Incorporated in 1974, the Housing Action Council is a regional not-for-profit organization dedicated to expanding housing opportunities for low and moderate income households throughout Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and New York counties and other parts of the Hudson Region. During its early years, the Housing Action Council assisted Westchester County in creating the Urban County Consortium which now administers millions of dollars annually in federal funds for housing and community development; assisted Westchester County to create a Housing Office within the Westchester County Department of Social Services; and created Westhab which has grown to be a major not-for-profit developer and management organization serving Westchester County and beyond. The Housing Action Council now provides technical assistance, through its Housing Development Center to community based organizations and inexperienced and small developers to develop affordable housing.
Its role is to provide technical assistance and to expand the capacity of community based organizations to sponsor affordable housing developments. It is dedicated to building a more favorable climate in Westchester County for affordable housing by identifying, training, and assisting community leaders to advocate for housing in their communities. It also provides program design and implementation services to municipalities. It managed the Yonkers Affordable Housing office which was responsible for implementing a housing desegregation order.