Media Contact: Jesse Dean, CSH, [email protected]
Chicago, IL | CSH and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced today that development teams across the state may now apply for the 2026 Supportive Housing Institute (the Institute), an accelerated training and technical assistance program that helps equip teams with the expertise needed to successfully develop and finance affordable housing with support services. Supportive housing pairs affordable homes with on-site or community-based services that help people facing complex challenges live with autonomy and dignity.
“At a time when the nation is confronting cuts to essential housing services for our most vulnerable, Illinois continues to invest in the health, safety, and stability of our communities,” said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust. “The Supportive Housing Institute remains one of our strongest tools for equipping mission-driven developers with the expertise, confidence, and partnerships needed to bring impactful developments to life and help break the cycle of homelessness. By prioritizing housing paired with supportive services, we’re creating meaningful opportunities for Illinoisans who are too often left behind.”
The Supportive Housing Institute provides participants with personal guidance from IHDA and CSH to navigate the often-complex process of supportive housing development, from financing and service coordination to operations and long-term property management. The Institute begins in March 2026, and selected teams will participate in 10 sessions, eight in-person in Springfield and two virtual, over a four-month period. Teams applying to the Institute are encouraged to include a developer, property manager, and supportive services partner. Teams are also encouraged to include a person with lived experience to help shape designs that better support tenant well-being and long-term housing stability. Developers interested in applying individually may also do so, and CSH will work to match applications based on Institute openings.
“Supportive housing is one of the most evidence-backed and cost-effective interventions we have that reduces public costs by thousands of dollars per person while delivering lasting stability,” said Julie Nelson, CSH Illinois Director. “Institute teams emerge as leaders advancing these proven solutions in their communities, equipped with best practices and hands-on support to move complex projects forward and help communities shift resources to what works.”
To date, IHDA has committed more than $103 million in financing to 13 of the 38 teams that have completed the Supportive Housing Institute, with additional proposals still advancing. Read about two of these success stories: Mattoon Commons in Mattoon, Illinois and Vivian’s Village in Cahokia Heights, Illinois.
“The Institute provided so much invaluable guidance on the development strategy, the service coordination, and compliance, and then just helping our team in general,” Yost Management’s CEO and Supportive Housing Institute alumni Jeremy Yost said. “It truly gave everyone the proper tools to collaborate more effectively, ensuring each organization’s strengths could be leveraged to serve the residents holistically.”
Upcoming Webinars
Potential teams interested in applying are encouraged to register and attend one of two virtual information sessions hosted by IHDA and CSH:
Tuesday, December 9 at 10:00 a.m. (CST) – Register here.
Wednesday, January 7 at 10:00 a.m. (CST) – Register here.
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Friday, January 30, 2025. Additional program details and the online application are available here.
About the Supportive Housing Institute
The Supportive Housing Institute is a signature CSH program designed to kickstart quality affordable and supportive housing development communities. Teams come together for interactive workshops covering all aspects of creating affordable and supportive housing – from initial concept to operations.
Participants will identify a target tenant population, finalize service and tenant selection plans, determine unit mix and design, and align their project with federal and state funding requirements. Upon completion, each team will have a fully developed supportive housing project plan suitable for submission to IHDA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program or IHDA’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, of which Institute teams are incentivized. Teams are also eligible to apply for pre-development financing through CSH’s Project Initiation Loan Fund.
About the Illinois Housing Development Authority
IHDA is a self-supporting and mission-driven state agency dedicated to financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Illinois. IHDA offers affordable mortgages and down payment assistance for homebuyers, provides financing for the development of affordable rental housing, and manages a variety of assistance programs to create communities where all Illinoisans can live, work, and thrive. Since it was established in 1967, IHDA has delivered more than $29 billion in state, federal, and leveraged financing to make possible the purchase, development, or rehabilitation of 335,750 homes and apartments for low- and middle-income households. For more information on IHDA programs, visit www.ihda.org.
About Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 180 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org.
