Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund

What Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund does

Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund (CLIHTF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established by Chicago City Council ordinance on June 28, 1989 and incorporated in February 1990. It administers the largest city-funded rental assistance program in the United States, serving more than 7,000 families across 57 of Chicago's 77 community areas through a network of 800+ landlord partners. Its core programs are the Rental Subsidy Program (RSP), a property-based model that pays quarterly rent subsidies to approved building owners on behalf of tenants earning at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), and MAUI (Multi-year Affordability through Upfront Investment), which provides interest-free forgivable loans to developers to lower rents in newly built or rehabilitated affordable units. Approximately 40% of subsidies are routed through social service partners serving homeless individuals, veterans, HIV/AIDS households, and families in transition, and more than half of program resources are reserved for households earning below 15% AMI.

The organization is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of Chicago and confirmed by City Council, and it serves as the Local Administering Agent for the State of Illinois Rental Housing Support Program (RHSP). Funding flows from the City of Chicago, State of Illinois (including RHSP), federal HUD grants, and HOME allocations, supplemented by a fundraising-driven Emergency Tenant Fund for crisis assistance not covered by traditional grants. Its technology stack is limited to the Trust Fund Central owner portal — a self-service system for landlords to submit documents, payment requests, and complete training — transitioned from the prior CLINKED portal in July 2022. No proprietary AI/ML products, patents, or research capabilities are evidenced.

Go-to-market is community-led and partner-mediated: property owners (both non-profit and for-profit) apply directly, complete inspections, and sign annual renewable agreements; social service agencies refer eligible clients and provide supportive services; tenants locate participating buildings directly without a centralized waiting list. Outreach is conducted via biweekly informational webinars in English and Spanish, an annual fundraising reception, a monthly "First Friday" blog, email newsletters, and a modest social media presence. The organization is headquartered in Chicago, IL (77 West Washington Street, Suite 719), employs 11–50 staff, and as of May 18, 2026 is led by newly appointed Executive Director Jodi Gingiss Baiyat.

Name

Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund

Legal name

Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund

Website

https://clihtf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund (CLIHTF) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, created by City Council ordinance in 1989, that administers the nation's largest city-funded rental assistance program for very low-income households, partnering with 800+ landlords across 57 community areas to deliver property-based rental subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Rental Subsidies

NAICS

Rental and Leasing Services (532)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Fair Housing, Compliance & Housing Program Oversight (FSALAKAN)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Rental subsidies
• Low-income housing
• Housing assistance
• Property-based subsidies

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and City/State Funding: CLIHTF is primarily funded through city and state resources. The organization receives funding from the City of Chicago, State of Illinois (including Rental Housing Support Program funds), and federal sources (HUD grants, HOME allocation). These funds are used specifically for rent payments and cannot cover other urgent housing needs.
2. Donations and Fundraising: CLIHTF conducts fundraising campaigns including an annual fundraising reception and 2026 fundraising drive with a $100,000 goal. Donations support the Emergency Tenant Fund which provides wraparound services and emergency assistance not covered by traditional housing funding sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CLIHTF provides property-based rental subsidies to qualified building owners in Chicago, bridging the gap between what low-income households (at or below 30% AMI) can afford and market-rate rent. The subsidies stay with the approved building unit rather than the tenant, ensuring stable rent income for property owners while delivering housing stability for very low-income families.

Product overview

Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund (CLIHTF) is a non-profit organization offering two core housing programs: the Rental Subsidy Program (RSP), a property-based initiative that provides rent subsidies to building owners to make units affordable for households earning at or below 30% of area median income, and the MAUI (Multi-year Affordability through Upfront Investment) program that provides developer financing for affordable housing creation. The Trust Fund Central owner portal enables property owners to manage applications, payments, and compliance. CLIHTF also operates several special initiatives targeting homeless individuals, veterans, people with HIV/AIDS, and families in transition, along with an Emergency Tenant Fund for crisis assistance. All programs serve Chicago's lowest-income residents, with subsidies tied to properties rather than portable for tenants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RSP (Rental Subsidy Program): Property-based rental subsidy program providing rent subsidies to owners of qualified buildings to reduce rents for citizens who make less than 30 percent of area median income (AMI).
• MAUI (Multi-year Affordability through Upfront Investment)

Products and services

• Rental Subsidy Program (RSP) The main property-based rental subsidy program that provides rent subsidies to qualified building owners in Chicago to reduce rents for low-income households earning at or below 30% of area median income. The subsidy stays with the property unit rather than the tenant.
• MAUI (Multi-year Affordability through Upfront Investment)

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ families housed through Rental Subsidy Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lawndale Christian Legal CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner providing housing to people recently charged with crimes. Partnership with CLIHTF helps get individuals and families into safe housing upon release.
• Chicago Public Schools (CPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partner in CPS Families in Transition (FIT) Initiative to ensure housing stability for 100 CPS families living in shelters or doubled-up in specific Chicago neighborhoods.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017State government partner for New Start/New Home initiative assisting welfare-to-work families with rental subsidies and Section 8 vouchers.
• Puerto Rico Evacuee InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Emergency housing initiative allocating $500,000 in subsidies to support up to 45 homeless or doubled-up families displaced by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
• FeatherfistcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in Veterans Initiative providing housing and supportive services to U.S. Military Veterans suffering from chronic homelessness. 78 veterans housed through this partnership as of February 2016.
• Center for Housing & HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partner in Homeward Bound initiative (formerly Street-to-Home) focused on housing unsheltered homeless single adults. Provides outreach and supportive services focused on housing retention.
• Franciscan Outreach AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partner in Homeward Bound initiative providing supportive services to homeless individuals and connecting them to permanent housing.
• City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Primary government partner for Homeless Dedicated Initiative and other programs. Provides oversight, funding coordination, and connection to city-wide efforts to end homelessness. CLIHTF serves as partner in Chicago's Plan to End Homelessness.
• Catholic CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing supportive services to homeless individuals and families in the Homeless Dedicated Initiative. Helps households obtain and maintain permanent housing status.
• Deborah's PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner in Homeless Dedicated Initiative providing housing and supportive services to women experiencing homelessness.
• HOW (Housing Opportunities for Women)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing supportive housing services to homeless women and children through the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• Inner Voice, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing supportive services to homeless individuals through the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• Inspiration CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing supportive services including housing assistance and workforce development through the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• La Casa NorteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner serving youth and families experiencing homelessness in the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• North Side Housing and Supportive ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing housing and supportive services to homeless individuals and families in the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• Primo Center for Women & ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing shelter and supportive services to women and children experiencing homelessness through the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• Renaissance Social Services, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner providing supportive services to homeless individuals and families in the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• ThresholdscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Major social service partner providing psychiatric rehabilitation and supportive housing services. Participates in Homeless Dedicated Initiative and Homeward Bound program serving chronically homeless individuals.
• Heartland Human Care Services/Heartland AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Social service partner (Second Chance initiative) providing supportive services to homeless individuals through the Homeless Dedicated Initiative.
• City of Chicago, Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Government partner for HIV/AIDS Initiative working with CLIHTF and AIDS Foundation of Chicago to provide permanent housing opportunities to households living with HIV/AIDS.
• AIDS Foundation of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Non-profit partner for HIV/AIDS Initiative providing advocacy and coordination for housing services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Chicago Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Partner in New Start/New Home initiative for welfare-to-work families; CLIHTF provides RSP subsidy for first six months followed by Section 8 vouchers through CHA.
• Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989State housing finance agency; CLIHTF named Local Administering Agent for State Rental Housing Support Program (RHSP) funds. In 2005, State legislation based on RHSP model projected to raise $10 million annually.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator serving low-income households. Comparable as a larger, established nonprofit operating affordable housing programs for very low-income populations across multiple states.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit providing financing, development, and policy advocacy for affordable housing. Comparable as a larger, multi-state organization in the affordable housing nonprofit space, with active Chicago presence.

Emerging players

• AIDS Foundation of Chicago: Direct partner of CLIHTF on the HIV/AIDS Initiative providing housing advocacy and coordination. Comparable as a Chicago nonprofit addressing housing stability for a specific vulnerable cohort (people living with HIV/AIDS).

Regional players

• Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation: Chicago-based nonprofit community development corporation developing and managing affordable housing on the north and west sides. Comparable as a Chicago-focused affordable housing nonprofit, though focused on development rather than subsidy administration.

Others

• National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC): National advocacy organization focused on affordable housing policy and federal funding. Comparable as a sector peer addressing low-income housing access, though operating in policy/advocacy rather than direct subsidy administration.

Direct peers

• Community Investment Corporation (CIC): Chicago-based nonprofit lender financing affordable rental housing through acquisition/rehab lending. Comparable as a nonprofit housing finance organization serving the same Chicago affordable housing ecosystem.
• Chicago Housing Authority (CHA): Administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program and public housing in Chicago. Directly comparable as a Chicago-focused affordable housing subsidy administrator; CHA's portable vouchers are the primary alternative to CLIHTF's property-based model.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago: National CDFI with deep Chicago presence providing financing and capacity-building for affordable housing developers. Comparable as a nonprofit intermediary channeling capital and support into low-income housing in Chicago.
• Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA): State housing finance agency that administers affordable housing financing across Illinois, including the Rental Housing Support Program for which CLIHTF is the Local Administering Agent. Direct peer in administering state-level affordable housing subsidies.
• Cook County Housing Authority: Administers subsidized housing programs for suburban Cook County residents outside Chicago. Comparable as a regional public housing authority operating rental assistance programs for low-income households.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clihtf
• Facebookfacebook.com/Chicago-Low-Income-Housing-Trust-Fund-597079664148857
• Instagraminstagram.com/clihtf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund