NOAH Preservation Research
NOAH Preservation Research
Naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) is crucial for housing affordability. Research helps identify challenges, preserve resources, and protect this vital housing stock.
In 2022, The Preservation Compact was awarded $250,000 by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to launch a two-year research project in partnership with the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. This project, called Breaking Up the NOAH Monolith, focused on market-based strategies to preserve unsubsidized affordable rental housing, often referred to as naturally occurring affordable housing, or NOAH.
The mission of this research was to fill critical information gaps on the diverse market conditions in which NOAH exists and identify and compile effective strategies and policies that preserve this critical housing stock.
By linking effective preservation programs to specific market types using qualitative and quantitative research, this project provides valuable insights into NOAH preservation strategies in high-cost markets, low-cost markets, and the market types in between.
The Strategic Partnerships panel at the October 2024 convening.
Project Outcomes
The Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University completed a cluster analysis of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas that created six rental market types based on the characteristics of and pressures on their NOAH stock.
Using these typologies and research of NOAH preservation tools, the Compact interviewed stakeholders from cities representing similar and different NOAH market contexts and connected these findings to the cluster analysis developed by IHS to create an interactive mapping tool: www.preservenoah.com.
Watch a tour of this innovative webtool here.
In October 2024, the Preservation Compact, The Institute for Housing Studies (IHS), and The Real Estate Center at DePaul University partnered to hold a convening as a capstone to this work. This event featured expert panels that comprehensively mapped the landscape of unsubsidized affordable housing preservation and highlighted programs and policies effective in distinct market types.
NOAH & Equity
From Community Investment Corporation’s experience of providing credit to finance NOAH preservation, we know that many of NOAH buildings are owned by responsible small local businesses, and many of those small businesses are owned by people of color. Incidentally, those diverse small businesses are providing quality housing and supporting the local ecosystem with local vendors and staff, while at the same time bridging the racial equity gap by building wealth for their families.
Preserving NOAH also means supporting the often overlooked small businesses who own it, many which are led by BIPOC owners.
Project Background & Context
Unsubsidized affordable rental housing is an essential component of the overall affordable rental housing landscape, representing about 70 percent of the affordable rental in the United States. Research has shown that the loss of lower-cost NOAH rental units drives affordable housing pressures in cities across the country. This recognition has led to an increase in local efforts to develop strategies to preserve this essential but threatened component of the affordable housing supply.
Reasons for the loss of NOAH stock can vary substantially across cities with very different housing characteristics and economic contexts. Due to the diverse and highly localized nature of conditions affecting the NOAH housing stock, characteristics of NOAH stakeholders, and tools available for preservation, a robust national conversation on NOAH preservation has yet to develop fully.
This research aimed to fill critical information gaps by combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative research to help policymakers and practitioners at the federal, state, and local levels better understand the diverse market contexts in which NOAH exists. By linking effective preservation strategies to specific market types, the research provides valuable insights and potential solutions to support the preservation of NOAH in high-cost markets, low-cost markets, and the market types in between.
Existing NOAH Research & Recorded Webinars
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is dedicated to finding solutions that make housing more affordable so people from all backgrounds and income levels can live, work, and thrive in California. Across their work in Science, Education, and within communities, they pair technology with grantmaking, impact investing, and collaboration to help accelerate the pace of progress towards their mission