Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Certification

A CHDO is a private, non-profit, community-based service organization established to develop affordable housing or carry out other qualified initiatives. CHDO certification is necessary to become eligible for certain federal funds available for community development.  

The Department of Housing's (DOH) CHDO certification program offers two distinct opportunities for interested organizations.  

CHDO Certification

To be certified as a CHDO, an organization must meet specific legal and organizational characteristics described below. Interested groups can view and respond to an open Request for Information (RFI) application, accessible on the Department of Procurement Services (DPS) website. The CHDO certification period opens each fall and continues through the winter. For FY24, the RFI is now closed.  

To be eligible, organizations must meet the following criteria:  

Capacity Building Award 

Existing CHDO-certified organizations may apply for up to $50,000 in funding for capacity-building activities. The CHDO Capacity-Building Award is available through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which opens during the City's Community Development Grant Application (CDGA) round. A notice of the next CDGA RFP funding opportunity will post on the DPS websiteTo be eligible to apply to the RFP, organizations must have an unexpired CHDO Certification issued during the RFI or annual renewal process. In addition to the CHDO Certification requirements, respondents to the Capacity Building Award must also:  

  • Have plans that are well grounded in understanding current community housing conditions, housing needs, and need for supportive services   
  • Commit to advancing the housing needs of people marginalized by race, ethnicity, citizenship, ability, sexual orientation, arrest or conviction record, or income 

2024 Certified CHDO Agencies

Agencies marked with an asterisk (*) received a capacity award for the calendar year 2024 through a competitive RFP process. To continue the certification, all existing CHDO agencies must be requalified annually.   
 
Questions regarding CHDO certification should be directed to Zuri Soughat at zuri.soughat@cityofchicago.org.

 

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