EAH Housing has built a large presence in California and Hawaii with more than 25,000 affordable homes across 240 properties.

Earlier this week, the San Rafael, California-based nonprofit owner, manager and developer expanded north by purchasing more than 1,000 affordable homes in the Portland area from Catholic Charities of Oregon, according to a press release.

The 19 properties, which include a mix of family, senior and supportive housing communities, are located in the Portland metro area, including Eugene, Sandy and Happy Valley. The acquisition represents the latest in a series of large affordable transitions over the past couple of years.

“We view this acquisition as the beginning of a broader presence in Oregon and will continue exploring opportunities to expand our affordable housing portfolio across the state,” Katherine Fleming, EAH’s chief portfolio officer, told Multifamily Dive in emailed comments. “We are focused on identifying mission-aligned opportunities that support the long-term preservation and availability of affordable housing in high-need areas.”

Oregon expansion

Catholic Charities of Oregon was seeking a mission-aligned nonprofit partner committed to the long-term preservation of affordable housing and approached EAH, according to Fleming.

“The acquisition represents a natural extension of the organization’s mission into the Pacific Northwest, where EAH Housing sees significant opportunities to address growing affordable housing needs,” Fleming said.

While the acquisition allows EAH to continue preserving affordable housing, Catholic Charities will continue to provide supportive services to residents, according to the release. Guardian Real Estate Services will stay on as manager following the sale.

Purchase and sale agreements are now in place for the transaction, which EAH and Catholic Charities have been working on since January 2026, per the release. Financial closings and property transfers are expected to occur on a rolling basis until the second quarter of 2027.

Fleming said EAH is “evaluating opportunities for improvement across the properties to ensure they continue to provide high-quality affordable housing for Oregon residents for years to come.”

Catholic Charities remains involved

CEO of Catholic Charities Kaleen Deatherage said transitioning the properties to EAH Housing allowed them “to remain in the hands of a nonprofit deeply committed to affordable housing.”

“Catholic Charities got into affordable housing to serve people,” Deatherage said in the release. “That purpose has not changed. What has changed is our understanding of where we can make the greatest impact.”

Catholic Charities was represented by Jackson Ross of Newmark's Affordable Housing Advisors team.

In addition to the Oregon acquisition, EAH also opened On Broadway, a new 140-unit affordable mixed-use housing community in Sacramento, according to a Nov. 13 news release shared with Multifamily Dive.

The property, which includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments across two five-story buildings, serves individuals and families earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Thirty-seven homes are permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Major affordable deals

The EAH Oregon acquisition is only the latest large affordable housing transaction in recent years.

In May, nonprofit multifamily affordable housing investment manager National Equity Fund completed a massive deal acquiring National Affordable Housing Trust’s properties and fund management portfolio. In all, NEF is gaining 165 properties, encompassing 15,000 affordable homes nationwide, across 29 funds from NAHT.

In December 2025, New York City-headquartered affordable housing preservation company Hudson Valley Property Group acquired a 22-property portfolio comprising 4,768 units across the western United States from Spokane, Washington-based Inland Group.

In November 2024, New York City- and Los Angeles-based Standard Communities acquired a 100% affordable housing portfolio of over 6,000 apartment homes in more than 60 communities in four states. With the purchase of the portfolio, valued at over $1 billion, Standard entered Arizona, Colorado and Texas and grew its California portfolio to nearly 11,000 apartments. 

In May 2023, Chicago-based Nuveen acquired a portfolio of more than 12,000 units concentrated in New York City from New York City-based Omni Holding Co. This portfolio included several large apartment properties in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, as well as buildings in Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and other states. 

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