Survey: Owners of 100,000+ Units of Multi-Family Affordable Housing Provide Pandemic Picture One Year Into Lockdown This survey of affordable housing owners representing 104,112 units in 49 states, The District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico was conducted by SAHF (Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future) the week of March 1, 2021. New York, NY— Fully one half (50%) of not-for-profit owners of multi-family and senior affordable housing across the country, report they spend “half to most” of their day worrying about the renters in their units. These owners, responding anonymously to a survey on rental housing vulnerability, are most worried about renters’ ability to pay rent, followed by worries of an outbreak of Covid-19 at their property. This data is comparable to a recent companion study by The NHP Foundation conducted of 1,000 low to middle income renters across the country which found that more than half of parents of school-age children in rental housing spend at least “a few hours up to most” of their day worrying about their housing situation as a result of the pandemic. This survey of affordable housing owners representing 104,112 units in 49 states, The District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico was conducted by SAHF (Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future) the week of March 1, 2021. While all respondents report that the impact of the pandemic has been “somewhat” to “very” negative on organization operations, the ways in which they experienced this negativity varies, with 83% experiencing both a reduction in cash flow and outbreaks of Covid-19 in their buildings and another 33% coping with delays in real estate transactions and acquisitions. The survey also uncovered concern about reputation management as property owners coped with reports of Covid at facilities with at-risk populations. Others expressed concern at the need to cut back critical on-site resident services out of safety concerns during the pandemic. When asked how organizations were coping with financial challenges, a third (33%) reported delaying raises and promotions of staff. One survey respondent reported receiving a capital infusion from its parent company to assist with cash flow while another has saved money on previously high travel expenses.
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THE NHP FOUNDATION
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