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 City of Savannah Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF), which provides:
- Down payment assistance programs funded by local employers
- Down payment assistance programs funded by SAHF
- Referrals to homebuyer education courses
- Strategic investments in affordable housing projects like Savannah Gardens
- Rental Property Improvement Loans
- Minor home repair programs
- Construction financing programs

CHSA ensures all Chatham County residents can afford to live in safe, healthy homes through the following strategies:
- Development of affordable homes (through CHSA’s subsidiary CHSA Development and other nonprofit and for profit developers)
- 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 very low incomes

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

Since 2013, with support from the City of Savannah's Housing Department, 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.

CHSA has three 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.

Key organization accomplishments include:
- 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, now in Phase Six.
- Since 1999, collaborated with local housing stakeholders to invest $637M in affordable housing, impacting over 10,452 families.
- Since 2012, provided down payment assistance loans and home buying counseling services to families earning low-to-moderate incomes.
- Since 2020, closed $3.2M in low-interest loans to mostly minority-owned microenterprises to support affordable housing development and rehabilitation for over 500 people.
- Providing financing for 52 tiny homes for persons experiencing homelessness.

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 increase investments in safe, affordable housing by providing flexible financing, support services, and housing development and repair for families, small businesses, microenterprises, and nonprofits.