Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation

What Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation does

Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation (SCDHC) is a nonprofit community development corporation founded on March 25, 1988 by church members in Richmond's Old South District, headquartered at 1624 Hull Street in Richmond, Virginia, with additional offices in Petersburg (714 High Street, Suite A), Emporia (111 Baker Street), and Encinitas, California (144 West D Street, #104) for its Neighborhood Stabilization Outcomes program. The organization develops affordable single-family homes and rental housing and delivers HUD-approved housing counseling, financial coaching, employment placement, benefits support, digital literacy training, and eviction prevention services to low- and moderate-income households (up to 80% AMI and above) across Central Virginia. SCDHC reports it has developed over 450 affordable single-family homes—described as one of the largest single-family nonprofit housing developers in the Richmond Metro Area—and operates a supportive rental portfolio that includes Sandston Plateau Senior Apartments (100 units), Townhomes at Warwick Place Phase I (40 three-bedroom units), 714 High Street Apartments (10 units), and the in-progress 712 High Street development (12 units, Petersburg).

SCDHC's core programs are the Homeownership Center (pre-purchase counseling, down payment assistance, foreclosure prevention), the Financial Opportunity Center® (financial coaching, employment placement, benefits coaching, digital literacy—launched in 2019 as Virginia's first English/Spanish bilingual FOC with LISC Virginia and Altria), the Eviction Diversion Program (court navigation and emergency rent assistance, launched October 2024 with City of Richmond backing), and Neighborhood Stabilization Outcomes (a homeowner-oriented program extending to Encinitas, California). Down payment and rate assistance is delivered through layered programs including SPARC (1% rate reduction via Virginia Housing), VIDA Match ($10:$1 match up to $10,000), and partner-funded grants (City of Richmond up to $30,000, Amandla Fund up to $20,000). SCDHC has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery runs on standard nonprofit tooling including Squarespace, Microsoft Forms, and HUD-compliant counseling systems.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of foundation, corporate, government, and individual giving—including grants from HUD (since 1998), Virginia DHCD, Fannie Mae, Wells Fargo (including the 2022 WORTH BIPOC Initiative targeting 5,000 BIPOC homeowners by 2025), Truist, Capital One, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Lotus Impact Bank, Fulton Bank/Fulton Forward Foundation, Bon Secours, United Way, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, Amandla Fund for Economic & Racial Justice, the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, the Cameron Foundation, and the Weissberg Foundation—plus rental income from owned properties, monthly recurring individual donations ($10/month tier), one-time gifts, and ACH transfers. Go-to-market is community-led: workshops, housing fairs, employer-based events (City of Emporia, Rosie's Gaming Emporia), faith-based outreach, and one-on-one counseling across the Richmond Metro Area, Petersburg, and Emporia. President and CEO Dianna Bowser has led SCDHC since 2012 after joining in 2001.

Name

Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation

Legal name

Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation

Website

https://scdhc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation (SCDHC) is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1988 that develops affordable single-family and rental housing and delivers HUD-approved homeownership counseling, financial coaching, employment services, and eviction prevention to low- and moderate-income households in Central Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Development

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Housing counseling services
• Homeownership education
• Financial coaching programs
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation, Corporate, and Government Grants: SCDHC is a nonprofit organization that funds its operations through grants and charitable donations from foundations (e.g., Amandla Fund for Economic & Racial Justice, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation), government entities (Virginia DHCD, City of Richmond, Henrico County), and corporate partners (Wells Fargo, Truist Bank, Capital One). Revenue is used to fund affordable housing development, housing counseling services, and the Financial Opportunity Center program.
2. Donations: SCDHC accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations, with monthly recurring donation options ($10/month), one-time donations ($100), and ACH/bank account options for larger gifts. Donations support the organization's mission of building viable, thriving, and sustainable communities through affordable housing and financial empowerment services.
3. Affordable Housing Development: SCDHC develops affordable single-family homes and multifamily rental properties (e.g., Sandston Plateau Senior Apartments, Townhomes at Warwick Place, 714 High Street Apartments). Revenue is generated through home sales to eligible buyers and rental income from supportive housing properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCDHC is a nonprofit community development organization that builds and develops affordable single-family homes and rental housing properties for low- and moderate-income households in Central Virginia. The organization operates a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency providing pre-purchase counseling, down payment assistance, foreclosure prevention, and an Eviction Diversion Program, alongside a Financial Opportunity Center® Program delivering bilingual financial coaching, employment services, and benefits support.

Product overview

Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation (SCDHC) offers a coordinated suite of affordable housing and financial empowerment services rather than a single tech product. The core offerings include Affordable Housing Development (building single-family homes), the Financial Opportunity Center® Program (financial/employment coaching), and the HUD-Approved Homeownership Center (pre-purchase counseling, down payment assistance, foreclosure prevention). These programs are supported by the Eviction Diversion Program, VIDA Match Program, SPARC Program, and educational Workshops. SCDHC also manages Supportive Rental Housing properties. Together, these services form an integrated pathway from housing instability to sustainable homeownership, combining direct housing development with wraparound counseling and financial coaching services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Financial Opportunity Center® Program: Coaches and educates families and individuals through virtual classes in finance, employment, benefits, and digital literacy. Provides employment and career counseling, benefits income support, and one-on-one financial coaching.
• Homeownership Center
• Eviction Diversion Program

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Development Building affordable single-family homes and developing affordable rental housing properties for low- and moderate-income households in Central Virginia through partnerships with local builders. SCDHC has developed over 450 affordable single-family homes.
• Financial Opportunity Center® Program Virginia's first English/Spanish bilingual Financial Opportunity Center Program providing virtual classes and one-on-one coaching in four interconnected areas: finance, employment, benefits, and digital literacy. Helps clients build credit, savings, and assets through employment and career counseling, benefits income support, and financial coaching.
• Homeownership Center HUD-Approved Homeownership Center providing pre-purchase housing counseling, down payment assistance, foreclosure prevention services, and post-purchase counseling to help first-time and first-generation homebuyers prepare for homeownership through education and financial counseling.
• Eviction Diversion Program City of Richmond program providing emergency financial assistance, rental counseling, court navigation services, and landlord/tenant rights education to help eligible tenants stay in their homes. Works with both tenants and landlords to prevent eviction.
• Supportive Rental Housing Affordable rental housing properties including Sandston Plateau Senior Apartments (100-unit senior housing, operating since 2007), 714 High Street Apartments (10 units in Petersburg), and Townhomes at Warwick Place (40 three-bedroom townhomes in Richmond's Southside), providing wrap-around supportive services.
• Neighborhood Stabilization Outcomes (NSO)
• Workshops Educational workshops including First Time Homebuyer Education, Credit & Money Management, Eviction Diversion Program Information Workshop, and Down Payment Assistance Information Workshop, available in English and Spanish both in-person and virtually.
• SPARC Program Virginia Housing program providing a 1% mortgage interest rate reduction to eligible first-time homebuyers through approved lenders, increasing purchasing power.
• VIDA Match Program Virginia Individual Development Accounts program helping qualified individuals save for a down payment on a home. Provides $10 match for every $1 saved, up to $10,000 in match funding.
• Down Payment Assistance Down payment assistance for Henrico County and City of Richmond residents, helping qualified buyers with funds to purchase their first home (e.g., $30,000 from City of Richmond, $20,000 grants).
• Foreclosure Prevention HUD-approved foreclosure intervention counseling providing assessment, recommendations based on government or lender programs, and assistance drafting a plan to suit current financial situations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 450 affordable single-family homes developed; thousands of families helped purchase homes through HUD-approved housing counseling
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• LISC VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLISC Virginia is a key strategic partner in SCDHC's Financial Opportunity Center Program. In 2019, SCDHC and LISC Virginia launched Virginia's first English/Spanish bilingual Financial Opportunity Center Program, with funding and programmatic support from LISC and Altria.
• Virginia HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Housing (formerly VHDA) partners with SCDHC on the SPARC Program (1% mortgage interest rate reduction for eligible first-time homebuyers) and the VIDA Match Program ($10:$1 match on savings up to $10,000). Virginia Housing is also a co-host of the 712 High Street groundbreaking in Petersburg.
• Crater Planning District CommissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrater Planning District Commission partnered on the 712 High Street development project in Petersburg, supporting the affordable housing development.
• Gerald Burr, Jr. / Canterbury EnterprisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCDHC partnered with Gerald Burr, Jr. of Canterbury Enterprises on multifamily development projects including 70 attached townhomes (2013) and the second phase of Warwick Townhomes (2021), partially funded through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
• Bon SecourssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBon Secours Community Benefits Investments is a funding partner supporting SCDHC's community health and housing stability programs.
• George Mason MortgagesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeorge Mason Mortgage is a lender partner participating in SCDHC's community homebuyer events and housing fairs, providing mortgage financing options to SCDHC clients.
• TowneBanksupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTowneBank is a lender partner participating in SCDHC's Emporia Housing Fair and community events, providing mortgage options to SCDHC clients.
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of VAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOME of VA is a referral and advocacy partner, providing free assistance to individuals who have experienced housing discrimination. SCDHC directs clients experiencing discrimination to HOME of VA for legal support.
• CPDC (Community Partnerships for People with Disabilities)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPDC is a community partner working alongside SCDHC in affordable housing and community development initiatives.
• HumanasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumana co-hosted wellness events (chair Zumba) at Sandston Plateau Senior Apartments alongside SCDHC, demonstrating partnership between healthcare and housing sectors.
• InnovAge PACEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovAge PACE partnered with SCDHC for the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade and senior wellness programming at Sandston Plateau Senior Apartments, combining housing with senior care services.
• Virginia Cooperative ExtensionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Cooperative Extension (led by Board Chair Twandra Lomax-Brown) provides family and consumer sciences education, contributing to SCDHC's financial literacy and community education efforts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: Large national nonprofit affordable housing developer combining multifamily rental development with resident services programs, similar to SCDHC's supportive rental + wraparound services approach but at substantially greater scale.
• NeighborWorks America: National network that funds and trains HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and nonprofit housing developers like SCDHC, with broader geographic coverage.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Parent-level nonprofit affordable housing developer and HUD counseling participant with a national scale and brand reach that dwarfs SCDHC's regional operation but operates a directly comparable model.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National CDFI combining affordable housing development with place-based programs (similar to SCDHC's FOC), but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Others

• Virginia Housing (VHDA): State housing finance agency that partners with SCDHC on the SPARC (1% rate reduction) and VIDA Match (10:1 savings match) programs. Functions as upstream funding/enabler rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America): National nonprofit combining HUD-style housing counseling, down payment assistance, and below-market mortgages for low/moderate-income homebuyers — overlapping SCDHC's SPARC, VIDA, and Homeownership Center offerings at national scale.
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia: Virginia-based fair housing nonprofit with which SCDHC directly refers discrimination clients. Operates in the same housing-equity advocacy and counseling space regionally.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National CDFI that finances affordable housing and community development and is itself SCDHC's partner on the bilingual Financial Opportunity Center Program. Operates an overlapping model of funding + capacity-building for community development nonprofits.
• Rebuilding Together: National nonprofit that rehabilitates homes for low-income homeowners and pairs repair work with counseling services — a closely analogous model to SCDHC's supportive housing + housing-counseling stack.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Richmond: Affordable single-family housing developer and HUD counseling participant serving the same Richmond Metro region with a comparable volunteer + homeowner partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scdhc
• Xx.com/scdhc804
• Facebookfacebook.com/scdhc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation