New Research Shows Resident Services Strengthens Property Financial Performance
via Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)
Washington, D.C. (March 12, 2026) – Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)
today released new findings from Abt Global’s research, The Impact of Resident Services on
Property Financial Performance, showing that service‑enriched properties generate 26
percent higher Net Operating Income (NOI) – nearly $1,200 more per unit annually – than
comparable properties without resident services.
“At a time of shrinking subsidies and rising housing costs, we can no longer treat resident
services as optional. They are essential infrastructure for strong property performance, building
resilient communities and sustainable affordable housing,” said Eileen Fitzgerald, SAHF’s
Interim CEO.
The Abt Global study analyzes data from 248 properties across 19 diverse housing organizations
from 2015-2019 and links resident services to material NOI gains, a key indicator of property
health used in underwriting, asset management, and investment decisions. For every $100
invested in resident services, properties realize $259 in additional NOI and $397 in total revenue
the following year, underscoring the strong financial return on these investments.
The summary of the study shows that resident services strengthen asset performance and support
long‑term portfolio health. Evidence from the research supports incorporating resident services
as eligible operating costs in development pro-formas, underwriting standards, and ongoing
property budgets as well as scoring incentives in state Qualified Allocation Plans, rather than
treating them as value-added enhancements.
The Case for Resident Services report provides complementary data from SAHF’s members - a
collaborative of 13 affordable housing developers – and shows that resident services
coordination is strongly associated with improved housing stability, financial resilience, and
health outcomes.
“Safe, affordable housing is the foundation for a secure future, but creating that building is only
part of the solution – helping residents thrive is just as important,” said Shena Ashley, President
of the Capital One Insights Center. “SAHF’s research demonstrates that resident services are
essential and strongly associated with improved housing stability and financial security for
residents. From increasing on-time rent payments to improving resident financial resilience and
health outcomes – we know these integrated wrap-around services empower residents to thrive
and can strengthen the community as a whole.”