The Foundation for Norfolk Living

What The Foundation for Norfolk Living does

The Foundation for Norfolk Living (FNL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 2005 in Norfolk, Connecticut, dedicated to creating affordable rental and for-sale housing for low-to-moderate income households. All operations are confined to the single town of Norfolk in Litchfield County's Northwest Corner. The organization emerged from a 2003 Housing Study Committee survey that confirmed a pressing local need; Norfolk's median home value reached $410,200 in 2024 and only 4.9% of housing is classified as affordable, below the 10% threshold targeted by the foundation and required for certain state protections.

FNL operates two principal programs. The first is the Town Center Rental Project, completed in June 2018, which delivered 12 fully occupied rental apartments through adaptive reuse of five deteriorating structures in the Norfolk Historic District; 10 units are priced at 25–80% of area median income (AMI) and two at 120% AMI market rate, with a waiting list maintained. The second is Haystack Woods, a 10-unit single-family affordable homeownership development under construction on a 39-acre former gravel pit, scheduled for 2026 occupancy. Homes are priced from $159,000 to $261,000 for first-time buyers earning 60–80% AMI, using a proprietary net-zero energy design by President Kate Johnson—insulated concrete walls, SIP roofs, air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic carports, battery storage, and energy recovery ventilators—that tied for first place in the 2015 CT Net Zero Energy Challenge and achieved a HERS Index of -12.

The business model combines recurring rental income, one-time for-sale home revenue, and nonprofit funding sources including Connecticut Department of Housing grants (over $7 million cumulative), Eversource-purchased historic tax credits ($448,119 in 2019), a $2 million construction loan, individual donations via PayPal, and support from partners such as LISC, Capital for Change, Housing Enterprises, and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through paper applications, community presentations at the Norfolk Hub, a Zoom info session for Haystack Woods, and outsourced property management by DeMarco Property Management and Connecticut Real Estate Management. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of Norfolk residents, with current President Kate Johnson, Vice President Avie Meehan, Treasurer Liane Burke, and Secretary Julie Scharnberg.

Name

The Foundation for Norfolk Living

Legal name

The Foundation for Norfolk Living, Inc.

Website

https://norfolkliving.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Foundation for Norfolk Living is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Norfolk, Connecticut that develops affordable rental and for-sale housing for low-to-moderate income households, using a proprietary net-zero energy home design to keep total ownership costs low.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (23611), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Net-zero homes
• Nonprofit rentals
• Historic district housing
• Affordable homeownership

Headquarters

HQ city

Norfolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Rental Income: 12 rental apartments across five renovated historic buildings in the Norfolk Historic District generate rental income. Properties include the Shepard Road Property (6 units) and Burr Property (6 units). All 12 units are fully occupied with a waiting list. 10 units are priced at 25-80% of area median income (AMI), 2 units are market rate at 120% AMI.
2. Home Sales (For-Sale Condominiums): Individual homes at Haystack Woods are sold as condominiums to first-time homebuyers earning 60-80% of AMI. Prices range from $159,000 to $261,000, well below actual construction cost, with revenue used to pay off construction loans. Land is owned by a homeowners association.
3. State Grants and Tax Credit Proceeds: The primary funding mechanism is Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) grants ($3 million+ in historical funding; ~$4 million committed for Haystack Woods). Additional financing includes Eversource-purchased historic tax credits ($448,119 for Town Center Rental Project), Connecticut Housing Finance Authority tax credits, and State Historic Preservation Office tax credits. These are not equity investments but government subsidies and credits.
4. Donations: Individual donations via PayPal support the nonprofit's mission of providing affordable housing. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Foundation for Norfolk Living develops, owns, and manages affordable rental and for-sale housing in Norfolk, Connecticut. Its current portfolio includes 12 rental apartments created through the adaptive reuse of five historic buildings in the Norfolk Historic District, and 10 single-family net-zero energy homes under construction at the Haystack Woods development for first-time homebuyers earning 60-80% of area median income. The organization funds projects through state grants, historic tax credits, donations, and low-interest loans, and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

The Foundation for Norfolk Living operates two primary housing programs: the Historic District Rentals, a portfolio of 12 adaptive-reuse rental apartments in five renovated historic buildings that are fully occupied with a waiting list; and Haystack Woods Net-Zero Homes, an under-construction 10-unit affordable single-family home development designed for net-zero energy consumption with solar panels, targeting first-time home buyers at prices of $159,000 to $261,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Historic District Rentals Portfolio of 12 rental apartments created through adaptive reuse of five deteriorating historic structures in the Norfolk Historic District, including the Shepard Road Property (6 apartments in two buildings at 40 and 46 Greenwoods Road West) and the Burr Property (6 apartments in three duplex houses at 29, 31, 33 Greenwoods Road East, donated by Ralph Burr). 10 units are priced at 25-80% of area median income and 2 units at 120% AMI (market rate). Properties are fully occupied with a maintained waiting list and managed by DeMarco Property Management Company and Connecticut Real Estate Management (CREM).
• Haystack Woods Net-Zero Homes A community of 10 affordable single-family net-zero energy homes under construction on a 39-acre reclaimed gravel pit site off Old Colony Road in Norfolk, Connecticut. Designed for first-time homebuyers earning 60-80% of area median income. Features three house designs (Cape House, Two-story House, Ranch House) ranging from 1,200 to 1,355 square feet. Homes use insulated concrete walls, SIP roofs, air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels on shared carports, battery storage, energy recovery ventilators, EV charging stations, and high-speed internet. Prices range from $159,000 to $261,000 with total monthly cost (mortgage + utilities + property taxes) targeted at $1,225-$1,650.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 rental units created from five deteriorating historic buildings, all fully occupied with a waiting list since June 2018
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity (LCCHO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025FNL is participating in the Litchfield County Affordable Homeownership Program, an innovative bundled application accepted by DOH for the first time. FNL will build one new house on a 1.5-acre lot below Haystack Woods, donated by Norfolk Land Company. LCCHO Director Joycelyn Ayres leads the program.
• Revival Homes LLC (David Jones)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Builder from New Hartford, CT specializing in energy-efficient construction. Builder of Kate Johnson's award-winning net-zero prototype in Litchfield (2015). Selected as builder for Haystack Woods 10-home development. Responsible for off-site fabrication of insulated concrete panels and SIP roofs.
• Housing Enterprises, Inc. (David Berto)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConnecticut-based firm specializing in grant writing and administration. Guided FNL through the web of affordable housing funding and compliance requirements. Described as one of the best decisions made by the foundation.
• Zlotnick ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction contractor awarded the contract for Town Center Rental Project renovations (2017). Based in Mansfield, CT. Expected up to 40 employees working on the properties during construction.
• DeMarco Property Management CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional property management firm managing the 12 Town Center Rental units. Handles tenant relations, rent collection, and property maintenance.
• Connecticut Real Estate Management (CREM)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management firm for rentals and property management inquiries. Contact: Kimberly Erdely (860-621-2234, [email protected]). Handles available housing inquiries and applications.
• The Housing CollectiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganization that receives Haystack Woods pre-application forms. Contact: [email protected].

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Housing Collective: Connecticut-based housing nonprofit receiving Haystack Woods pre-applications and operating housing programs across the state. Direct peer — same affordable housing mission, same CT geography, overlapping first-time homebuyer support function.
• Housing Enterprises, Inc. Connecticut-based affordable housing consultancy providing grant writing and administration for FNL. Direct peer — same CT affordable housing focus, comparable nonprofit client base, similar compliance and funding navigation services.
• Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity (LCCHO): Regional housing nonprofit partnering with FNL on the Litchfield County Affordable Homeownership Program bundled DOH application. Direct peer — same affordable homeownership mission in the same Litchfield County geography, with broader regional coordination role.
• Capital for Change (C4C): Connecticut-based CDFI providing construction and program loans for affordable housing developers, including a partnership with FNL on the LCCHO bundled project. Direct peer — same affordable housing ecosystem role, same CT geography, comparable nonprofit client base.
• Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut: Regional Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving Litchfield County area, including Norfolk, building affordable homes for low-to-moderate income buyers. Most direct peer — same nonprofit affordable housing model, same Connecticut geography, same first-time homebuyer focus.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Largest U.S. nonprofit affordable homebuilder, sponsoring the local NW CT affiliate that competes for similar state and donor funding. Broad incumbent — same nonprofit affordable housing model at much greater national scale; sets standards and competes for Connecticut DOH grants.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit affordable housing developer, investor, and policy organization active across the U.S. including CT. Broad incumbent — much larger scale and capital base, similar affordable housing development model, overlapping LISC/CDFI ecosystem.
• Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA): State housing finance agency that issues tax credits and mortgage financing for affordable housing developments across Connecticut, including tax credit partnerships with FNL. Broad incumbent — operates at the state policy and capital-markets level rather than as a developer; enables but does not directly compete with FNL.

Others

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI providing bridge financing and capacity support to FNL since the Town Center Rental Project. OTHERS — acts as a capital and capacity partner rather than a competing developer; comparable only as a funder/incubator in the same ecosystem.
• Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving northwest Connecticut that provided website support for FNL. OTHERS — funder/infrastructure supporter in the same Litchfield County service area; comparable only as a regional philanthropic partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Foundation-for-Norfolk-Living/100065237651833/?locale=bg_BG&_rdr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Foundation for Norfolk Living