The Affordable Housing Partnership (AHP) was founded in 1986 after a series of protests staged by the United Tenants of Albany (UTA) as a reaction to the prejudicial methods of awarding loans practiced by several banks in the Capital District. This organization was originally called the Albany County Public-Private Partnership but its name was changed in 1989. The AHP is a non-profit forum designed to address the growing housing problem in the Capital District. As the UTA bank protests that culminated in 1995 attest (see administrative history of the UTA) many banks and loan companies in Albany County were severely discriminating against low-to-moderate- income families and business owners when awarding loans. Since governmental programs for assisting this population with buying homes and supporting businesses were extremely scarce during the 1980s, the Affordable Housing Partnership was created as a three-front approach to solving this problem. Members of the banking, public sector and local housing related community organizations were brought together to attempt to create programs to aid low to moderate-income clients.

At first this organization was merely informational in nature and participating banks were not asked to donate funds to provide clients with low interest loans. In 1989, after realizing that the sources for reasonably priced loans were extremely limited, the founders of the AHP took the final step and became a mortgage and loan company. The AHP accepts and reviews loan applications that are in turn funded by another institution, the Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation (CAHFC). One representative from each of the four banks currently participating in the AHP form the CAHFC. To maintain a vote in the CAHFC, the banks must contribute a certain investment; otherwise the representative is present at meetings only in an advisory position. While the value may change over time, the number of "financial units" an organization contributes determines the number of votes that institution has and therefore how influential the institution is in determining which loans are authorized. These funds are placed into a community loan pool for permanent mortgage and construction mortgage loan funds. Together, the AHP and CAHFC determine if a client fits their criterion for a reasonable risk.[1]

The mission statement of the AHP states that the organization will provide a frank forum for the exchange of information concerning the need for affordable housing in Albany County and the obstacles faced in efforts to meet those needs. Through this free exchange the AHP aims to promote programs that will aid in developing housing for low to moderate-income families, assess the efficiency of those that already exist and attempt to solve problems that stand in the way of creating such programs. They hope to achieve this through cooperating with other organizations devoted to helping low-to-moderate income families find housing and by providing a forum for local banks and housing organizations to discuss housing problems.[2]

The AHP is comprised of twelve members, four members from each of the banking, community and public sectors. A coordination team is in charge of ensuring that the agendas and meetings of the AHP are properly planned and that the recommendations of the partnership are acted upon. The meetings are presided over by the board chair. In the event of his or her absence, the vice chair, the president, the executive vice president, and the vice president serve in descending order of importance. If none of these people are available, the partnership can elect a president to preside. The Policy Committee of the AHP is responsible for reviewing loan applications and then presenting them to the board for final approval. The Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation then finances the loan.

While one of the major functions of the AHP is to act as a source for reasonably priced loans, the AHP also attempts to help their clients by creating programs designed to make the experience of buying a home easier. One such program is the Albany Home Store. This program, founded in 1997, attempts to simplify the complicated process of buying a home by providing a "one-stop" resource for advice and funding for first-time homebuyers. This program offers the buyer pre-purchase counseling, information on available homes and information on financing. The Home Store, with the aid of the AHP, puts clients in contact with banks and realtors thus facilitating the experience. Members of the AHP act as the coordinators for the Home Store by maintaining lists of available real estate, sponsoring homebuyer workshops, and participating in home buyer programs sponsored by banks, non-profit organizations, realtors and other such organizations in order to keep abreast of available housing programs.[3] 1. Affordable Housing Partnership, By-laws of the Affordable Housing Partnership (Albany, undated). 2. Affordable Housing Partnership, Mission Statement of the Affordable Housing Partnership (Albany, undated). 3. Division of Housing and Community Development, Albany Home Store. http://www.albanyny.org/business/homestore/index.asp (1 August 2002).