Illinois Housing Development Authority Commences Fifth Illinois Supportive Housing Institute in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) announced the 10 development teams selected to participate in the 2026 Supportive Housing Institute (the Institute). The Institute provides accelerated training and technical assistance to equip each group 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.

“When someone lacks a safe, stable home, everyday challenges, like caring for their health, finding steady work, or escaping the cycle of homelessness, can be overwhelming and nearly impossible to overcome,” said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust. “That’s why the Institute is such a vital resource: it brings together compassionate, mission-driven teams and empowers them with the skills and support needed to create housing that truly changes lives. Building homes with supportive services isn’t easy, but I’m inspired by the dedication and heart Institute teams bring to this important work.”

Over the next four months, teams will receive technical assistance from CSH and undergo a series of training sessions to navigate the complex process of supportive housing development, from financing and service coordination to operations and long-term property management. They 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.

“CSH launched the Institute to equip teams with the skills, partnerships, and guidance needed to develop high quality supportive housing across the state,” said CSH Illinois Director Julie Nelson. “Each year, we see the impact that collaboration among housing developers, service providers, and community partners can make. We are inspired by the dedication and vision of this year’s selected teams and congratulate them on their commitment to meeting the needs of their communities. CSH is proud to continue partnering with IHDA to advance supportive housing throughout Illinois.”

Upon completion, each team will have a fully developed supportive housing development plan suitable for submission to IHDA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program or IHDA’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, both funding programs currently incentivize participation. Teams that complete the program are also eligible to apply for pre-development financing through CSH’s Project Initiation Loan Fund.

To date, IHDA has committed more than $103 million in financing to 13 of the 38 teams that have participated in the Institute, with additional proposals under review. Read about one of these success stories, Vivian’s Village in Cahokia Heights, Illinois.

The following is a list of the 2026 Supportive Housing Institute participants along with the tentative communities where the development sites will be planned.

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 512,500 units of affordable and supportive housing and invested more than $2.2 billion in communities. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 170 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.

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