CIL

What CIL does

CIL (Corporation for Independent Living) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit real estate developer founded in 1979 and headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The organization acquires, constructs, and renovates community-based residences (group homes) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), acquired brain injuries (ABI), autism, and behavioral health conditions. Homes are leased to nonprofit service provider agencies under long-term 20-30 year arrangements, with the home donated to the provider agency at the end of the lease term. CIL has developed over 500 community residences in Connecticut and 230+ in Massachusetts, serving more than 8,000 families since founding and investing over $500 million in communities cumulatively.

CIL's revenue model combines (1) managed-services-style lease revenue from nonprofit providers, (2) professional development consulting, and (3) grant-funded accessibility programs (AccesSolutions, Loans & Grants for Accessibility, Money Follows the Person coordination). The organization's distinctive value proposition is a 100% financing model accessed through the tax-exempt bond market, eliminating down-payment requirements for partner agencies. Supporting programs include Sale, Renovate & Leaseback (allowing providers to recapitalize existing homes) and a Benefit Corporation subsidiary called Community Innovation Lab exploring adjacent housing models. Operations are remote-first with a Hartford headquarters, and the organization maintains active relationships with state agencies including Massachusetts DDS, Connecticut DSS, and Connecticut Department of Housing.

The organization's go-to-market operates on two levels: enterprise partnerships with state-reimbursed nonprofit service providers (the primary revenue engine, leveraging referrals from state agencies like MA DDS and CT DSS) and direct-to-consumer accessibility grants for Connecticut residents with disabilities. In April 2025, CIL secured a $45 million line of credit led by KeyBank with participation from Webster Bank, Westfield Bank, and Rockland Trust, enabling national expansion across the continental United States. Financial partners include MassDevelopment (issuing tax-exempt bonds) and M&T Bank (bond purchaser), with core technology centered on real estate development expertise, accessibility compliance knowledge, and capital structuring rather than software or AI.

Name

CIL

Legal name

Corporation for Independent Living

Website

https://cil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit real estate developer founded in 1979 that builds and leases community residences for people with intellectual, developmental, and acquired brain disabilities, financing 100% via tax-exempt bonds and donating homes to providers at lease end.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessible Housing Development

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Site CCRCs (HLADAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Living within CCRC Campuses (IL Component) (HLADAAAF), Life Plan / Entrance-Fee CCRCs (HLADAEAA), Rental / Fee-for-Service CCRCs (HLADAEAB)

Keywords

• Accessible housing development
• Community residence development
• Disability housing services
• Nonprofit real estate development
• Home modification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Development & Leasing: CIL develops community residences (group homes) for people with disabilities and leases them to nonprofit service provider agencies. At the end of the lease term (typically 20-30 years), CIL donates the home to the provider agency. Revenue comes from monthly lease payments from provider agencies, who in turn receive reimbursement from state agencies (Department of Developmental Services, Department of Mental Health).
2. Development Consulting: CIL provides consulting services for real estate, design, and construction to nonprofit service providers and municipalities seeking to develop community-based housing.
3. AccesSolutions Program: Home modification program providing accessibility solutions (ramps, lifts, grab bars, roll-in showers, widened doorways) to people with disabilities. Funded through grants, donations, and Connecticut Department of Housing funds. Grants range from $5,000 to $70,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

CIL is a nonprofit real estate developer that acquires, constructs, and renovates community-based residences (group homes) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), acquired brain injuries (ABI), and behavioral health conditions. Homes are leased to nonprofit service provider agencies under long-term 20-30 year leases, with ownership donated to providers at the end of the lease term. CIL also offers accessibility home modification services (AccesSolutions) and consulting services for nonprofit housing developers.

Product overview

CIL (Corporation for Independent Living) is a nonprofit real estate development organization offering a coordinated portfolio of housing development services for people with disabilities. The core offerings include Community Residences (acquisition, renovation, and new construction of group homes for I/DD, ABI, and behavioral health populations) and Development Consulting services. Supporting programs include AccesSolutions (home modifications), the Loans & Grants for Accessibility (LFA) program, Money Follows the Person (MFP) coordination, and the Sale, Renovate & Leaseback program enabling providers to recapitalize existing homes. Innovation initiatives include Accessible Futures: Live! (LinkedIn Live series) and InSite (site selection newsletter). CIL provides educational resources including the Five Phase Approach methodology guide and Financing Your Vision report. All programs are designed to work with nonprofit service providers, with homes ultimately donated to providers at the end of lease terms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AccesSolutions: Program providing home modifications and specialized equipment to people with disabilities who cannot afford modifications, including ramps, lifts, grab bars, roll-in showers, widened doorways and handrails.
• Atlantic Works Conference Center

Products and services

• Community Residences Nonprofit real estate development service that acquires, constructs, and renovates community-based homes (group homes) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), acquired brain injuries (ABI), and behavioral health conditions. Homes are leased to nonprofit service providers under long-term 20-30 year leases, with homes donated to providers at the end of the lease term.
• Development Consulting
• AccesSolutions Program
• Loans & Grants for Accessibility (LFA)
• Money Follows the Person (MFP)
• Sale, Renovate, & Leaseback Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 community residences developed in Connecticut; 230+ in Massachusetts; helped over 8,000 families
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS)coreOthersState licensing and reimbursement agency for developmental disability services. Works with CIL on ABI housing under Hutchinson v. Patrick Settlement and autism housing under Turning 22 initiative. Licenses community residences and provides ongoing reimbursement to provider agencies.
• Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS)supportingOthersAdministers Money Follows the Person (MFP) program in partnership with CIL for home accessibility modifications enabling nursing facility transitions.
• Dignity Alliance MassachusettsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of organizations advocating for dignity, choice, and self-determination for aging and disabled persons. CIL VP of Strategic Partnerships served as Communications Co-chair.
• CT Family Support NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily support organization co-sponsored by Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. Hosts Creative Housing Group where CIL presents housing models and shares information on community residence development.
• Capital Workforce PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development organization. CIL team member Shel Bustow serves on board. Partnership focused on community development and housing workforce needs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inglis: Philadelphia-area nonprofit that provides accessible, affordable housing and supportive services primarily for people with physical disabilities, including community-based independent living options. Highly comparable to CIL's mission, lease-and-support model, and disability-focused nonprofit real estate approach.
• L'Arche USA: National nonprofit operating intentional community homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together. Comparable to CIL in its commitment to community-based housing models for individuals with I/DD and its nonprofit developer/operator hybrid structure.
• Ability Beyond: Connecticut-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and clinical services for individuals with I/DD and other disabilities. Directly comparable in geography, target population, and integrated housing-plus-services nonprofit model.
• Penn-Mar Human Services: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing community-based residential, vocational, and behavioral health services for individuals with I/DD. Operates group homes and supported living arrangements similar to CIL's community residences.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National federation including local chapters (e.g., The Arc of Greater Plymouth, one of CIL's customers) that advocates for and increasingly develops housing and services for people with I/DD. Overlaps with CIL in serving the same provider ecosystem and I/DD population.
• Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit with extensive affordable, supportive, and disability housing programs across the US. Comparable as a nonprofit developer and operator of community-based housing serving vulnerable populations, including I/DD and behavioral health.
• National Church Residences: One of the largest nonprofit affordable senior housing developers in the US, also serving people with disabilities. Comparable as a faith-based, mission-driven nonprofit real estate developer with a similar tax-exempt bond financing model.
• Mercy Housing: Large national nonprofit developer of affordable and supportive housing using tax-exempt bond and LIHTC financing. Comparable in nonprofit real estate development model and use of public-private financing structures, though focused more broadly on affordability than I/DD.

Emerging players

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Large, privately held provider of home and community-based services including specialized I/DD and behavioral health group homes. Comparable in operating I/DD community residences, though as a for-profit at much greater scale.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Public company providing home and community-based services including I/DD and behavioral health housing. Comparable to CIL in serving the same populations with community-based residences, but with vastly broader capital access as a KKR-backed public entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Official_CIL
• Facebookfacebook.com/officialCIL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corporation-for-independent-living-cil-
• Instagraminstagram.com/official_cil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIL