NHA Properties, Inc, d/b/a Housing Nantucket, was founded in 1994 by community members seeking to stem the tide of Nantucketers leaving the island. We are the only locally based, private, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving and providing equitable housing solutions for Nantucket’s year-round community. Built on a foundation of providing rental housing, we have expanded to include homeownership and education programs.

Recognized worldwide as a premier tourist destination, Nantucket faces a pervasive housing crisis that continues to get worse. The undeniable shortage of workforce housing stems from the island’s 2021 median home price of $2.7 million and the lack of land available for development. Homeownership is prohibitive for 90% of year-round residents, and reasonably priced rentals have become nearly extinct. These conditions force people into unsafe living situations and even homelessness. Travel logistics make off-island commutes unreliable and infeasible for essential personnel, creating employee shortages for island businesses. The quality of the Nantucket experience deteriorates for all.

Housing Nantucket’s programs are designed to serve year-round residents earning between 50-150% of the Area Median Income. Depending on household size, this equates to about $40,000- $185,000 per year. The ability to serve up to 150% AMI stems from Chapter 301 of the Acts of 2002, in which the Massachusetts General Court acknowledged there was “a housing crisis on Nantucket Island” arising from the housing demand created by seasonal tourism. For purposes of this act, “middle-income persons and households” were defined as persons and households earning less than 150 % of Nantucket county’s median household income.

Successful partnerships comprise the core of Housing Nantucket’s innovative approach to developing housing. Project-specific grants using Community Preservation Act funds have created many of our rental housing stock and have been instrumental to the success of the organization. The Community Foundation for Nantucket, ReMain Nantucket, and Tupancy-Harris Foundation also enable us to provide key services to the community. Our operational income comes from fees associated with our programs and services.

The generosity of private donors like you plays a key role in helping us expand. Today, over 50% of the year-round population struggles to pay their housing costs. Until Nantucket’s residents have decent housing choices, our community’s stability is at risk. We are taking action to address this problem, and we need your help. All contributions are tax-deductible under U.S. regulations.