Affordable Housing

To date, over $600 million has been invested in Positive Social Purpose Investment opportunities since the program's inception.  In total, the General Board has committed to invest over $1.7 billon towards this initiative. Learn more about the General Board's affordable housing program through our online study guide.

The General Board's original $25 million commitment to affordable housing investments in 1990 has grown to over $1.7 billion today, and continues to achieve risk-adjusted market rates of return. Investment dollars for affordable housing are found in the following General Board investment funds: Domestic Bond Fund, Balanced Social Values Plus Fund and Stable Value Fund. The General Board has funded the construction, rehabilitation or preservation of nearly 30,000 affordable housing units in all 50 states.

The program operates through the acquisition of mortgage loans or mortgage loan participations from independent third parties referred to as "Intermediaries." These intermediaries are generally non-profit organizations dedicated to the creation, rehabilitation or preservation of affordable housing and the improvement of disadvantaged communities. Intermediary organizations loan money to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), Community Development Real Estate Institutions, and developers who need funds to build/renovate affordable housing. The completed housing units shelter individuals and families earning less than the area's median income. Projects include multi-family housing, senior housing and a limited number of special needs housing. The program combines investments that have competitive risk-adjusted rates of return and result in real improvements in the quality of life for thousands of individuals and families.

Our participants can be proud their investments have a tangible positive effect on the lives of American families. The United Methodist Church remains the largest denominational investor in affordable housing in the nation and has been nationally recognized for this outreach.