Through our Equitable Housing Finance Plan work, Freddie Mac Multifamily has made addressing homelessness a priority. As part of these efforts, Freddie Mac has paved the way to finance properties with borrowers that offer our new opportunity, Employer-Enabled Permanent Supportive Housing (EPSH), that aims to support affordable housing for individuals who are facing homelessness.

How EPSH Works


Through EPSH, nonprofit organizations and multifamily borrowers are working together to train, employ and provide housing for unhoused individuals.

  • Job Training: Borrowers engage external or affiliate nonprofits that train individuals at risk of homelessness for employment opportunities at multifamily properties. 
  • Employment: Borrowers select candidates via a standard interview process.
  • Housing: Borrowers provide a discounted unit to hired individuals. 
  • GPR Consideration: Freddie Mac will underwrite up to two discounted employee units per property to average in-place gross potential rent (GPR) without an associated expense, mitigating any reduction in proceeds to the borrower.
  • Eligible Products: EPSH can be applied across all Freddie Mac financing, except: less than 50-unit properties, Value-Add, Lease-Up, Seniors, MHC, SBL and Non-LIHTC Preservation Rehab.
  • Documentation Requirements: Borrowers must provide Freddie Mac Multifamily with a partnership agreement they’ve formed with a nonprofit and an EPSH Borrower Certification during our origination underwriting process to qualify for this benefit.

The Benefits


Individuals employed and housed at a multifamily property through EPSH have the opportunity to earn market wages, as well as access to a potentially discounted employee unit. Ultimately, the goal is that the combination of stable employment and a 12-month lease can aid individuals experiencing homelessness in their efforts to return to self-sufficiency. Nonprofits with EPSH-focused programs, like Entryway, offer professional development beyond the on-the-job experience selected candidates would gain, such as groundskeeping, maintenance and leasing training.

“At Entryway, we are providing a pathway to economic self-sufficiency through a holistic approach of career training, employment, support services and discounted housing opportunities with our multifamily partners,” commented David Williams, president and CEO of Entryway. “The EPSH initiative from Freddie Mac Multifamily is an exciting opportunity to further empower real estate companies to partner with organizations like us — opening the door to opportunities for life-changing stability for the individuals and families at risk of and facing homelessness that we serve.”  

EPSH also helps borrowers find well-trained and suitable employees, especially during property management labor shortages. For eligible properties, the relevant employee unit may be underwritten to average in-place GPR without an associated expense for borrowers.

Reach out to an Optigo® lender to learn more about the EPSH opportunity and potential financing for your loan.