Community Contacts

What Community Contacts does

Community Contacts, Inc. (CCI) is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) social services organization founded in 1978 (originating as Senior Planning and Services in 1974 under the Aurora Area United Way) and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. CCI serves income-eligible households across Kane and DeKalb counties by administering six core programs: the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP), the Housing Rehabilitation Program (1,000+ homes completed since 1995), the Purchase/Rehab/Resale Program, the Affordable Rental Program (13 single-family homes), and the Low Income Discount Rate (LIDR) administered in partnership with Nicor Gas (and pending ComEd). Delivery occurs through three physical intake offices (Elgin HQ, Dekalb, Aurora), a network of partner intake sites, and a web-based online application portal — with bilingual (English/Spanish) support. Housing Continuum, Inc. (HCI), a separate 501(c)(3) Community Housing Development Organization established in 1997, operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on affordable housing development and is governed by an independent board one-third composed of target-group representatives.

The organization's revenue is derived from federal- and state-administered grants (Illinois DCEO, IHDA, Kane County), utility partnership arrangements (Nicor Gas, ComEd), and modest rental income plus application fees ($30 application fee, $250 pet fee) from owned single-family rental homes. Programs are means-tested against household income thresholds tied to area median income (60% AMI for LIHEAP) and federal poverty levels (LIDR tiers from 0–300% FPL), with rents capped at 30% of household income for affordable rentals. There is no disclosed headcount, no venture or philanthropic funding rounds in the data, no AI/ML capabilities, and no commercial customer base — operations are sustained by ongoing government contract awards and program appropriations.

Strategically, CCI's positioning is defined by its exclusive Local Administering Agency designation for LIHEAP in Kane and DeKalb counties and its 47-year community tenure since 1978, which together produce a defensible, if geographically bounded, social services franchise. The organization's near-term expansion is concentrated on the ComEd LIDR rollout (anticipated January 2026), modest Affordable Rental inventory growth via Housing Continuum Inc., and widening Housing Rehabilitation eligibility thresholds effective 6/1/2026 — with no indication of geographic expansion beyond the two-county service area.

Name

Community Contacts

Legal name

Community Contacts, Inc.

Website

https://cci-hci.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Contacts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit administering federal- and state-funded energy assistance, weatherization, housing rehabilitation, and affordable rental programs for income-eligible households across Kane and DeKalb counties in Illinois, operating from three intake offices since 1978.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services - Energy and Housing Assistance

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Energy assistance programs
• Home weatherization services
• Housing rehabilitation programs
• Affordable rental housing
• Utility bill assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from federal and state government programs including LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP), and housing rehabilitation grants from Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and Kane County
2. Affordable Rental Program: Revenue from rental payments for 13 single-family homes owned by Housing Continuum Affordable Rental Program in Kane County. Rents do not exceed 30% of household income. Income guidelines cap initial tenants at 60% of median income and subsequent years at 80%
3. Application and Processing Fees: Application fee of $30 for rental program covering background checks. Pet fees of $250 per pet (non-refundable). Security deposit and first month's rent collected at lease signing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Community Contacts is a non-profit social services organization delivering energy assistance, home weatherization, and housing rehabilitation programs to income-eligible households in Kane and DeKalb counties, Illinois. The organization administers LIHEAP utility bill payments, IHWAP free home energy conservation upgrades, housing rehabilitation grants and loans, affordable single-family rental housing, and utility discount rate programs for low-income residents. Services are delivered through three physical offices, an online application portal, and partner intake sites.

Product overview

Community Contacts Inc. is a non-profit social services organization offering a coordinated suite of housing and energy assistance programs serving Kane and DeKalb counties in Illinois. The core programs include: LIHEAP (utility bill assistance with Standard, Emergency Furnace, Reconnection, and PIPP components), IHWAP (free home weatherization including insulation, sealing, and heating system upgrades), Housing Rehabilitation (grants/low-interest loans for owner-occupied home repairs), Purchase/Rehab/Resale (acquiring and reselling foreclosed properties to eligible buyers), Affordable Rental (13 single-family homes at income-based rents), and LIDR (utility discount rates for Nicor Gas customers). These programs are delivered through both online portals and in-person intake sites, with Housing Continuum Inc. operating as a separate 501c3 subsidiary focused on affordable housing development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) One-time utility bill assistance program helping income-eligible households pay for heat, gas, electricity, and furnace repair. Includes Standard LIHEAP, Emergency Furnace Replacement, Reconnection Assistance, and Percentage of Income Payment Program components. Eligibility at or below 60% of area median income.
• Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) Energy conservation program providing free home improvements including air sealing, attic/wall insulation, weather-stripping, LED bulbs, and furnace/water heater/air conditioner repair/replacement for eligible homeowners and renters. Free of charge for eligible households.
• Housing Rehabilitation Program Grant and low-interest loan program rehabilitating owner-occupied homes in Kane County (excluding Aurora) to meet local housing standards. Over 1,000 home rehabilitations completed since 1995.
• Purchase/Rehab/Resale Program Program through Housing Continuum Inc. that purchases foreclosed or substandard properties, rehabilitates them, and sells to income-eligible homebuyers.
• Affordable Rental Program Program owning thirteen single-family homes (3-5 bedrooms) in South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, and North Aurora. Renting to qualified families at rents not exceeding 30% of household income. Includes $30 application fee and $250 per pet fee.
• Low Income Discount Rate (LIDR) Monthly utility discount program for Nicor Gas customers providing tiered discounts based on household income as percentage of Federal Poverty Level: Tier 1 (0-50% FPL): 75% off, Tier 2 (51-100% FPL): 55% off, Tier 3 (101-150% FPL): 25% off, Tier 4 (151-200% FPL): 10% off, Tier 5 (201-300% FPL): 5% off. Discount eligible for 2 years once approved.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 homes rehabilitated since 1995
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Nicor GascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner for Low Income Discount Rate (LIDR) program. Nicor Gas provides monthly bill discounts (5-75% based on income tier) to eligible LIHEAP applicants. Community Contacts notifies Nicor of eligible customers who receive automatic discounts on billing cycles.
• ComEdsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectric utility partner. ComEd has filed a Low Income Discount Rate proposal with Illinois Commerce Commission for potential electric bill discounts. LIDR for electric anticipated to begin January 2026.
• Housing Continuum Inc. (HCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate 501c3 corporation established by Community Contacts in 1997 as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). HCI operates Purchase/Rehab/Resale Program and Affordable Rental Program with one-third board composition from target group representatives.
• Partner InTake SitessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of intake sites throughout service area that assist households with LIHEAP applications, including undocumented residents who may lack SSN or ITIN. Sites help complete applications and provide documentation assistance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator serving low-income and elderly households. Comparable to CCI in elderly/low-income focus and owned-rental portfolio orientation, though at multi-state scale.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National affordable housing nonprofit operating rehab, rehab-and-resale, and affordable homeownership programs. Comparable to CCI's Purchase/Rehab/Resale and Housing Rehabilitation lines, with far greater geographic scale.
• Community Action Partnership: National membership network of more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies including CCI's peers. Provides scale comparison for community-action governance, funding access, and federal CAA funding channels relevant to CCI's operating model.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing development and community development finance, working closely with HUD and state HFAs like IHDA. Comparable to CCI in affordable housing development orientation and federal funding relationships.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large Illinois social-services nonprofit providing housing, energy, and emergency assistance across multiple counties. Comparable in target population and broad service mix, with broader geographic reach than CCI.

Direct peers

• DuPage PADS: Housing-focused nonprofit serving DuPage County with shelter, housing stabilization, and rental assistance programs. Comparable to CCI in Illinois region, low-income housing focus, and reliance on county/state funding.
• Will County Center for Community Concerns: Community Action Agency and LIHEAP Local Administering Agency for Will County, Illinois, offering LIHEAP, weatherization, and housing-rehab programs to income-eligible households. Directly comparable to CCI in funding source mix, county-level scale, and integrated program model.
• Springfield Project Home: Sangamon County community action nonprofit administering housing rehabilitation, weatherization, and energy-assistance programs with similar county-grant funding profile to CCI.

Regional players

• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Regional food-assistance nonprofit serving the same northern Illinois geography as CCI. Comparable in regional nonprofit scale, donor/funding relationships, and shared low-income target population.

Others

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI financing community development, housing rehab, and small-business programs across Illinois. Comparable to CCI as a channel/funding intermediary rather than direct service provider; relevant peer for capital-stack dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CCIHCI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-contact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Community Contacts