Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago

What Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago does

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) is a 501(c)-eligible nonprofit organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in West Humboldt Park and Chatham serving the city's South and West Sides. The organization's mission centers on expanding access to affordable homeownership and housing stability for low-to-moderate income Chicago residents. It operates an integrated service stack delivered through two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Neighborhood Lending Services, Inc. (NLS), an Illinois-licensed and NMLS-registered mortgage lender (License #MB.6850297; NMLS #276722), and NHS Redevelopment Corporation, which holds and sells vacant lots for neighborhood revitalization.

NHS's product portfolio spans five pillars: (1) mortgage origination via NLS (30-year fixed, TIF Purchase Rehab loans, Inspire 100 offering up to 100% financing with no PMI, and the HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program) through the NLS Connect digital application portal; (2) grant administration including down payment assistance (up to $20,000), MMRP purchase assistance ($30,000), Woodlawn Long-Term Homeowner Repair grants (up to $20,000), and broader home repair/improvement grants (up to $45,000), processed through a Salesforce-based NHS Grants Portal; (3) HUD-certified homebuyer education (8-hour course delivered in-person, via Zoom, and as self-paced eHome modules), foreclosure prevention counseling, eviction prevention, and The Next Level financial empowerment courses; (4) real estate services including NHS Realty brokerage, vacant lot sales, and a Vacant Unit Repair and Reactivation Program, with Redfin integration for listing visibility; and (5) educational content products, notably the Better Basement Units digital manual for ADU construction guidance, available in English and Spanish with interactive Google Sheets calculators.

The business model is hybrid philanthropic-commercial. NHS is funded primarily through philanthropic capital (notably a $200M+ cumulative commitment from JPMorganChase since 2019), grant program administration fees (City of Chicago, ComEd, Enterprise Community Partners), mortgage origination interest and fees via NLS, and donations processed through Stripe. Pricing is essentially zero-to-subsidized for grant recipients (income-qualified, typically under 120% AMI), while NLS loan products carry competitive and below-market rates (3.5% through the JPMorganChase/Inherent Homes partnership). The organization distributes services through three physical offices, online self-serve portals, community partnerships (block clubs, city agencies, financial institutions), and referral networks including Allies for Community Business and the Chicago Housing Authority. In 2026, NHS released its NHS2030 five-year strategic plan to coordinate continued expansion of sustainable homeownership and generational wealth-building across Chicago's underserved neighborhoods.

Name

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago

Legal name

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc.

Website

https://nhschicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago is a 1975-founded nonprofit providing affordable mortgage lending, grants, homebuyer education, and real estate services to low-to-moderate income residents of Chicago's South and West Sides through Neighborhood Lending Services Inc. and a network of neighborhood offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Mortgage lending
• Down payment assistance
• Homebuyer education
• Community development lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Lending: NHS provides home mortgage loans through its affiliate Neighborhood Lending Services Inc. (NLS), offering products including 30-year fixed loans, TIF Purchase Rehab loans, and portfolio loans. Revenue comes from interest on mortgages and origination fees.
2. Grant Administration: NHS administers various grant programs for purchasers, home repairs, and emergencies on behalf of funders (City of Chicago, ComEd, JPMorganChase). Revenue may come from administrative fees or program funding.
3. Philanthropic Funding: NHS receives philanthropic capital from partners like JPMorganChase ($200M+ commitment since 2019) and Enterprise Community Partners to support affordable housing initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) is a HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling agency that provides affordable mortgage lending through its subsidiary Neighborhood Lending Services Inc. (NLS), administers down payment assistance, home repair, and emergency grants, and delivers certified homebuyer education and financial counseling to income-qualified Chicago residents. It operates community offices, an in-house realty brokerage, and redevelopment programs targeted at Chicago's underserved South and West Side neighborhoods.

Product overview

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) operates as a comprehensive, nonprofit housing ecosystem offering mortgage lending, financial counseling, grants, education, real estate services, and advocacy. The organization is structured around Neighborhood Lending Services (NLS) — its affiliated mortgage lending arm — which provides home mortgage loans and administers the NLS Connect online mortgage portal. NHS's product portfolio spans: (1) loan and mortgage products — including conventional and TIF PR portfolio loans, the Inspire 100 (100% financing, no PMI) and HomeGrown programs, plus NLS Connect (digital mortgage application portal); (2) grants — purchase assistance (up to $20,000–$30,000), home repair/improvement (up to $45,000), emergency utility assistance (ComEd Your Neighbor Fund, ComEd SMB Relief Fund), MMRP ($30,000), TIFPR (up to 25% of project cost), and Woodlawn Long-Term Repair Grant ($20,000); (3) education — HUD-certified homebuyer education (8-hour course, in-person/virtual/eHome), The Next Level financial empowerment courses, foreclosure prevention counseling, eviction prevention, and one-on-one consultations, accessible via Zoom and the NHS Client Portal; (4) real estate — NHS Realty Services, vacant lot sales, vacant unit repair/reactivation, and Redfin listing integration; and (5) content products — the Better Basement Units digital manual (English/Spanish, PDF + web, with Google Sheets calculators) for ADU construction guidance. The organization also operates the NHS Grants Portal (Salesforce-based) for grant applications, the NHS Client Portal for account management, and pursues policy advocacy through the Appraisal Equity Campaign and Housing Policy Task Force.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home Mortgage Loans (Neighborhood Lending Services / NLS) Mortgage loan products for 1-4 unit residential properties, including 30-year fixed-rate loans and portfolio products such as the TIF Purchase Rehab loan. NLS also offers down payment assistance grants of up to $20,000 and participates in programs offering up to 100% financing with no PMI for income-qualified buyers.
• Down Payment Assistance Grants Grants of up to $20,000 applied at closing to reduce the buyer's required down payment for income-qualified homebuyers purchasing homes in designated Chicago areas.
• HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program A purchase assistance program offering below-market mortgage rates and down payment support to expand homeownership opportunities in underserved Chicago neighborhoods, administered by NLS.
• Inspire 100 An NHS loan program offering up to 100% financing with no private mortgage insurance (PMI) to eligible homebuyers, targeting new homeownership opportunities in underserved Chicago communities.
• TIF Purchase Rehab (TIFPR) A City of Chicago initiative administered by NHS using Tax Increment Finance (TIF) funding as a forgivable loan to help eligible buyers purchase and rehabilitate vacant 1-4 unit residential properties within active TIF districts, covering up to 25% of total project costs.
• MMRP Purchase Assistance Grant The Micro-Market Recovery Program provides $30,000 in down-payment assistance for home purchases in City of Chicago MMRP Areas, available to households earning up to 120% of Area Median Income purchasing 1-4 unit residential properties or condominiums as their primary residence.
• Purchase Assistance Grants General purchase assistance grants offered by NHS Chicago to income-qualified first-time homebuyers, layered with other NHS loan products to reduce the cost of homeownership.
• Home Repair/Improvement Grants Grants of up to $45,000 for income-qualified homeowners in high-priority neighborhoods to make critical home repairs and improvements, including the Woodlawn Long-Term Homeowner Repair Grant and the Critical Home Improvement Program (CHIP).
• Emergency Assistance Grants Short-term financial assistance grants to help homeowners experiencing temporary economic hardship, including the ComEd Your Neighbor Fund (up to $180 bill credit) and other utility assistance programs.
• Better Basement Units: A Manual A comprehensive digital manual helping owner-occupants and small landlords legally build out or convert basement spaces into rentable Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Chicago. Covers planning, zoning, code requirements, construction costs, permitting, and financial feasibility, with interactive Google Sheets calculators. Available in English and Spanish.
• Homebuyer Education (HBE) HUD-certified homebuyer education workshops providing prospective buyers with an 8-hour course covering budgeting, credit, mortgage basics, the home search process, and closing. Completion yields a certificate valid for one year. Offered in-person, virtually via Zoom, and as self-paced eHome courses.
• The Next Level — Financial Empowerment Courses Financial empowerment and wealth-building courses offered as the next step after initial homebuyer education. Includes investment literacy resources, brokerage platform tutorials, and one-on-one financial counseling sessions.
• Foreclosure Prevention HUD-approved counseling and intervention services for homeowners at risk of foreclosure. Includes financial check-ups, budget analysis, lender negotiation support, and connections to loss mitigation options.
• Eviction Prevention Program Services to help renters and landlords avoid eviction through mediation, legal aid referrals, and financial solutions, including connections to Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt and the Center for Conflict Resolution.
• NHS Realty Services NHS's in-house real estate brokerage service helping buyers identify available properties and opportunities, with listings integrated with Redfin for expanded visibility.
• Vacant Unit Repair and Reactivation Program A program to repair and reactivate vacant 2-4 unit residential properties for productive reuse in specific Chicago neighborhoods.
• Vacant Lots for Sale Vacant lots owned by NHS Redevelopment Corporation in various Chicago neighborhoods (ZIP codes 60623, 60624, 60636, 60620, 60651, 60628, 60617) sold via broker price opinion with title transferred via Quit Claim Deed.
• Homeowner Financial Check-ups Financial counseling sessions for existing homeowners to assess current financial health, identify risks to continued homeownership, and create strategies to maintain stability and build long-term wealth.

Quantifiable outcome

• 405 affordable rental homes created for seniors through Edith Spurlock Sampson Apartments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ComEdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026ComEd allocated $2.5 million in bill relief for small businesses administered through NHS. NHS processes applications and distributes one-time matching grants of up to $500 to eligible small and medium-sized business customers with past-due balances. Applications open June 15, 2026.
• Connecting Capital and Community (3C)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner in JPMorganChase's affordable housing initiative on Chicago's South and West Sides.
• Chicago Community TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner in collaborative affordable housing initiatives in the Chicago region.
• Chicago Housing AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner in affordable housing development and homeownership programs.
• Inherent HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner offering below-market mortgage rates through NHS programs for homeownership in underserved neighborhoods.
• Chicago Department of HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeedback and sources provided for Better Basement Units manual; involved in ADU pilot program creation.
• Chicago Department of Planning and DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeedback and sources provided for Better Basement Units manual; regulatory authority for ADU zoning.
• Community Investment Corporation (CIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeedback and sources provided for Better Basement Units manual; provides property management training and multifamily lending for 5+ unit properties.
• Allies for Community BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNHS refers small business owners to Allies for Community Business for capital, coaching, and connections.
• Elevate (Energy Solutions)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNHS refers homeowners to Elevate for free lead risk assessments and grant funding to remove lead paint hazards.
• CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNHS refers income-eligible households to CEDA for heating and electricity bill assistance and home weatherization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Dallas: A Texas-based NeighborWorks affiliate offering comparable homebuyer education, lending, and community development services. Shares the NHS model and brand heritage with NHS Chicago.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland: A regional NeighborWorks affiliate offering similar housing counseling, lending, and community revitalization services in the Cleveland area. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and service portfolio to NHS Chicago.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City: A NeighborWorks-affiliated nonprofit providing homebuyer education, counseling, and lending in NYC, with a similar integrated model to NHS Chicago including mortgage origination, foreclosure prevention, and community development programming. Directly comparable structure and service mix.
• Habitat for Humanity Chicago: Habitat's Chicago affiliate provides affordable homeownership opportunities, homebuyer education, and home repair services to LMI residents. Overlapping mission of creating affordable homeownership in underserved Chicago neighborhoods.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: A national nonprofit that invests in affordable housing and community development, including a partnership role with NHS Chicago (Better Basement Units funding). Compares as a larger, more diversified peer in the affordable housing ecosystem.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): A major national community development financial institution (CDFI) that finances affordable housing, economic development, and community revitalization. LISC's Chicago office is a direct local peer in deploying capital and technical assistance to LMI neighborhoods, though at much larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• NeighborWorks America: The national network umbrella for over 240 housing counseling and community development nonprofits including NHS Chicago. Acts as a funder, capacity builder, and standards-setter rather than a direct service competitor.
• Chicago Community Trust: A regional community foundation and major philanthropic funder for Chicago-area nonprofits, including a partnership role with NHS in affordable housing initiatives. Functions as a capital provider rather than a service competitor.

Emerging players

• The Resurrection Project: A Chicago-based nonprofit focused on community development, affordable housing, and immigrant integration on the Southwest Side. Smaller and more thematically focused than NHS but operates in overlapping Chicago neighborhoods.
• Community Investment Corporation (CIC): A Chicago CDFI providing multifamily lending and property management training for 5+ unit buildings. Partners with NHS on the Better Basement Units manual and serves an adjacent but distinct niche (larger multifamily vs. 1-4 unit focus).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nhschicago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago