About CHN
Believing in the Power of a Permanent Address
In 1981 a group of community development corporations (CDCs) joined together to address housing abandonment and the lack of affordable housing in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. They formed the Cleveland Housing Network to salvage vacant homes and create a pathway to home ownership for low-income neighborhood residents. Since then, our organization has evolved and changed significantly— including our name.
In 1987 CHN used the newly created Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to create the LIHTC-based Lease Purchase Program, a 15-year pathway to home ownership for families who could not afford to purchase. Over the years we expanded into multi-family and Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), partnered with organizations to deliver large-scale housing resources to the community, and opened a community resource center for housing and financial counseling.
Today we develop an average 170 affordable homes each year and serve 60,000 families annually through nearly 20 housing stability services.
CHN also partners with other housing owners and organizations in parts of Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania where the need for affordable housing exists but capacity does not. By addressing the most critical housing needs of our region, we are better positioned to impact quality of life, create equitable communities, and increase opportunities for low-income and underserved communities.
