Chicago Housing Authority

What Chicago Housing Authority does

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is a public housing agency created under Illinois state law and operating under federal oversight from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is Chicago's designated administrator of federal housing assistance programs, serving more than 135,000 residents across all 77 Chicago community areas through four core program lines: Public Housing (CHA-owned units), Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV, tenant-based rental assistance in privately-owned buildings), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), and Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA). The agency holds a Moving to Work designation from HUD, giving it flexibility in deploying federal funds, and operates with an annual operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion.

CHA's service delivery rests on a digital platform layer including the RENTCafé portal for HCV/PBV participant account management, a multilingual Reasonable Accommodation Portal supporting 13 languages for disability accommodation requests, and an online Waitlist Portal. These portals support intake, re-examinations, inspection scheduling, interim reporting, and document submission 24/7, complementing three regional HCV offices (Central, South, West), a downtown Client Center at 60 E. Van Buren, and the Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center. Beyond housing placement, CHA runs a portfolio of resident support programs including Mobility Counseling, the Health & Wellness Program (mental health and case management), Workforce Development (WORC), Youth Opportunities and scholarships, Senior Services, FamilyWorks, Digital Inclusion, Choose to Own (homeownership pathway), and the Victim Assistance Program. Resident engagement channels include the Our House podcast, the Going Places quarterly newsletter, public board meetings livestreamed on YouTube, and active presence across major social platforms.

CHA is funded primarily through federal HUD grants and program allocations, supplemented by Low Income Housing Tax Credits, philanthropic capital (notably a $200M+ commitment from JPMorganChase since 2019), and partnerships with Illinois Housing Development Authority, All Chicago's Coordinated Entry System, POAH, Chicago Community Trust, and others. The agency is governed by a Board of Commissioners appointed through municipal processes and is currently led by CEO Keith Pettigrew, appointed in March 2026 following an 18-month leadership vacancy. Governance is currently under stress from an ongoing lawsuit against HUD over $185M in funding at risk due to DEI-related restrictions, housing advocates' threatened litigation over the CEO appointment process, and the June 2026 indictment of a former director for a $4.8M kickback scheme.

Name

Chicago Housing Authority

Legal name

Chicago Housing Authority

Website

https://thecha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Chicago Housing Authority is a federally designated public housing agency that administers Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers, and Project-Based Rental Assistance to over 135,000 low-income residents across Chicago's 77 community areas, funded primarily through HUD grants with a $1.4 billion annual operating budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Assistance

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Residential Property Managers (531311)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Public housing assistance
• Housing choice vouchers
• Affordable rental housing
• Senior housing programs
• Low-income housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal HUD Funding: CHA receives primary funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through various grant programs including Moving to Work designation. The agency filed a lawsuit against HUD in 2025 over $185 million in grant funding at stake due to new DEI policy restrictions.
2. Philanthropic Capital: CHA receives philanthropic investment from financial institutions and foundations for affordable housing development projects, including JPMorganChase's $200+ million commitment since 2019 for South and West Side housing initiatives.
3. Housing Tax Credits: Project financing through Low Income Housing Tax Credits and other federal/state housing financing mechanisms for new construction and redevelopment projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Chicago Housing Authority administers federal affordable rental housing programs for low-income Chicago residents, operating four core products: Public Housing (CHA-owned units), Housing Choice Vouchers (tenant-based rental assistance for private-market units), Project-Based Vouchers (assistance tied to specific units in private buildings), and Project-Based Rental Assistance. Residents pay approximately 30% of adjusted gross income toward rent based on HUD Area Median Income eligibility, with no fees charged for application or program participation.

Product overview

The Chicago Housing Authority offers a portfolio of housing assistance programs centered on four core housing products: Public Housing (units owned and operated by CHA), Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV, tenant-based rental assistance), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV, assistance tied to specific units), and Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA). These core programs are supported by a digital platform infrastructure including RENTCafé (online account management), the Reasonable Accommodation Portal (multi-language disability request system), and the CHA Waitlist Portal (online applications). CHA supplements its housing programs with resident support services including the Health & Wellness Program (mental health and case management), Mobility Counseling Services, LevelUp Self-Sufficiency Program, Youth Opportunities Program with scholarships, Senior Services Program, FamilyWorks Services, Workforce Development (WORC), and the Choose to Own homeownership pathway. Resident engagement is supported through the Our House Podcast, Going Places newsletter, and Digital Inclusion Program. The portfolio operates as a platform model where digital portals (RENTCafé, Reasonable Accommodation Portal, Waitlist Portal) serve as the administrative infrastructure supporting multiple housing programs and resident services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Tenant-based rental assistance program that provides vouchers to eligible low-income families to afford safe housing in privately-owned buildings, with participants paying approximately 30% of adjusted gross income toward rent.
• Public Housing Program Affordable housing in units owned and operated by CHA, including family housing, scattered sites, senior housing, and mixed-income developments for income-eligible Chicago residents.
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program Rental assistance tied to specific housing units in privately-owned buildings, where CHA contracts with property owners to pay a portion of rent for eligible residents.
• Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) Rental assistance program that helps tenants afford rent in approved buildings through dedicated federal funding administered by CHA.
• RENTCafé Online Portal Secure online account management portal for HCV and PBV participants to view household information, access resources, check inspection appointments and results, complete re-examinations, request interims, and submit requests to CHA.
• Reasonable Accommodation Portal Online portal for HCV and Public Housing participants to request disability-related reasonable accommodations, available in 13 languages (English, Spanish, Polish, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Somali, Romanian, Bosnian).
• CHA Waitlist Application Portal Online application portal for submitting applications to CHA housing waitlists covering Public Housing, Project-Based Voucher, and PBRA programs.
• Mobility Counseling Services Program Program that helps HCV families with at least one child find homes in designated Mobility Areas, providing guidance and support to help families thrive in neighborhoods of their choice.
• Choose to Own Homeownership Program (HOME) Homeownership program that helps qualified CHA residents transition from renting to owning through the HOME (Home Ownership Made Easy) pathway.
• Workforce Development (WORC) Workforce development program operated through the Workforce Opportunity Resource Center, connecting CHA residents with job opportunities, employment resources, and career support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 135,000+ residents served across housing programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Collaborating on the FairHome portal, a centralized database for renters to search affordable housing citywide as part of the Accountable Housing and Anti Discrimination Act ordinance. Portal will initially use IHDA's database of 3,700 units.
• Chicago Housing InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Partner in developing and implementing the FairHome portal for the Accountable Housing and Anti Discrimination Act ordinance, working to reduce fragmentation and discrimination in affordable housing search.
• POAH (Preserving Affordable Housing for the Elderly)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026POAH is redeveloping the Loomis Courts property, a major CHA redevelopment initiative. POAH is a nonprofit real estate development organization focused on preserving and creating affordable housing.
• Connecting Capital and CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Philanthropic partner in JPMorganChase's $200M+ affordable housing commitment, serving as a community connector for South and West Side housing initiatives.
• Chicago Community TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Community foundation partner in affordable housing initiatives, part of the collaborative funding ecosystem for Chicago housing programs.
• Inherent HomesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 October 2025Partner offering below-market mortgage rates of 3.5% through programs designed to expand homeownership opportunities in underserved neighborhoods.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of ChicagominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 October 2025Community partner offering below-market mortgage rates and homeownership programs for CHA residents in underserved neighborhoods.
• All ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Chicago's Coordinated Entry System for people experiencing homelessness, partnering with CHA to provide housing access through multiple access points citywide.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)flagshipOthersPrimary federal funding source for CHA operations. CHA has Moving to Work designation from HUD. Legal dispute ongoing in 2025 over $185 million in grant funding due to HUD's new DEI policy restrictions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boston Housing Authority (BHA): BHA administers public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and supportive housing in Boston with an emphasis on mixed-income redevelopment. It is a direct municipal peer to CHA in operating model, federal program mix, and resident services orientation.
• Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA): PHA is a large municipal housing authority operating public housing and HCV programs across Philadelphia with comparable mixed-income redevelopment and supportive services. It is directly comparable to CHA on program portfolio, urban context, and federal funding model.
• San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA): SFHA operates public housing and federal voucher programs in San Francisco with a focus on supportive housing and HUD-funded redevelopment. It is comparable to CHA in urban context, program mix, and federal compliance environment.
• Housing Authority of Baltimore (HABC): HABC is Baltimore's public housing authority, administering public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and redevelopment of aging high-rise stock. It is comparable to CHA on operating scale, program mix, and federal HUD oversight.
• Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta (Atlanta Housing): Atlanta Housing is the public housing authority for the City of Atlanta, operating public housing, HCV, and mixed-income redevelopment programs. It is a direct peer to CHA on portfolio design and federal program administration.
• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA): NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the U.S., operating public housing and federal voucher programs in New York City. It is the closest direct analog to CHA in scale, program mix (public housing + Section 8/HCV), and federal HUD oversight.
• Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA): LACDA administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and affordable housing development across Los Angeles County. It is comparable to CHA as a large HUD-funded housing agency with a heavy reliance on tenant-based vouchers and developer partnerships.
• Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development: Miami-Dade's housing agency administers public housing and Section 8 vouchers across a large urban county. It is comparable to CHA in serving a diverse, large low-income population with HUD-funded rental assistance programs.
• DC Housing Authority: CHA's incoming CEO Keith Pettigrew previously ran DC Housing Authority, which administers public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and local rental assistance in Washington, D.C. It mirrors CHA's Moving to Work-style programs, mixed-income redevelopment, and federal funding reliance.

Broad incumbents

• Related Companies (Affordable Housing Division): Related Companies operates one of the largest affordable housing portfolios in the U.S., including mixed-income developments that often partner with PHAs like CHA via LIHTC and PBV/PBRA. It is comparable as a broad incumbent affordable housing owner/operator that frequently collaborates with public housing authorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thechatweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ChiHousingAuthority
• Facebookfacebook.com/chaonfb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-housing-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagohousingauthority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Chicago Housing Authority