Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation

What Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation does

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (CHAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1982 (originally as Denver Family Housing Corporation) and headquartered at 670 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, Colorado. The organization provides down payment and closing cost assistance loans, HUD-certified housing counseling, and first-time homebuyer education to low-to-moderate income households across the State of Colorado. CHAC's core product is a portfolio of second mortgage loans ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 at interest rates between 0% and 5%, structured as either an immediate payback product (e.g., 3% over 360 months) or a deferred payment product (e.g., 0% for 5 years, then 5% for 25 years), plus a specialized Disability Program offering up to $10,000 at 0% with 30-year deferred payment. Supporting products include online and site-based homebuyer education classes ($75 per person for online via e-Home and Framework; free site-based at the Denver office), mandatory pre-closing borrower counseling sessions, foreclosure prevention counseling, and loan servicing for CHAC and partner-agency originated loans.

CHAC holds multiple regulatory designations that constitute the structural foundation of its business: HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency, Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Local Development Corporation under Section 502 of the Small Business Development Act of 1958, FHA approval as an Instrumentality of Government, and Eligible Community Development Organization status under 24 CFR 570.204. The go-to-market model is a channel partner structure in which first mortgage lenders submit CHAC loan applications on behalf of borrowers, supplemented by free monthly lender and realtor training. Capital is sourced from Colorado DOLA Division of Housing, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, HUD, City and County of Denver HOST, Jefferson County, and several banking partners (Wells Fargo, US Bank, Bank of the West, Capital One, Key Bank, First Banks). CHAC does not operate proprietary technology platforms; service delivery is conducted through human counselors, manual loan processing, and in-person or phone-based education. Since 1982 the organization has assisted more than 10,000 first-time homebuyers and helped nearly 1,500 families avoid foreclosure, while operating with a small 1–10 employee headcount from its single Denver office.

Name

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation

Legal name

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation

Website

https://chaconline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (CHAC) is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing down payment assistance loans, HUD-certified housing counseling, and first-time homebuyer education to low-to-moderate income households across Colorado, operating since 1982 with a channel partner lender model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Assistance Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL)

Keywords

• Down payment assistance
• Homebuyer education
• Housing counseling
• Foreclosure prevention
• Nonprofit mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Down Payment Assistance Loans: CHAC provides low interest, flexible loans to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers for down payment and closing cost assistance. The loan is recorded as a second mortgage on the property. Loans range from $5,000 to $12,000, with interest rates from 0% to 5% and terms of 12.5 to 30 years. Revenue is generated through loan interest payments and fees.
2. Homebuyer Education Courses: CHAC offers online first-time homebuyer classes through e-Home ($75 per person) and Framework ($75 per person). Free site-based classes are also offered. Revenue is generated through course fees.
3. Borrower Counseling Sessions: Following loan commitment, borrowers must complete a CHAC borrower counseling session. This is a phone session required before closing, separate from the first-time homebuyer class.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (CHAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides low-interest down payment and closing cost assistance loans ($5,000–$12,000 at 0%–5% interest, 12.5- to 30-year terms) to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers statewide in Colorado, paired with required HUD-certified homebuyer education and housing counseling. The organization also delivers foreclosure prevention counseling, loan servicing for CHAC and partner agency loans, and free lender/realtor training.

Product overview

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (CHAC) operates as a unified nonprofit housing assistance organization offering a portfolio of interconnected homeownership programs. The core offerings include HUD-certified housing counseling and homebuyer education (both online via e-Home and Framework platforms, and free site-based classes), paired with down payment and closing cost assistance loans through the CHAC Statewide Programs (Immediate Payback and 5-Year Deferral options) and a specialized Disability Program. Supporting services include mandatory borrower counseling sessions, loan servicing for CHAC and partner agency loans, and free lender/realtor training. All services are delivered through CHAC's Denver office with operations throughout Colorado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home Buyer Education Comprehensive first-time homebuyer education program covering topics such as mortgage readiness, budgeting, and the home purchase process, delivered through online self-paced courses (e-Home and Framework) and free site-based classes at CHAC's Denver office, followed by a required 30-minute phone session. Completion provides a certificate required to qualify for CHAC down payment assistance. Targeted at low-to-moderate-income prospective first-time homebuyers in Colorado.
• Housing Counseling HUD-certified one-on-one and group counseling covering pre-purchase, mortgage delinquency, post-purchase, and foreclosure prevention topics, delivered by trained CHAC housing counselors via phone and in person. Available to Colorado residents seeking support before, during, or after homeownership.
• CHAC Statewide Program - Immediate Payback Down payment and closing cost assistance second mortgage loan of up to $12,000 (6% of sales price or appraised value, whichever is less) at a 3% interest rate, amortized over 360 months with monthly payments required from origination. Loan is recorded as a second mortgage on the property and closes in conjunction with the borrower's first mortgage. Designed for low-to-moderate-income first-time homebuyers in Colorado.
• CHAC Statewide Program - 5 Year Deferral Down payment and closing cost assistance second mortgage loan of up to $12,000 (6% of sales price or appraised value) structured as 0% interest with no payments for the first 5 years, followed by 5% interest amortized over the remaining 25 years. Loan is recorded as a second mortgage on the property. Available statewide in Colorado to eligible low-to-moderate-income first-time homebuyers.
• CHAC Disability Program Specialized down payment assistance second mortgage loan for persons with permanent disabilities or those with a child with a permanent disability (Social Security definition). Maximum loan of $10,000 at 0% interest (APR 1%) with a 30-year term, fully deferred with no payments required for the full 30 years, due on sale or transfer of the property. Available statewide in all Colorado counties, with income limits varying by county.
• Loan Servicing Payment processing, account management, and customer service for CHAC-originated loans as well as loans made by other agencies. Includes ACH payment setup, payoff statement requests, and verification of mortgage (VOM) services. Available to CHAC borrowers and partner agencies whose loans CHAC services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ first-time homebuyers assisted with down payments and closing costs since 1982
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Denver Metro Fair Housing CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair housing advocacy organization and referral partner for housing discrimination complaints.
• Denver Urban Renewal AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban development agency and strategic partner for housing revitalization in Denver.
• Denver Housing AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic housing authority and partner for affordable housing initiatives.
• Affordable Housing ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner for affordable housing development and programs.
• Wheatridge 2020minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development initiative partner for Wheatridge area.
• City of EnglewoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for housing programs in Englewood.
• Neighborhood Development CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition member for neighborhood development efforts.
• Colorado Housing Counseling CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition of housing counseling agencies.
• Colorado Foreclosure HOTLINEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide foreclosure prevention resource hotline partnership.
• Colorado Association of Non-ProfitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState nonprofit association membership and advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI that finances affordable housing and community development and was a founding partner of CHAC. Operates similar down payment assistance and lending programs through local affiliates, directly comparable in mission and product mix.
• GreenPath Financial Wellness: HUD-approved housing counseling agency offering pre-purchase counseling, financial education, and foreclosure prevention nationwide, competing for counseling referrals and grants in the same nonprofit housing space as CHAC.
• HomeFree-USA: HUD-certified national housing counseling agency providing pre-purchase counseling, down payment assistance coordination, and foreclosure prevention — closely aligned with CHAC's counseling-first, partner-driven model.
• Money Management International (MMI): National HUD-approved housing counseling agency delivering pre-purchase education, foreclosure prevention, and financial counseling across multiple states — overlapping CHAC's housing counseling and delinquency services.
• Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver: Affordable homeownership nonprofit serving the Denver metro with homebuyer education, counseling, and below-market purchase options for low- to moderate-income families — overlapping CHAC's target population and counseling model.

Broad incumbents

• NeighborWorks America: National network supporting 240+ affordable housing and community development nonprofits, including HUD-certified counseling agencies and CDFIs offering down payment assistance and homebuyer education comparable to CHAC's core programs.
• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC): Largest national umbrella for nonprofit credit and housing counseling agencies, many of which deliver HUD-certified pre-purchase and foreclosure counseling directly comparable to CHAC's counseling service line.
• Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA): State housing finance agency that is simultaneously a founding partner of CHAC and a direct competitor offering statewide down payment assistance, mortgage credit certificates, and homeownership programs in Colorado with greater scale and visibility.

Emerging players

• Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC): Regional CDFI serving rural and tribal communities with housing lending, counseling, and technical assistance — mission-comparable to CHAC's affordable housing focus though geographically focused on rural markets.

Others

• Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA): Listed strategic partner and Denver-area urban development authority working on affordable housing revitalization; adjacent rather than directly competing, but overlapping the same affordable housing ecosystem in Denver.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation