Building resilient, affordable housing by aligning capital, data, and practice
Housing that is sustainable, resilient, and healthy is foundational to HPN’s mission and to the success of our members. The Housing Sustainability program equips affordable housing developers, owner‑operators, and community development lenders with the tools and capital to achieve this at scale.
By aligning expertise, capital, data, and peer learning, HPN moves the sector from readiness to implementation - accelerating project pipelines and investment in high‑performance, climate‑ready affordable housing that improves resident health and strengthens long‑term affordability.
Why it Matters
Affordable multifamily housing represents one of the largest opportunities to advance climate solutions directly benefiting people and is one of the most significant climate interventions in the United States. Achieving high-performance, resilient affordable housing delivers outsized sustainability and affordability benefits. The opportunity matters since millions of households with low incomes live in older buildings with high energy burdens and aging infrastructure. Furthermore, housing providers face rising utility costs, insurance pressures, and other climate-related risks. The construction of new housing or retrofitting existing buildings are pivotal milestones to address the sustainability and resilience of homes. Strategically approaching the design, construction, rehab, and operations of housing allows the sector to meet opportunities at the optimal moment and inform progress.
Sustainable, resilient housing:
- Improves building performance and resident health
- Preserves and extends the life of existing affordable housing
- Helps address long‑term housing affordability and supply challenges
- Enhances stability of operating and energy costs
- Strengthens resilience to extreme weather and climate‑related risks
Who We Serve
- Affordable housing developers and owner‑operators building and preserving climate-ready properties
- Community and mission-driven lenders financing sustainable housing investments
- Partners advancing sustainability, resilience, and housing quality
- Residents and communities reducing energy burdens and building resilient neighborhoods
Program Goals
Deploy sustainable, climate-ready housing
across development, preservation, operations, and finance.
Build member capacity
to plan, finance, and scale sustainability and resilience strategies.
Align capital
so community development finance efficiently funds sustainable housing investments at scale.
How We Work
HPN advances housing sustainability through an integrated set of strategies that connect peer learning, risk mitigation, capital facilitation, and field building to help members implement practical climate and resilience solutions. By working collaboratively across HPN’s programs, social enterprises, and innovation initiatives, the program takes a multi-pronged approach to advance its goals. HPN also works alongside affordable housing leaders, CDFIs, insurers, engineers, and climate and health partners to advance strategies that no single organization can deliver alone. These approaches help develop project pipelines, align capital, and share data and insights to accelerate adoption of sustainable and resilient housing practices across markets.
Peer Learning & Member Engagement
We convene members and partners to strengthen practice, accelerate learning, and share real‑time insights.
Program Development & Field Building
We develop tools, frameworks, and amplify best practices that enable scalable deployment.
Member Support & Capital Matching
We help align projects with optimal capital and financing pathways.
Sector Partnerships & Engagement
We partner across housing, finance, insurance, and climate sectors to unlock scale.
Get Involved
Whether you are a housing provider, CDFI, investor, funder, or partner, HPN’s Housing Sustainability program offers opportunities to collaborate, learn, and drive impact.
You can reach out to us at [email protected].