National Council of State Housing Agencies

National Council of State Housing Agencies
Name	National Council of State Housing Agencies
Abbreviation	NCSHA
Formation	1974
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Membership	State housing finance agencies

Contents

National Council of State Housing Agencies is a U.S.-based trade association representing state housing finance agencies and related entities. It serves as a central resource among state capitals such as Albany, New York, Sacramento, California, Austin, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and Atlanta, Georgia, offering technical assistance, policy research, and training. NCSHA interfaces with federal institutions including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Department of the Treasury, and congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

History

NCSHA was founded in 1974 amid shifts following the passage of landmark legislation like the Housing Act of 1937 and later developments such as the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the creation of Ginnie Mae programs. Early decades saw interaction with agencies including the Federal Housing Administration and the Fannie Mae during periods shaped by events such as the Savings and Loan crisis and regulatory responses from the Federal Reserve System. In the 1990s and 2000s, NCSHA engaged with initiatives tied to acts like the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 and collaborated with organizations such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Urban Institute. Post-2008, the council worked closely with entities involved in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

NCSHA's membership comprises state-level entities modeled after organizations like the California Housing Finance Agency, the New York State Housing Finance Agency, and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Governance is overseen by a board including executives from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Committees align with federal counterparts such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research, and working groups coordinate with nonprofit peers including Enterprise Community Partners and Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Members engage in conferences held in cities like Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C..

NCSHA provides programmatic support mirroring tools used by agencies including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit administrators, multifamily bond issuers, and single-family financing programs similar to those of Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and Iowa Finance Authority. It delivers training on topics linked to legislation such as the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and regulatory frameworks influenced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. NCSHA produces research and data used by policymakers alongside institutions like the Brookings Institution, the Urban Land Institute, and the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. It also administers webinars and curricula in partnership with entities such as the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials and the Council of State Community Development Agencies.

NCSHA advocates before federal bodies including the United States Congress, the White House, and agencies such as the Department of the Treasury, advancing positions on programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and capital markets initiatives involving Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It files comments and coordinates with coalitions such as the National Housing Conference and the National Council of La Raza on matters linked to laws like the Fair Housing Act and regulations tied to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974. NCSHA participates in stakeholder processes with the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Management and Budget on reporting, compliance, and federal funding priorities.

NCSHA's financial model includes membership dues from agencies like the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and revenues from conferences and training attended by staff from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and Virginia Housing. It analyzes financing mechanisms such as tax-exempt bonds, mortgage revenue bonds used historically by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, and credit enhancement strategies involving institutions like Wells Fargo and the JPMorgan Chase. The council tracks federal appropriations through legislation such as annual spending bills debated in the United States House Committee on Appropriations and tax policy enacted by the United States Senate Committee on Finance.

NCSHA collaborates with national organizations including Enterprise Community Partners, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Habitat for Humanity International, and research partners like the Urban Institute and RAND Corporation. It engages with philanthropic entities such as the MacArthur Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts and convenes dialogues with state executive offices, including governors' offices in states such as California, New York, and Texas. International exchanges have involved interactions with institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on comparative housing finance practices.

Category:Housing finance in the United States Category:Trade associations based in the United States