National Housing Innovation Grant (Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge)

National Housing Innovation Grant (Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge)

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Enterprise Community Partners Inc
Amount: US $2,000,000
Last Updated: April 02, 2026

Summary

Overview

Note: The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge is a three-round competition. The deadline for Round 1 is indicated above.Applicants who submit their proven, ready-to-scale housing innovation during this round will be considered/selected for Round 2.Round 2: Aug. 10 to Sept. 18, 2026Round 3: Fall 2026 to Winter 2027 Enterprise Community Partners Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. Home is where life happens, where plans are made, and futures begin. It is the foundation for dignity, health, education, wealth, and community. Yet rents keep going up, paychecks don’t keep pace, and good homes in strong neighborhoods are increasingly out of reach. The system doesn’t work. It must be changed, and it must be changed by us. Enterprise has the breadth, scale, and expertise to do it. We support community development organizations on the ground. We aggregate and invest billions to improve housing and strengthen communities across the U.S. We advance housing policy at every level of government. We build and manage communities ourselves. Everything we do is informed by the residents we serve. Together with our partners, we focus on the greatest need — the massive shortage of affordable rental homes — to achieve three goals: Increase the supply of affordable homes Advance racial equity after decades of systematic racism in housing Support residents and strengthen communities to be resilient to the unpredictable, and make upward mobility possible Since 1982, we have invested $92.0 billion and created 1.1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We do all this to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging. National Housing Innovation Grant Competition Home is foundational. It’s where we plant roots, raise and care for our families, and build community bonds. Yet in every corner of the country, millions of people of all ages and backgrounds need a home they can afford. Wells Fargo is meeting this moment with a powerful grant opportunity. Together with Enterprise, Wells Fargo has launched the third iteration of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge. The 2026 cycle of the housing innovation competition will identify and propel proven, ready-to-scale solutions that transform current practices and increase housing choice and access. Eligible applicants will compete for five individual grants of $2 million to advance their innovation and drive meaningful, systems-level change in the housing and adjacent industries. Winners will gain access to mentorship and coaching from industry leaders and experts and join a powerful network of Breakthrough Challenge innovators. Focus Areas This third cycle of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge aims to meet the nation’s affordable housing challenges across all types of communities: Native, rural, suburban, tribal, and urban. Proposals must encompass one or more of three focus areas: Design and Construction Finance Service Delivery and Programs Applicants will be asked to show how their proof of concept or pilot program has achieved clear outcomes and success, and provide a clear pathway to expanding the innovation’s reach and impact Round 1: Criteria and Scoring Your innovation must meet the criteria below to advance to the official scoring stage. Type of Community Innovations can serve all types of communities: Rural Urban Suburban Tribal Location Priority scoring will be given to applications from entities that are based in – or whose innovations are designed for – one or more of these 28 states, plus D.C.: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C. Affordability Innovations must serve residents at these income levels: Rental: 80% AMI or below Homeownership: 120% AMI or below Workforce housing: 120% AMI or below

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The competition is open to a broad range of organizations across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.The lead organization must be one of the following: Nonprofits Mission-oriented for-profit entities Quasi-governmental organizations, Housing Authorities and Housing Finance Agencies with a 501(c)(3) entity Tribally Designated Housing Entities and Tribal Housing Authorities