Northwest Housing Alternatives

What Northwest Housing Alternatives does

Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Milwaukie, Oregon. It is the leading not-for-profit developer of affordable housing in Oregon, providing rental housing for extremely low-income households with most residents earning less than $16,000 per year. NHA operates an integrated service model spanning three core program areas: homeless intervention services (Annie Ross House emergency shelter, Pathways intensive case management for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, HomeBase rapid rehousing); resident services (eviction prevention, health/wellness, employment, youth development, asset building); and housing development (new construction and preservation of existing affordable housing).

NHA's portfolio includes 30+ properties across 19 Oregon cities spanning Portland, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Salem, Gresham, and smaller communities such as Warrenton, Hines, and The Dalles. In 2023, NHA completed 483 homes, the largest single-year production disclosed. NHA was the first organization to use the Oregon Housing Acquisition Fund to purchase seven properties comprising 247 units of Section 8 housing and has pursued five additional preservation projects. New construction adheres to Earth Advantage Silver Standard, with many projects exceeding it; the Milwaukie campus (headquarters, Annie Ross House shelter, 28 permanent units) was rebuilt in 2019 to Net Zero Energy Building standards with a 41.97kW solar array funded by Portland General Electric's Renewable Development Fund. NHA carries an AA- credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, one of the highest among Social Housing Providers in the United States.

Revenue is generated through four streams: rental income from affordable housing properties, government contracts and grants (HUD, Oregon housing agencies, county mental health programs), donations and fundraising (Lake Oswego Lake Run, Home Sweet Home gala, Impact Circle and Housing Stability Partners sustaining donor programs), and Section 8 / preservation project revenue. Distribution occurs through property waitlists, the Coordinated Housing Access line (503-655-8575) for Clackamas County homeless services, and referrals from Clackamas County Mental Health. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors and is led by Executive Director Trell Anderson (in role since 2018). NHA is certified as an LGBT Designated Housing Provider through SAGE Metro Portland and integrates equity and anti-racist work into its operations.

Name

Northwest Housing Alternatives

Legal name

Northwest Housing Alternatives

Website

https://nwhousing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northwest Housing Alternatives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affordable housing developer founded in 1982 that develops, builds, and manages rental housing for extremely low-income Oregon households earning under $16,000/year, operating 30+ properties across Oregon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Development and Supportive Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Supportive housing services
• Homeless intervention programs
• Housing preservation projects
• Low-income rental housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Rental Income from Affordable Housing: NHA develops, builds, and manages rental housing designed for Oregonians with extremely limited incomes. Revenue comes from rental payments, with most households earning less than $16,000 per year.
2. Government Contracts and Grants: Funding from government sources including HUD, Oregon housing agencies, and county mental health programs for Pathways case management services.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event fundraising (Lake Oswego Lake Run, Home Sweet Home gala), and monthly sustainer programs (Impact Circle, Housing Stability Partners).
4. Section 8 and Preservation Projects: Revenue from Section 8 housing programs and affordable housing preservation projects through the Oregon Housing Acquisition Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NHA develops, builds, and manages affordable rental housing for Oregonians with extremely limited incomes (most households earning less than $16,000 per year), serving families, seniors, and people with disabilities across 30+ properties. The organization also operates a continuum of supportive services including emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, mental health case management, and resident services that connect tenants to health, education, and employment resources.

Product overview

Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA) is a nonprofit affordable housing developer and social services provider offering a continuum of housing solutions and support services. The organization operates three core program areas: homeless intervention services (including Annie Ross Housing Services, Pathways for mental health case management, and HomeBase rapid rehousing), resident services (eviction prevention, health/wellness, employment support), and housing development (new construction and preservation). NHA maintains an active development pipeline with current projects including Terracina Vista, M. Carter Commons, Trinity Place, Rosemont, and Chenowith. Their portfolio includes 30+ affordable housing properties across Oregon serving diverse populations including families, seniors, and people with disabilities. The organization also operates fundraising events (Lake Oswego Lake Run and Home Sweet Home gala) and sustaining donor programs (Impact Circle and Housing Stability Partners).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annie Ross Housing Services (ARHS) A continuum of housing services providing emergency shelter, case management, housing navigation, short-term financial assistance, and wraparound supports for families experiencing homelessness or at risk in Clackamas County. Based at the Annie Ross House on the NHA Campus in Milwaukie, OR.
• Pathways Program Intensive case management program for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), providing wraparound supports to maintain housing stability and safety. Referrals come from Clackamas County Mental Health.
• HomeBase Rapid rehousing and diversion services providing intensive case management, housing barrier removal, and connections to long-term rental assistance for Clackamas County households at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
• Resident Services Coordinated services for residents of NHA's affordable housing properties, including eviction prevention, health and wellness programs, employment and education support, youth development, and asset building opportunities.
• Housing Development Development and construction of new affordable housing properties and preservation of existing affordable housing portfolios across Oregon, handling all phases from inception through completion and lease-up. Built to Net Zero Energy and Earth Advantage Silver standards.
• Affordable Housing Properties Portfolio Portfolio of 30+ affordable housing properties across Oregon serving families, seniors, and people with disabilities, spanning cities including Beaverton, Bend, Florence, Gladstone, Gresham, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hines, Lake Oswego, Medford, Milwaukie, Molalla, Monmouth, Ontario, Portland, Salem, Tigard, Warrenton, and Wilsonville.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SAGE Metro PortlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHA is certified through SAGE Metro Portland as an LGBT Designated Housing Provider, indicating a strategic partnership to ensure LGBTQ+ friendly housing.
• Clackamas CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHA works closely with Clackamas County for homeless intervention services. The Coordinated Housing Access line (503-655-8575) connects residents to NHA services. Clackamas County Mental Health refers clients to the Pathways program.
• Earth AdvantagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHA works to meet Earth Advantage Silver Standard in all development projects and exceeds this standard in many cases. Earth Advantage provides sustainability certification for buildings.
• Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAH was a Truffle Sponsor of Home Sweet Home 2025, supporting NHA's fundraising efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BRIDGE Housing: Mission-driven nonprofit developer and operator of affordable and mixed-income housing on the West Coast with a comparable new-construction, preservation, and resident-services model — close functional analog to NHA's integrated developer-plus-services stack.
• Habitat for Humanity Portland Region: Portland-area nonprofit affordable housing developer operating both rental and homeownership programs for low-income households — directly comparable to NHA on affordable supply, volunteer-driven model, and Individual Development Account homeownership pathway.
• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and service provider serving low-income families, seniors, and special-needs populations; comparable to NHA in combining affordable rental development with on-site supportive services across multiple states.
• Home Forward: Portland-metro public housing authority operating affordable rental, Section 8, and supportive housing for low-income households — the most direct local counterpart to NHA's affordable housing and homeless service programs in the same Oregon geography.
• Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH): Oregon-based nonprofit affordable housing provider whose service area and tenant base overlap directly with NHA; both compete for LIHTC, county and state funding and partner on NHA fundraising events.
• REACH CDC: Portland-area community development corporation developing and managing affordable rental and homeownership properties — a direct local peer with similar development-plus-services model serving the same Portland-metro market.
• The NHP Foundation: National nonprofit affordable housing developer for families, seniors, and individuals with special needs — directly comparable to NHA's mission across both general affordable housing and supportive housing for vulnerable populations.

Emerging players

• Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare: Oregon-based provider of housing, behavioral health, and addiction services including supportive housing for individuals with severe mental illness — overlaps with NHA's Pathways SPMI program and broader supportive housing work.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that deploys LIHTC equity, debt, and grants to develop and preserve affordable housing and partners with mission-driven developers like NHA — comparable as a broader-incumbent capital, advisory, and policy force in the same ecosystem.
• Related Affordable: Affordable housing arm of a large national real estate platform developing and preserving mixed-income rental — comparable affordable supply and supportive housing model, but at much larger scale and as a broader for-profit incumbent rather than a nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NWHousing
• Xx.com/nha_housing

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Northwest Housing Alternatives