Community Housing Services Agency, Inc.

CHSA’s mission is to facilitate the retention, improvement and development of affordable quality housing and neighborhoods through innovative investments, partnerships and financial services.

CHSA’s primary goals are:

1. Increase financing opportunities that create or retain affordable housing units in Chatham County.

2. Increase the rate of homeownership for individuals and families earning low-to-moderate incomes.

3. Increase and retain the number of safe, affordable rental units in Chatham County by connecting property owners with affordable credit and reliable developers.

CHSA increases equitable financing opportunities for affordable home projects through the following strategies:
- Strategic investment in neighborhoods to stabilize property values and create or retain affordable housing
- Construction financing for property developers
- Flexible loans with affordable rates for individuals, property owners, small businesses, nonprofits, and microenterprises to develop and repair affordable housing
- Financial products that ensure financing for tiny homes, cottage court communities, and accessory dwelling units (e.g., “mother-in-law suites”).

CHSA administers the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF), which provides public and private financing for:
- Home repair grants and loan programs
- Down payment assistance programs funded by local employers
- Strategic investments in affordable housing projects like Savannah Gardens
- Rental Property Improvement Loans
- Construction financing programs


CHSA ensures all Chatham County residents can afford to live in safe, healthy homes through the following strategies:
- Financing of affordable homes for nonprofit and for-profit developers
- Development of affordable homes (through CHSA’s subsidiary CHSA Development)
- Mortgage application guidance and support
- Technical assistance to microenterprises seeking financing for affordable housing projects
- Special financing for flexible home repair loans
- Minor home repair grants for families with modest incomes

CHSA was established in 1989 as a nonprofit housing organization with the support of community, banking, and local government leaders.

Since 2012, CHSA has administered the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF). In 2017, CHSA obtained CDFI certification and is continuing to build its role as Savannah's leading and most innovative, affordable housing, non-profit lender. In 2021, CHSA became a member of the Opportunity Finance Network as well as the African American Alliance of CDFI CEO's.

CHSA has five staff members and also partners with the City of Savannah Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services to accomplish its mission. CHSA is projected to double its staff in the next two years due to investments at the local and regional level in affordable housing funding.

CHSA has active partnerships with both public and private funders. In 2023, CHSA expanded its service area to include all of Chatham County. A new home repair program

Key organization accomplishments include:
- Since 2020, CHSA has invested over $7.4M and leveraged nearly $53M in public and private funding to create or renovate 888 affordable homes.
- Worked directly with neighborhood associations to develop housing opportunities in neighborhoods, ensuring that current residents help identify and implement improvements.
- Established a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) subsidiary, called CHSA Development, in 1991. CHSA Development served as the master developer for the Savannah Gardens community, completed in 2024 and has served as the master developer for both the Cove at Dundee and Dundee Cottages tiny home communities for persons exiting homelessness.
- Since 2012, provided down payment assistance loans and home-buying counseling services to families earning low-to-moderate incomes.
- - Invested in new builds and renovations of 11 properties on Cumming Street in West Savannah.
The neighborhood transformation includes a 40% reduction in crime and property values increased
by as much as 71%.
- Since 2023, expanded the service area for CHSA to include all of Chatham County.

Track public and private investment in affordable housing in the Savannah region.
-For every dollar CHSA invests in a community, we are able to leverage $8 from both public and private investments provided by local, state and national sources.

Decrease in the overall number of cost-burdened renters in Savannah.
-According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, the number of cost-burdened renters has decreased in Savannah from 55% in 2019 to 47% in 2021.

Increase in property values in neighborhoods targeted for reinvestment.
-When CHSA provides financing for an affordable home unit, we will track the corresponding property values and seek to maximize investment in the surrounding homes. For example, since 2018, CHSA has gradually financed projects on both sides of Cumming Street in West Savannah, using both public and private investments, in partnership with non-profits, microenterprises and another minority-led CDFI. Property values along the street have tripled, to over $2M, in just four years.

As CHSA considers the next 5-10 years, our primary focus is to boost investments by providing flexible financing to individuals, families, small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofits, property owners, and developers to create and retain safe, affordable housing in Chatham County.