What is the Alabama Housing Trust Fund?
The Alabama Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) is a state fund established by law in 2012 to create and preserve affordable housing for low-income Alabamians. It's meant to provide flexible funds for construction, rehab, and assistance for low-income households, veterans, and people with disabilities, addressing Alabama's significant housing shortage.
Funding Gap
Despite being created in 2012, the fund has never received state appropriations, leading advocates to push for dedicated revenue sources.
*Nearly 700 housing trust funds exist in 47 states, and they rely on a wide range of funding sources. Some state trust funds depend on annual legislative appropriations, but many of the most effective ones have a dedicated revenue source, according to the Center for Community Change. In many states, that source is the real estate transfer tax. The primary real estate transfer tax in Alabama is known as the mortgage record tax. Other funding options are possible as well. Some states fund housing activities through unclaimed property funds or with interest earnings on escrow accounts. The Alabama law does not specify a particular revenue source, so state lawmakers have wide discretion on future funding sources.
(*Facts & figures provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation)
Support Funding the AHTF!
Join Alabama Habitat for Humanity as we meet with legislators and coalition partners in advocating for funding the Alabama Housing Trust Fund.
- West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, 2025 Public Policy Agenda: "A one-time allocation to the Housing Trust Fund which demonstrates its impact and provides proof of concept while (a) addressing immediate housing needs for first-time home buyers and workforce housing, and (b) promoting economic development in our community. Additionally, once the proof of concept is established, the Chamber supports the creation of a sustainable and consistent funding source that ensures long-term solutions to affordable housing challenges."
- Alabama Representative Debbie Wood, funding the AHTF is the “most important thing that needs to happen in Alabama.”
AHTF in the News
- Alabama Daily News - April 24, 2024 - Alabama lawmakers push for Housing Trust Fund money next year
- AL.com - December 21, 2021 - Advocates say funding Alabama’s housing trust fund could help prevent homelessness
- Alabama Political Reporter - February 9, 2016 - Everyone Needs A Place to Call Home
- Montgomery Advertiser - March 10, 2015 - State housing fund pointless without money
