Hearthway

What Hearthway does

Hearthway, Inc. is a Massachusetts-incorporated nonprofit organization headquartered at 1 Fenn Street, Pittsfield, MA, that serves as the designated regional housing organization for all 32 communities of Berkshire County. The organization's mission is to find housing solutions for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, seniors, and persons with disabilities across the Berkshires. It does not operate proprietary technology of note; its operational stack consists of a WordPress-based website, a ResMan tenant portal (bhsi.myresman.com), Matterport virtual tour technology, and a Sugar Calendar events calendar — all standard off-the-shelf components used to support service delivery rather than differentiated technology development.

Hearthway's core offering is a dual-track combination of affordable housing property management and housing assistance program administration. The property side operates a portfolio of 1,000+ apartments across 14+ sites — Berkshire Mews, YMCA Studios, Windrush Commons, Terrace 592, The Lofts at Eagle Mill (Spring 2026), Rice Silk Mill, Redfield House, Cole Avenue, Clark Biscuit, Christian Hill Commons, Brattlebrook Village, Cherry St., Bentley Apartments, 57 Main Street, and George Street — operating under HUD Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), LIHTC, MRVP, PBV, ModRehab, HOME, and HIF program overlays with rents set at approximately 30% of tenant income or below-market AMI-restricted rates. The services side delivers housing counseling via the HCEC (Housing Counseling and Education Center), RAFT application assistance for landlords and tenants, first-time home buyer education, and eviction/foreclosure prevention. Together these two tracks produce a vertically integrated model in which Hearthway both administers the subsidy programs that fund affordable housing and operates the physical units those subsidies support.

Hearthway monetizes through three channels: rental income from managed properties (with rents typically set at 30% of tenant household income or below-market rents tied to 30%–80% AMI tiers), government program administration and pass-through funding (HUD, LIHTC, MRVP, RAFT), and philanthropic donations solicited through the website. As a nonprofit it is structurally barred from profit distribution; reinvestment occurs through property development, property maintenance (24-hour maintenance is a portfolio-wide feature), and expansion of satellite HCEC service locations. Customer segments are bifurcated into primary constituencies (low-income individuals/families and seniors/persons with disabilities) and secondary constituencies (landlords participating in voucher programs and housing advocates participating in the administered Berkshire Housing Coalition). GTM motion is predominantly direct-to-consumer — walk-in office hours, satellite HCEC outreach, community coalition referrals — rather than digitally driven.

Name

Hearthway

Legal name

Hearthway, Inc.

Website

https://www.hearthway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hearthway, Inc. is a Pittsfield, MA-based nonprofit that develops, manages, and operates 1,000+ affordable apartments across 14+ properties in all 32 communities of Berkshire County, while also administering HUD, LIHTC, MRVP, and RAFT housing assistance programs for low-income residents, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Prevention & Loss Mitigation Programs (FSALAKAM)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Housing assistance programs
• Property management
• Rental subsidies
• Housing counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Housing Assistance Program Administration: Hearthway administers state and federal housing assistance programs including HUD Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), MRVP, RAFT, and LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) programs. Revenue is generated through program administration fees and government grants.
2. Rental Income from Managed Properties: Hearthway develops and manages affordable housing properties across Berkshire County. Rental income is collected from tenants whose rents are either subsidized (based on 30% of monthly household income) or rent-restricted at below-market rates. The organization does not operate for profit.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Hearthway accepts donations from the public and conducts fundraising activities. The organization maintains a donation page and has a privacy policy covering charitable contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hearthway develops and manages affordable housing properties across Berkshire County, Massachusetts, providing 1,000+ rental apartments in 14+ buildings under HUD PBRA, MRVP, LIHTC, and PBV subsidy programs. The organization administers state and federal housing assistance programs, delivers housing counseling through its HCEC (Housing Consumer Education Center), and operates the Berkshire Housing Coalition advocacy group to address housing insecurity across the county's 32 communities.

Product overview

Hearthway is a housing assistance and affordable housing organization serving Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of housing solutions consisting of 15+ residential properties (including Berkshire Mews, Windrush Commons, The Lofts at Eagle Mill, Terrace 592, Rice Silk Mill, Redfield House, Cole Avenue, Clark Biscuit, Christian Hill Commons, Cherry St., Brattlebrook Village, Bentley, 57 Main Street, YMCA, and George Street) providing over 1,000 apartments ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units. These properties operate under various subsidy programs including HUD Project-Based Rental Assistance, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), MRVP, and PBV. The organization also provides housing counseling services through HCEC, first-time home buyer education, landlord assistance programs including RAFT application support, and operates the Berkshire Housing Coalition advocacy group. The portfolio includes accessible/ADA units, pet-friendly properties, and properties with amenities such as elevators, community rooms, fitness facilities, and virtual tour capabilities via Matterport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HCEC: Hearthway's Housing Counseling and Education Center providing emergency maintenance, rental assistance, and housing resources

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Portfolio Rental apartment portfolio spanning 14+ properties across Berkshire County, providing 1,000+ subsidized and rent-restricted units. Properties include Berkshire Mews, YMCA Studios, Windrush Commons, Rice Silk Mill Apartments, Redfield House, George Street, Cole Avenue Apartments, Clark Biscuit, Christian Hill Commons, Cherry St. Apartments, Brattlebrook Village, Bentley Apartments, and 57 Main Street. Mix of studios, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments under HUD PBRA, LIHTC, MRVP, PBV, and HOME programs, with rents typically set at 30% of income or below-market rates.
• Terrace 592 New 41-unit affordable housing development across three historic buildings in Pittsfield, MA, with rent-assisted units under PBV and MRVP (<30% AMI) and LIHTC (<60% AMI). One-bedroom units rent at $1,088/month and two-bedroom units at $1,317/month. Three units fully accessible for individuals with physical disabilities.
• The Lofts at Eagle Mill Renovated historic building in Lee, MA offering 56 affordable housing units with rent-assisted (PBV <30% AMI) and rent-restricted (LIHTC <60%/80% AMI) configurations. Rents range from $1,208 to $1,960/month depending on unit size and AMI tier. Includes energy efficiency, community room, gym, and on-site parking.
• HCEC (Housing Counseling and Education Center) Housing counseling and education services providing assistance with rent and mortgage payments, eviction and foreclosure prevention, landlord-tenant disputes, code violations, and navigation of housing vouchers. Operates walk-in lobby hours Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am to 3pm at the 1 Fenn Street office.
• First-Time Home Buyer Education Home Buyers Workshop that teaches prospective first-time home buyers what it takes to purchase a home, including the Good Samaritan Homeownership Program. Designed to support low-income residents in Berkshire County transitioning from rental to ownership.
• RAFT Application Assistance Guidance service for landlords completing the Regional Acceleration and Flexibility Training (RAFT) application in the state RAFT portal, with appointments available on Mondays and Fridays through an online scheduler.
• Berkshire Housing Coalition (BHC) Open advocacy group administered by Hearthway that convenes housing advocates, community organizations, and stakeholders in Berkshire County. Provides regular email updates on housing advocacy, challenges, solutions, and meetings with key housing partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 apartments managed across Berkshire County, MA
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Berkshire Housing Coalition (BHC)coreOthersThe Berkshire Housing Coalition is an open advocacy group administered by Hearthway, Inc. The group shares concern for the availability, affordability, and quality of housing in the Berkshires. BHC members receive regular email updates on housing advocacy, challenges, solutions, and important information. The coalition meets as needed to hear updates from key housing partners and engage in dialogue with stakeholders and advocates.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WinnCompanies: Large multifamily manager and developer with a substantial affordable housing (LIHTC, Section 8) portfolio in the Northeast. Comparable in operating subsidized housing under the same federal programs as Hearthway, but at much greater scale and with stronger technology adoption.
• NeighborWorks America (NeighborWorks Network): National network of nonprofit housing counseling and community development organizations. Hearthway's housing counseling, home buyer education, and community coalition-building activities align closely with the NeighborWorks charter and member model.
• MassHousing: Massachusetts state housing finance agency providing financing, subsidies (including LIHTC allocation), and support for affordable housing throughout the state. Functions as a funding/regulatory counterpart to Hearthway's program administration activities in Berkshire County.

Direct peers

• HomeStart: Massachusetts nonprofit delivering homelessness prevention, housing search, housing counseling, and homeownership education services. Comparable to Hearthway's HCEC, RAFT assistance, and first-time home buyer education programs — overlapping service lines.
• The Community Builders: Nonprofit developer and manager of affordable and mixed-income housing across multiple states. Directly comparable to Hearthway as a similarly structured nonprofit combining real estate development, property management, and resident services with HUD/LIHTC financing.
• Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): Nonprofit that preserves and manages affordable housing, including LIHTC and HUD-assisted properties, with integrated resident services. Highly comparable mission and operating model to Hearthway's nonprofit affordable-housing-plus-services approach.
• Beacon Communities: Mission-driven affordable housing developer and manager operating multifamily LIHTC, Section 8, and mixed-income properties across the Northeast and nationally. Comparable because both develop/own subsidized housing under similar federal programs (LIHTC, HUD PBRA) and serve low-income populations through a property-management-plus-services model.

Regional players

• Berkshire Housing Development Corporation: Berkshire County-based nonprofit affordable housing developer. Comparable to Hearthway at the local/regional level, both serving the same community housing needs and frequently partnering on affordable housing development in the same 32-town geography.
• Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP): Massachusetts public-purpose housing finance and policy organization supporting affordable housing development across the Commonwealth. Comparable as a state-level housing resource ecosystem peer to Hearthway's regional housing organization role in Berkshire County.
• Habitat for Humanity of Berkshire County: Local nonprofit focused on affordable homeownership and housing stability within the same Berkshire County geography. Comparable as a regional housing nonprofit serving overlapping low-income populations with housing solutions and resident services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Berkshire-Housing/100063472843402

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Hearthway