--- title: 3 Free Preservation Resources Housing Agencies Need to Know About description: Explore three free, powerful tools to help your housing agency preserve affordable housing and plan for long-term community impact. image: https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ThinkstockPhotos-476659774.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.haigroup.com/3-free-preservation-resources-housing-agencies-need-to-know-about#main-content) [![hai-logo-KO-256px](https://blog.haigroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hai-logo-KO-256px.png?width=256&height=57&name=hai-logo-KO-256px.png "hai-logo-KO-256px")](https://www.haigroup.com/) - SEARCH - [Research](https://blog.haigroup.com/tag/research) # 3 Free Preservation Resources Housing Agencies Need to Know About ![](https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ThinkstockPhotos-476659774.jpg) - July 22, 2024 ![HAI Group](https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/HAI%20Group%20Logo/Pinwheel_blue.jpg) [HAI Group](https://blog.haigroup.com/author/hai-group) [< Back to Resource Center](https://blog.haigroup.com) As the U.S. is facing a shortage of over [seven million affordable rental homes](https://preservationdatabase.org/reports/preservation-profiles/) for extremely low-income renters, and more than [320,000 homes have affordability restrictions expiring](https://preservationdatabase.org/reports/preservation-profiles/) in the next five years, advocating for the need for affordable housing has never been greater. Today, housing agencies are exploring various preservation options, from purchasing Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) properties to [accepting donated buildings](https://blog.haigroup.com/questions-to-consider-before-accepting-donated-property), engaging in green construction, or participating in the latest tax credit programs. No matter what route your agency may go down to acquire and rehab existing affordable housing, we’ve rounded up three preservation resources that you should add to your toolbox. The best part is they’re available to agencies at no cost! ## 1. National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD) The [NHPD](https://preservationdatabase.org/) was developed [over a decade ago](https://blog.haigroup.com/celebrating-10-years-of-nationwide-preservation-data) by the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. It is known most notably for being the only comprehensive list of nearly 80,000 federally supported housing properties across the U.S., allowing users to customize their search by geographic, funding, or property characteristics. Nonprofits,         government agencies, and universities can access the database at no cost. Beyond the database, you’ll find other complimentary resources like the [Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit](https://preservationdatabase.org/preservation-resources/preservation-toolkit/), which delivers aggregated data and guidance to help you create local housing preservation plans, ranging from the county or city level or all the way down to a       neighborhood level.  Or, download the [state-level preservation profiles](https://preservationdatabase.org/reports/preservation-profiles/), highlighting facts about the cost burden, housing shortage, and the number of units at risk of loss in the next five years. [![NHPD Preservation Profile CT](https://blog.haigroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/NHPD%20Preservation%20Profile%20CT.png?width=740&height=579&name=NHPD%20Preservation%20Profile%20CT.png)](https://preservationdatabase.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PD-Profile_2022_CT.pdf) Source: [https://preservationdatabase.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PD-Profile\_2022\_CT.pdf](https://preservationdatabase.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PD-Profile_2022_CT.pdf)    Watch this demonstration below to learn more about using the NHPD’s resources.   ## 2. Neighborhood Opportunity Search Tool The [Neighborhood Opportunity Search Tool](https://www.pahrc.org/research/neighborhood-opportunity-search-tool/) is another resource developed by PAHRC, which allows community leaders to explore investment pathways to help residents of affordable homes achieve economic mobility. The tool can be used to: - Help voucher holders locate neighborhoods with quality schools, transit, and job access - Identify amenity-rich areas to build and preserve affordable housing - Locate properties in your portfolio where additional services or partnerships may be needed to help expand education, transit, health, and employment opportunities for your residents. Using the tool is simple. Select a map based on the measure you’re searching for, whether it be job access, transit access, healthcare access, educational opportunities, or overall opportunity capital. You can also select a map that presents possible investment pathways your organization can pursue for your portfolio based on the opportunity capital, desirability, and trajectory of the neighborhood each property is located in. Then, apply applicable filters, and as you zoom in, the map displays index scores of each census track relative to the region you’re viewing, drilling down to the neighborhood level. As you zoom in, locations of federally assisted rental properties will appear.   ![PAHRC GIF Video_1-1](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)     ##   3. Local Housing Solutions The [NYU Furman Center](https://furmancenter.org/) and [Abt Associations](https://www.abtassociates.com/) collaborated to form [Local Housing Solutions](https://localhousingsolutions.org/), which is a one-stop resource to help stakeholders develop and implement local housing strategies. To do this, the platform [created a housing policy framework](https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-policy-framework/) that organizes policies into four main categories and lists the main policies under each category with extensive information. In addition to this tool, Local Housing Solutions offers resources to teach the [basics of housing policy](https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-101/), [planning briefs](https://localhousingsolutions.org/build-a-housing-strategy/) to assist in designing/implementing local housing strategy, an interactive [Housing Needs Assessment](https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-needs-assessment/) to aggregate federal Census data into a comprehensive report for areas of interest, and even [case studies](https://localhousingsolutions.org/case-studies/) showing policy strategies in action. --- *This article is for general information only. HAI Group® makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy or applicability of this information for any particular use or circumstance. Your use of this information is at your own discretion and risk. HAI Group® and any author or contributor identified herein assume no responsibility for your use of this information. You should consult with your attorney or subject matter advisor before adopting any risk management strategy or policy. * *HAI Group® is a marketing name used to refer to insurers, a producer, and related service providers affiliated through a common mission, management, and governance. Property-casualty insurance and related services are written or provided by Housing Authority Property Insurance, A Mutual Company; Housing Enterprise Insurance Company, Inc.; Housing Specialty Insurance Company, Inc.; Housing Investment Group, Inc.; and Housing Insurance Services (DBA Housing Insurance Agency Services in NY and MI).* The information presented is for general reference only. HAI Group makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy or applicability of this information for any particular use or circumstance. Your use of this information is at your own discretion and risk. HAI Group and any author or contributor identified herein assume no responsibility for your use of this information. You should consult with your legal, professional or subject matter advisor before implementing any new strategy or policy. HAI Group® is the registered trademark of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group, Inc. and its related companies. For a complete list of HAI Group companies, visit www.haigroup.com. Products or services may not be available in all jurisdictions. Certain property and casualty coverage may be provided by a risk retention group or a surplus lines insurer or by a third party. Risk retention groups and surplus lines insurers do not participate in state guaranty funds and their insureds are not protected by such funds. Don't Miss This ## Related Content [![](https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2203913956.png)](https://blog.haigroup.com/how-the-housing-collective-uses-the-nhpd-to-protect-affordable-housing) - July 22, 2024 ### [How The Housing Collective Uses The NHPD to Protect Affordable Housing](https://blog.haigroup.com/how-the-housing-collective-uses-the-nhpd-to-protect-affordable-housing) March 26, 2026 Across the country, housing organizations are working to preserve existing affordable housing while expanding supply.... [Read more](https://blog.haigroup.com/how-the-housing-collective-uses-the-nhpd-to-protect-affordable-housing) [![](https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/NHPD_FeatureImage.png)](https://blog.haigroup.com/spotlight-on-the-nhpd-in-affordable-housing-news) - July 22, 2024 ### [Spotlight on the NHPD in Affordable Housing News](https://blog.haigroup.com/spotlight-on-the-nhpd-in-affordable-housing-news) October 6, 2025 The National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD) is featured in the Summer 2025 issue of Affordable Housing News,... [Read more](https://blog.haigroup.com/spotlight-on-the-nhpd-in-affordable-housing-news) [![](https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/667f775a-321c-4bba-ab3d-b9ae2def94c8.jpg)](https://blog.haigroup.com/how-to-use-the-national-housing-preservation-database-like-a-pro) - July 22, 2024 ### [How to use the National Housing Preservation Database Like a Pro](https://blog.haigroup.com/how-to-use-the-national-housing-preservation-database-like-a-pro) September 10, 2025 Affordable housing plays a vital role in communities nationwide, supporting nearly 7 million households and over 13... [Read more](https://blog.haigroup.com/how-to-use-the-national-housing-preservation-database-like-a-pro) ![HAI Group](https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Thrifty%20child/images/hai-logo-footer.png) - [Online Privacy Policy](https://www.haigroup.com/privacy-policy/) - [California Privacy Rights](https://www.haigroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HAI-Group-CA-Privacy-Rights-Notice-1.pdf) - [Terms of Use](https://www.haigroup.com/terms-of-use/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "HAI Group", "url" : "https://blog.haigroup.com/author/hai-group" }, "dateModified" : "2025-04-21T20:24:49.279Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-22T14:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "3 Free Preservation Resources Housing Agencies Need to Know About", "image" : [ "https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ThinkstockPhotos-476659774.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.haigroup.com/3-free-preservation-resources-housing-agencies-need-to-know-about", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.haigroup.com/hubfs/HAIGroup%20PMS2186C%20400X100-300dpi-1.png" }, "name" : "HARRG" } } ```