Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) is a state-funded program administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) to support affordable housing development across Nebraska. Established under the 1996 Nebraska Affordable Housing Act, the program is primarily funded through a portion of the documentary stamp tax from real estate transactions. The goal of NAHTF is to increase the supply and improve the quality of affordable housing, promote economic development, and support community prosperity. The program prioritizes the allocation of at least 30% of its funds to each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts.

The 2025 NAHTF grant cycle is open to local government subdivisions, public housing authorities, community action partnership agencies, and nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) that are engaged in affordable housing development. The program funds a range of housing development activities, including new construction, rehabilitation, acquisition of housing units, rental conversion, disaster recovery housing, and technical assistance for nonprofit housing organizations. Housing units funded through NAHTF must serve households earning at or below 120% of the area median income (AMI).

Eligible applicants can apply for funding under specific project categories, including homebuyer projects (new construction, purchase/rehab/resale, and homebuyer assistance), rental projects (new construction, rehabilitation, and conversion), and homeowner projects (owner-occupied rehabilitation). Additionally, nonprofit organizations may seek technical assistance grants for activities such as capacity building, office infrastructure, strategic planning, housing studies, staff training, and pre-development architectural and engineering designs. The maximum award amounts vary by project type, with housing development projects capped at $750,000 and technical assistance grants limited to $50,000.

The application process includes a pre-application submission by March 20, 2025, and a full application submission by May 22, 2025. Award announcements are expected by December 31, 2025. The application must be submitted through the AmpliFund grant management system, and site reviews are required for rental and homebuyer new construction projects. Applicants are encouraged to attend virtual workshops and office hours to receive technical assistance during the application period.

Evaluation criteria include compliance with program thresholds, project design and readiness, financial documentation, presence of matching funds, leverage of additional funding sources, local government support, and the applicant’s capacity and experience in housing development. Additional priority is given to projects that serve the lowest-income households, maintain affordability for the longest period, or are located within designated enterprise zones or blighted areas.

Post-award compliance requirements include maintaining affordability restrictions for the duration of the required affordability period, monitoring project implementation, and submitting financial and beneficiary reports. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, and recipients must provide documentation of expenditures and proof of payment. The affordability period varies depending on the project type and may be enforced through liens, restrictive covenants, or other legal instruments. Recipients must adhere to Nebraska state laws and federal program regulations, where applicable.

For additional information, applicants are encouraged to visit the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund webpage or contact their regional Housing Program Representative. The official website provides application resources, program updates, and additional technical assistance materials.