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 ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016NHS 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 RescueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlats 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 PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor 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 RescueminorGTM or Marketing Partner412 Food Rescue delivered food to Centre Avenue YMCA residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinated in partnership with ACTION-Housing and KDKA-TV.
• Hosanna HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity 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

Broad 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/actionhousingpgh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/action-housing

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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 Action Housing