NeighborWorks network posts record affordable rental growth and 417,000 people served

NeighborWorks America says its network built 5,498 new affordable rental homes in fiscal 2025, up 70% from fiscal 2016, while serving 417,000 families and individuals. The data point to a growing pipeline of more than 45,000 homes as affordable housing shortages persist nationwide.

Why it matters: - NeighborWorks America’s network is adding affordable housing at a time when the national rental shortage remains severe. - The network’s FY25 results show both scale and momentum: more new rental homes, more first-time buyers, and more people helped to stay in their homes. - More than 45,000 homes are in the pipeline, suggesting the pace of production could continue.

What happened: - NeighborWorks America reported that network organizations built 5,498 new affordable rental homes in Federal Fiscal Year 2025. - That total is 70% higher than FY16 and follows 5,658 new rental homes in FY24. - FY24 and FY25 were the network’s two strongest years for new rental construction in the past decade. - The network served 417,000 families and individuals in FY25 through counseling, homeownership support, repairs and preservation work. - Michael Butchko, vice president of business intelligence, presented the findings at the NeighborWorks Executive Symposium in Washington, D.C.

The details: - Network organizations supported 10,375 rental homes in FY25, including 5,498 newly built units and the rest through acquisition, rehabilitation or refinancing. - The network includes 217,000 affordable rental homes. - More than 45,000 homes are in the acquisition and construction pipeline, including more than 39,000 new builds. - New construction makes up 86% of planned rental homes and 94% of planned for-sale homes. - California, Ohio and Massachusetts lead in planned housing. - The largest single project is in Colorado and will add 616 homes. - In the network’s latest property insurance survey, 61% of responses reported premium increases of 10% or less, up from 39% a year earlier. - The share reporting increases of more than 25% fell to 10% from 20%. - Even with that improvement, 85% of organizations still reported higher renewal costs than the prior year. - NeighborWorks data show 102,900 counseling and education clients in FY25. - The network helped 17,600 first-time homebuyers, up 8% from FY24. - Of FY25 network homebuyers, 94% were first-time buyers, according to NeighborWorks America’s Oct. 19 report. - Network organizations repaired 66,900 homes in FY25. - They helped 11,400 homeowners remain in their homes. - Home rehabilitation accounted for 70% of preservation work, the largest share in 10 years, up from 48% in FY16.

Between the lines: - The results land amid broader nonprofit retrenchment, with the Center for Effective Philanthropy finding that 44% of nonprofits were reducing or considering reducing programs or services because of funding cuts. - NeighborWorks’ pipeline is heavily tilted toward new construction, which signals confidence in long-term development despite higher costs and a difficult housing market. - The insurance data suggest one of the industry’s biggest operating pressures is easing, even if costs remain elevated for most organizations. - The network’s local focus still produces national leverage: For every dollar received from Congress, NeighborWorks and its network attracted an additional $74 from other sources in FY25. - The network’s reach goes beyond housing, with member organizations also providing health services, education services and workforce development.

What’s next: - NeighborWorks says the pipeline of more than 45,000 homes should continue feeding future production. - The organization plans to keep sharing data and insights from the network as conditions change. - The 2026 State of the Network release also incorporates homebuyer findings NeighborWorks published on Oct. 19, 2026.

The bottom line: - NeighborWorks’ latest data show a network that is still expanding affordable housing supply while helping thousands of households buy, repair or keep homes in a tight market.