United Community Housing Coalition

What United Community Housing Coalition does

United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, providing free housing assistance, legal advocacy, and homeownership support exclusively to low-income Detroit residents. Its service portfolio is organized around three pillars: (1) Eviction Defense and Right to Counsel, delivering free legal representation and advice to tenants in 36th District Court (8,378 landlord/tenant cases represented or advised in FY2025); (2) Homeownership and Foreclosure Prevention, encompassing counseling, the Make It Home zero-percent-interest affordable purchase program (1,300+ homeowners created since 2017), the Land Contract Buyout program, tax-foreclosure prevention, and home-repair services (3,444 clients assisted in FY2025); and (3) Housing Stability and Tenant Organizing, providing case management and advocacy (1,695 clients in FY2025). UCHC operates with a 51–100 headcount, supplemented by volunteer counselors and pro bono partners, and delivers services through court-based staff at 36th District Court, three dedicated phone helplines, in-person office counseling, and co-hosted community events with the Wayne County Treasurer's Office and local partners.

UCHC has no proprietary technology platform; its stack consists of a Wix-based public website, a Client Portal for Make It Home loan payments with automated email/SMS reminders, and standard phone/intake workflows. The organization's competitive position rests on five decades of institutional knowledge in Detroit's housing system, deep relationships with the 36th District Court and Wayne County Treasurer, and its instrumental role in passing Michigan's first municipal Right to Counsel ordinance in 2022.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic means — foundation grants (Gilbert Family Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Rocket Community Fund, McGregor Fund, Enterprise Community Foundation, Jaison and Jamie Robinson Family Foundation, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, DTE Energy Foundation, United Way for Southeastern Michigan), corporate sponsorships, City of Detroit contracts tied to Right to Counsel, and individual donations activated through annual fundraising campaigns such as the Rocket Community Challenge and 50th Anniversary match. All services are provided free of charge to income-eligible families and individuals; there is no pricing model, no fee-for-service revenue, and no commercial monetization. The customer base consists of low-income Detroit renters and homeowners at or below 200% of area poverty level, and end-user concentration is intentionally broad across tenants and homeowners rather than concentrated in any single commercial buyer.

Name

United Community Housing Coalition

Legal name

United Community Housing Coalition

Website

https://uchcdetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

United Community Housing Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 in Detroit that provides free eviction defense, foreclosure prevention, and homeownership programs (Make It Home, Land Contract Buyout) to low-income Detroit renters and homeowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Housing Assistance Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Housing assistance services
• Eviction defense
• Foreclosure prevention
• Homeownership counseling
• Tenant legal advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: UCHC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. Services are provided to income-eligible families free of charge. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns including the annual Rocket Community Challenge and the 50 Years of Keeping Detroit Housed campaign with a $50,000 match challenge.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

UCHC provides free housing assistance services to income-eligible Detroit residents through three core pillars: (1) Eviction Defense and Right to Counsel — legal representation for low-income tenants at 36th District Court; (2) Homeownership and Foreclosure Prevention — counseling, the Make It Home affordable purchase program offering zero-percent interest loans, and the Land Contract Buyout program; and (3) Housing Stability and Tenant Organizing — case management, referrals, and community organizing for displaced residents. All services are delivered free of charge to qualifying individuals and families.

Product overview

United Community Housing Coalition is a nonprofit housing assistance organization offering a comprehensive suite of services to prevent eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness among Detroit's low-income residents. The organization's core service portfolio centers on three main pillars: (1) Eviction Defense & Right to Counsel, providing free legal representation for tenants in court; (2) Homeownership & Foreclosure Prevention, including counseling, the Make It Home affordable purchase program, and the Land Contract Buyout Program; and (3) Housing Stability & Tenant Organizing, offering case management and community advocacy. Supporting these core offerings are Tax Foreclosure Prevention services, Home Repair Services, and a Client Portal for online payments and resource access. All services are provided to income-eligible families free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Make It Home: Affordable home purchase program that gives residents in foreclosed homes the chance to buy the house they live in through zero-percent interest loans, without credit checks or down payments.
• Right to Counsel
• Land Contract Buyout Program

Products and services

• Eviction Defense & Right to Counsel Free legal representation and advice for low-income Detroit renters facing eviction proceedings in 36th District Court, delivered under Detroit's Right to Counsel ordinance. Includes eligibility screening, on-site court representation, and counsel for landlord-tenant matters.
• Homeownership & Foreclosure Prevention Counseling and assistance services helping Detroit homeowners avoid foreclosure, remain in their homes, and access pathways to homeownership. Includes mortgage foreclosure prevention and homeownership counseling.
• Tax Foreclosure Prevention Counseling and assistance services including the Homeowner's Property Exemption application process to help Detroit homeowners reduce or eliminate property tax obligations and avoid tax foreclosure.
• Make It Home Program Affordable home purchase program that provides zero-percent interest loans to residents living in foreclosed homes, enabling them to purchase their residence before the annual Wayne County Treasurer's Auction. No credit checks or down payments required. Has helped over 1,300 families become homeowners since launch.
• Land Contract Buyout Program Financial assistance program providing funds (average loan ~$16,000 per household) to help low-income Detroit residents trapped in unfavorable land contracts renegotiate or pay off these contracts and secure stable, affordable homeownership.
• Home Repair Services Repair services for low-income Detroit homeowners to keep homes safe, livable, and owner-occupied, preventing displacement and preserving generational housing.
• Housing Stability & Tenant Organizing Case management, referrals, and community organizing services helping displaced Detroit residents find housing, organize to defend their rights, and access available community resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,378 landlord/tenant cases represented or advised in FY2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Legal Services (MLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MLS is a key partner in the Right to Counsel program alongside UCHC, Lakeshore Legal Aid, and Legal Aid and Defender Association. MLS provides legal representation and advocacy for low-income Detroiters facing eviction.
• Lakeshore Legal Aid (LLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022LLA is a partner in the Right to Counsel program, providing free legal aid to low-income Detroiters in housing matters including eviction defense and foreclosure prevention.
• Legal Aid and Defender Association (LADA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022LADA is a partner in the Right to Counsel program, collaborating with UCHC, MLS, and LLA to provide legal representation for low-income Detroit tenants.
• City of DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The City of Detroit's Office of Eviction Defense partnered with UCHC and legal aid organizations to implement the Right to Counsel program, guaranteeing free legal representation for low-income tenants facing eviction in 36th District Court. The City also partners with UCHC on the Make It Home program.
• Lakeshore Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on UCHC's Get Involved page, providing legal aid services in housing matters.
• University of Michigan Poverty LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Michigan Poverty Lab is listed as a partner organization.
• HAND (Honest, Accessible, Natural Development)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAND is listed as a partner organization in Detroit's housing development community.
• Michigan Poverty Law ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Poverty Law Program is listed as a partner organization.
• Gleaners Community Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGleaners Community Food Bank hosted the 2025 Women's Power Breakfast, attended by four UCHC women leaders. Both organizations share missions of supporting Detroit families facing crises, with UCHC addressing housing and Gleaners addressing food insecurity.
• Outlier MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutlier Media co-hosted the March 2025 tax foreclosure refund assistance event with UCHC and the Wayne County Treasurer's Office at Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization dedicated to expanding housing for the lowest-income households — thematically aligned with UCHC's mission and a relevant policy peer for benchmarking UCHC's RTC advocacy work.

Direct peers

• The Community Builders: National nonprofit developer/manager of affordable housing with operations in Detroit — comparable affordable-housing-creation mission and overlapping target populations, particularly around LIHTC and HUD-supported housing.
• Cass Community Social Services: Detroit 501(c)(3) providing housing, food, and social services to low-income residents — directly comparable nonprofit service mix, geography, and target population to UCHC.
• Lakeshore Legal Aid: Michigan legal aid nonprofit co-partner with UCHC in Detroit's Right to Counsel program; provides overlapping free legal representation in landlord-tenant and foreclosure matters for low-income residents, directly comparable mission and service lines.
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries: Detroit-based nonprofit addressing homelessness and housing instability through emergency shelter and supportive services — adjacent segment of the same low-income housing continuum in which UCHC operates.
• Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan: Michigan nonprofit legal aid organization focused on housing stability and homelessness prevention — same legal-services-for-low-income-populations niche as UCHC's eviction defense work.
• Legal Aid and Defender Association (LADA): Detroit-based legal aid organization and core Right to Counsel partner with UCHC, delivering free civil legal services (housing, family, public benefits) to indigent clients — same operating geography and overlapping client base with UCHC.
• Michigan Legal Services: Statewide legal aid and advocacy partner to UCHC in the Right to Counsel coalition; provides housing-related legal representation to low-income Michiganders, closely comparable function and funding model.

Regional players

• Capital Area Housing Collaborative (Lansing): Michigan-focused housing nonprofit operating outside Detroit with comparable housing counseling and foreclosure prevention services; useful regional comparable for assessing whether UCHC's model is exportable.

Emerging players

• Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM): Statewide nonprofit supporting community development and affordable housing across Michigan — broader geographic remit but overlapping mission around affordable housing creation and foreclosure prevention in communities UCHC serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/uchcdetroit.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UCHCDetroit
• Facebookfacebook.com/uchcdetroit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uchc
• Instagraminstagram.com/uchc_detroit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 United Community Housing Coalition