Chn Housing Partners stands as a cornerstone in Cleveland’s community, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming lives through affordable and stable housing for over four decades. Established in 1981, chn housing partners has consistently addressed the critical need for quality housing, acting as a developer, service provider, and residential lender. Their core mission is powerful yet simple: to leverage stable, affordable housing to uplift individuals and revitalize neighborhoods.
Founded by six pioneering community development groups, chn housing partners emerged from a collective understanding of the deep connection between stable housing and poverty alleviation. These leaders recognized that housing instability and homelessness are not isolated issues, but symptoms of systemic poverty. By uniting, they aimed to combat housing abandonment and the shortage of affordable options in Cleveland. Their initial strategy focused on two essential actions: rehabilitating vacant homes and creating accessible pathways to homeownership for low-to-moderate income (LMI) residents, laying a foundation for lasting community impact.
Since its inception, chn housing partners has grown and adapted to meet the evolving needs of the community. A pivotal moment in their history was the launch of the Lease Purchase Program in 1987. Utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), this flagship initiative created a unique 15-year path to homeownership specifically designed for LMI families, with a significant focus on serving Black/African American households. Beyond this signature program, chn housing partners actively engages in developing multi-family and permanent supportive housing, tackling utility and energy efficiency challenges for LMI households, and collaborating with diverse partners to amplify housing resources across the region. They also operate a vital community resource center, providing housing and financial counseling and education, and offer specialized lending products to those traditionally underserved by the market.
With a dedicated team of approximately 212 staff members and a diverse 25-member Board representing Cleveland’s neighborhoods and institutions, chn housing partners operates through collaboration. Working closely with clients, community members, financial institutions, funders, non-profit allies, public agencies, and utility companies, chn housing partners tackles the complex housing challenges faced by LMI families head-on. Their impact is substantial, reaching over 50,000 families annually, developing 7,000 affordable homes – including an impressive 4,418 single-family homes – and empowering over 2,700 families to achieve the dream of homeownership. Chn housing partners continues to be a vital force in Cleveland, building stronger communities, one home at a time.
