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Housing Trust Silicon Valley

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $160,491 (2023, grant programs only; total investments including loans: $690+ million since inception)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $2,500 (Finally Home) to $50,000 (Capital for Capacity)
  • Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area (14 counties) and Sacramento
  • EIN: 77-0545135

Contact Details

Website: https://housingtrustsv.org/

Phone: (408) 703-3837

Email:

Address: 75 E. Santa Clara St., Suite 1350, San Jose, CA 95113

Overview

Housing Trust Silicon Valley was established in 2000 as a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to addressing the Bay Area's housing affordability crisis. With over $690 million invested since inception, the organization has created or preserved 28,700 affordable homes serving 53,800 neighbors across the region. Led by CEO Noni Ramos since 2021, Housing Trust employs a dual approach: providing flexible financing (primarily loans) to affordable housing developers and operating targeted grant programs for homelessness prevention and developer capacity building. In 2024, the organization received a transformative $30 million gift from MacKenzie Scott and launched the $200 million Building Impact Initiative in October 2025 to accelerate affordable housing development. Housing Trust holds an AA- rating from Standard & Poor's, making it the first nonprofit CDFI to achieve such recognition.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Capital for Capacity Grant Program (Launched June 2025)

  • Grant Amount: Up to $50,000
  • Purpose: Supports community-based affordable housing developers to build organizational capacity
  • Areas Supported: Financial management systems, staff expertise, project management capabilities, partnership development
  • First Cohort Recipients: Black Cultural Zone (East Oakland), The Unity Council (Oakland), Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Community Housing Development Corporation (Richmond/Bay Area), School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza (San Jose)
  • Application Method: Competitive application process (inaugural cohort); future cohort details not yet announced

Finally Home Program (Launched 2012)

  • Grant Amount: Up to $2,500 (one-time grant)
  • Purpose: Homelessness prevention through security deposits, utility deposits, and application fee assistance
  • Service Area: Santa Clara County
  • Application Method: Must apply through partner agencies; no direct applications accepted
  • Eligibility: Individuals or families moving into rental housing who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and can demonstrate self-sufficiency beyond the grant

Developer Financing Programs (Loan Programs - Not Grants)

  • Apple Affordable Housing Fund: Construction financing from $150 million fund
  • Short Term Loans: Predevelopment, acquisition, construction/rehabilitation, bridge financing
  • TECH Fund: Flexible land acquisition financing (created 2017)
  • Supportive Housing Fund: Permanent supportive housing in Santa Clara County
  • Building Impact Initiative: $200 million fund for patient, flexible loans (launched October 2025)

Homebuyer Assistance Programs (Loan Programs - Not Grants)

  • Home Access Program: Down payment assistance in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties
  • Homebuyer Empowerment Loan Program (HELP): Low-interest second mortgages and down payment assistance for low-to-moderate income buyers

Priority Areas

  • Affordable multifamily rental housing for seniors, working families, people experiencing homelessness, and people with special needs
  • Supportive housing with integrated services
  • Homeownership pathways for low-to-moderate income households (60-120% of area median income)
  • Transit-oriented housing near employment hubs
  • Environmentally sustainable housing
  • Strengthening capacity of community-rooted housing developers, particularly those serving communities of color and underserved populations
  • Homelessness prevention and housing stabilization

What They Don't Fund

As a mission-driven lender and CDFI, Housing Trust Silicon Valley does not fund:

  • Market-rate housing development
  • Housing developments outside their 14-county Bay Area and Sacramento service area
  • Organizations or projects unrelated to affordable housing

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Noni Ramos, Chief Executive Officer Joined Housing Trust in 2021 with extensive CDFI experience. Previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Enterprise Community Loan Fund, overseeing lending, credit and risk management, finance, and administration. Ramos stated about her priorities: "I could not have imagined those many years ago that this would become my life's work and do not take for granted the privilege it is to work with amazing colleagues and peers who share in our vision of building more equitable and resilient communities for all of our neighbors." She emphasizes expanding affordable housing reach across the Bay Area and advocating for the "missing middle" class earning 60-120% of area median income.

Julie Mahowald, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Partnerships & Strategy

Nick Friend, Chief Lending Officer Contact for developer financing: Nick@housingtrustsv.org, (408) 703-3837 ext. 223

Sean Callum, Chief Credit and Risk Officer

Julie Quinn, Chief Development and Impact Officer

Board of Directors

Lisa Gutierrez, Chair - US Bancorp

Jonathan Fearn, Vice Chair - Signature Development Group

Kevin Deeble, Treasurer - Cisco

Sharon Lee, Secretary - Seam

Additional Board Members include representatives from:

  • Technology Credit Union
  • Eden Housing
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • RSF Social Finance
  • KPMG (retired)

Recent board additions: Jana Barsten (Retired Partner & Global Audit Sector Leader for Technology Industry at KPMG), Tatiana Blank (CFO at Eden Housing), Dana Stranz (VP of Credit & Risk at RSF Social Finance)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Capital for Capacity Grant Program This was an inaugural pilot program launched in June 2025. Information about future application cycles and deadlines has not been announced. Organizations interested in future cohorts should monitor Housing Trust Silicon Valley's website or contact them directly for updates.

Finally Home Program This funder does not accept direct applications. Applications must be submitted through Housing Trust Silicon Valley's partner agencies. To apply:

  1. Contact one of Housing Trust's partner agencies serving Santa Clara County
  2. Work with the partner agency to determine eligibility
  3. Partner agency submits application on behalf of client

Developer Financing (Loans) Developers should contact the lending team directly:

Financing is available for predevelopment, acquisition, construction/rehabilitation, and bridge financing for affordable multifamily projects.

Homebuyer Assistance (Loans)

  1. Complete homebuyer education certificate
  2. Complete online interest form for prescreening
  3. Get preapproved with Housing Trust
  4. Participate in 30-minute pre-purchase phone review
  5. Submit application and required documentation
  6. Receive "determination of eligibility" letter before placing offer

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program and are not publicly disclosed. For developer financing inquiries, contact the lending team directly for timeline expectations.

Success Rates

Housing Trust Silicon Valley made 3 grant awards totaling $160,491 in 2023. Success rate percentages are not publicly available. The Capital for Capacity program selected 5 organizations for its inaugural cohort.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. For program-specific reapplication policies, contact Housing Trust directly.

Application Success Factors

For Capital for Capacity Grant Program

Based on the first cohort, successful applicants were:

  • Community-rooted nonprofit housing developers
  • Organizations serving communities of color and underserved populations
  • Developers seeking to strengthen organizational infrastructure in areas like financial management, staff expertise, project management, and partnership development
  • Organizations based in the Bay Area with active affordable housing development missions

For Developer Financing

Housing Trust prioritizes:

  • Projects serving seniors, working families, people experiencing homelessness, and people with special needs
  • Transit-oriented developments near employment hubs
  • Environmentally sustainable housing
  • Projects that can demonstrate financial viability and community impact
  • Developers with strong track records or those building capacity with appropriate support

Organizational Philosophy

Noni Ramos on the Building Impact Initiative: "This fund gives us the flexibility to meet the challenges of today while building the affordable housing systems our region will need tomorrow—focusing on what's possible, even in a moment when many are retreating, our partners are boldly stepping forward."

The organization emphasizes partnership-driven approaches, working with tech companies (Apple, Google), regional housing funds, and community organizations. Ramos's stated priorities include "coordinating resources for communities of color and underserved communities and creating and fostering new partnerships with other funders and housing developers."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Primary Activity: Housing Trust is primarily a lender (CDFI), not a traditional grantmaker. Grant programs represent a small portion of their overall funding activity ($160,491 in grants vs. $690+ million total investments)
  • Limited Grant Opportunities: Only two active grant programs identified: Capital for Capacity (for nonprofit developers) and Finally Home (for individuals experiencing homelessness through partner agencies)
  • Partnership Model: Finally Home requires applications through partner agencies; direct applications not accepted
  • Developer Focus: Organizations developing affordable housing may find more opportunities through Housing Trust's loan programs than grant programs
  • Relationship-Driven: Contact lending staff directly for developer financing; relationships and direct outreach appear important
  • Equity Focus: Strong emphasis on serving communities of color, underserved populations, and community-rooted developers
  • Geographic Limits: Strict focus on 14 Bay Area counties plus Sacramento
  • New Program: Capital for Capacity is newly launched; future cycles not yet announced—stay alert for announcements

References

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