Creating a Culture of Trust and Innovation

In 1990, the leaders of 37 public/private housing partnerships from around the country gathered in Boston. Their organizations were doing some of the most successful and creative work taking place in affordable housing and community development, and they wanted to share their experiences. Shortly after the Boston meeting, the National Association of Housing Partnerships (our original name) was born. Chaired by Bob Whittlesey, then president of the Boston Housing Partnership, it had no paid staff and practically no funding, but it had the conviction of these entrepreneurial organizations to find a way to work together.

Since this time, housing partnership leaders have come together through the Network to share new approaches, create new social enterprises, and impact housing policy to improve the production and sustainability of affordable housing at scale throughout the country.

The Network has been built by its members. The leaders of member organizations serve on our boards, and nearly half of our staff held senior positions at member organizations before joining the Network. These common relationships create a culture of shared values, mutual respect, and trust.