Key Players

Who Needs to Be Involved

Creating a housing trust fund is a political process that requires persuading elected officials to make tough choices. Trust funds require tax and/or fee increases (usually considered to be politically unpopular). Furthermore, dedicating these funds to affordable housing gives elected officials less budget flexibility.

Occasionally the creation of a HTF occurs at the direction of elected officials through the appointment of a task force, with staff or consultants undertaking the research. A government agency or department also may initiate this task.
Usually, however, housing trust funds are created when the public demands that government address critical housing needs. Often, organizations representing the interests of those in need create the momentum by mounting public campaigns. Campaigns can be vastly different depending on a number of circumstances, one of the most important being whether dedication of the revenue sources requires a public vote or approval by elected officials alone. This requirement varies from state to state based on constitutional limitations.

In most instances, success depends on housing advocates building coalitions among community leaders, banks, developers, environmentalists, faith-based groups, service providers, unions and philanthropists.
While coalitions are important for a successful HFT campaign, a core working group typically assumes day to day responsibility for organizing and conducting the campaign, bringing other key players to endorse the proposal, raising needed funding or other resources, and organizing community support.