ARA, Finnish: Asumisen rahoitus- ja kehittämiskeskus) is a Finish government agency within the jurisdiction of the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, responsible for implementing state housing policy.

[1][2] ARA's tasks include granting subsidies, support, and guarantees related to housing and construction.

[1] In the late 1940s, after the Continuation War, the Arava system was established for financing housing construction.

As part of the latest agency reform, ARA transitioned from a state housing finance-oriented organization to a body supporting development activities and communication in the construction sector.

In a decentralization program of the government, ARA was relocated from Helsinki's Pasila to Lahti on July 1, 2008, based on a decision made in 2005.