Community Housing Works

COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS HELPS PEOPLE LIVING ON LOW WAGES AND FIXED INCOMES MOVE UP IN THE WORLD, IN SAN DIEGO AND ACROSS CALIFORNIA, BY BUILDING AND OWNING STABLE AFFORDABLE APARTMENT HOMES AND PROVIDING ONSITE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.

RESIDENT SERVICES PROGRAMS:COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS HAS LONG HELD THE CORE BELIEF THAT WITH A SAFE, STABLE HOME, POWERFUL TOOLS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, OUR RESIDENTS CAN FORGE STRONG FUTURES. THIS BELIEF, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO RESIDENT SUCCESS, ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION AND WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION. OUR VERY FIRST APARTMENT COMMUNITY IN 1989 OFFERED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES TO HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SINCE 1997, WHEN OUR RESIDENTS FIRST REQUESTED SUPPORT FOR THEIR KIDS HOMEWORK, CHW HAS ROUTINELY INCLUDED COMMUNITY CENTERS AND ON-SITE SERVICES PROGRAMS IN ALMOST ALL OF OUR APARTMENT COMMUNITIES (SUBJECT TO FUNDING). CHW IS AMONG THE FEW LARGE HOUSINGNONPROFITS IN THE COUNTRY THAT SUPPLEMENT PROJECT SERVICE FEES WITH BOTH INDIVIDUAL DONOR AND GRANT CONTRIBUTIONS, IN ORDER TO ASSURE IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS.AS PART OF OUR RESIDENT-DRIVEN APPROACH, WE PERFORM RESIDENT OPPORTUNITY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND COMPLETE A COMMUNITY SCAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DESIGN PROGRAMS THAT ARE RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE TO THE RESIDENTS SERVED. CHW DELIVERS SERVICES THROUGH BOTH ONSITE STAFF AND THROUGH PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, CREATING MORE SUSTAINABILITYAND MORE ABILITY TO VARY SERVICES BASED ON RESIDENT NEEDS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES. CHW INVESTS IN MEASURING THE IMPACT OF OUR CORE SERVICES, IN ORDER TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THOSE RESULTS.CHW OFFERS PROGRAMMING IN THREE AREAS OF HIGHEST IMPACT FOR OUR MISSION: FINANCIAL WELL-BEING, NEXT GENERATION SUCCESS, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS.1. FINANCIAL WELL-BEING: COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING PROGRAMS MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT IN THREE PROGRAM AREAS.-FINANCIAL STABILITY (ADDRESS A CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS). THROUGH OUR RENTAL HOME STABILITY PROGRAM (RHSP), OUR ACCREDITED FINANCIAL COACHES HELP HOUSEHOLDS AT RISK OF EVICTION TO REGAIN STABILITY. IN 2021, RHSP WAS PLACED ON HOLD TO ADDRESS THE FEDERAL AND STATE EVICTION MORATORIUMS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. INSTEAD, CHW PIVOTED TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWED MUCH NEEDED RENT RELIEF, PAIRED WITH FINANCIAL COUNSELING. A TOTAL OF 202 RESIDENT HOUSEHOLDS THAT EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RECEIVED CHW RENTAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS. IN ADDITION, 187 OF THESE RESIDENT HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FINANCIAL COUNSELING IN 2021. RHSP WILL RE-LAUNCH IN 2022.-FINANCIAL SECURITY (MEET DAY-TO-DAY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS). COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS FAMILY ASSET BUILDING CLASS USES A VIRTUAL GROUP-COACHING MODEL TO HELP RESIDENTS MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THEIR MONEY AND MAKE POSITIVE FINANCIAL CHOICES TO MEET SELF-IDENTIFIED GOALS. IN 2021, THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 12 WORKSHOPS AND 47 PARTICIPANTS. THROUGH OUR CREDIT STRENGTHENING INITIATIVE PROGRAM, THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 45% OF HOUSEHOLDS WHO REGISTERED ON THE NEW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLATFORM (APTEXX) TO PAY THEIR RENT AND 25% OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOW PAYING RENT ONLINE. A TOTAL OF 21% OF THESE RESIDENTS ALSO OPTED-IN TO HAVE THEIR RENTAL PAYMENTS REPORTED TO THE CREDIT BUREAUS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CREDIT SCORES.- FINANCIAL MOBILITY (PLAN FOR THE FUTURE). WE HELP LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS REACH THEIR PERSONAL GOALS TO BUILD NOT JUST INCOME, BUT WEALTH: INCREASED SAVINGS, BUYING A HOUSE, PURCHASING A VEHICLE, STARTING A BUSINESS, PAYING FOR EDUCATION, OR A RETIREMENT PLAN. RESIDENTS USE INDIVIDUAL COACHING TO SET AND ATTAIN AN ASSET-BUILDING GOAL. IN 2021, 17 RESIDENTS JOINED A FINANCIAL HEALTH CLUB.2. NEXT GENERATION SUCCESS: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, CHW HAS OFFERED EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS TO YOUTH TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.- STUDY STARS EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAM. COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS OWN STUDY STARS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ACHIEVING GRADE LEVEL READING FOR K-5TH GRADE STUDENTS, WELL-DOCUMENTED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT GATEWAY TO EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE SUCCESS. STUDY STARS USES A NATIONALLY EVALUATED ON-LINE LITERACY PROGRAM, I-READY, THAT PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUCCESS MEASURES, AND HAS SHOWN SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS, FEMALE, AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDENTS. FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 220 ACTIVE STUDY STAR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY STARS EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAM.- ACHIEVERS CLUB. THE ACHIEVERS CLUB PROVIDES YOUTH WITH AN ON-SITE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS ON POST-SECONDARY CAREER PATHWAYS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE ACTIVITIES.- VALOR SCHOLARSHIPS. VALOR SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED TO CHW YOUTH AND ADULT RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS, RANGING FROM TWO AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREES TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING CERTIFICATES. IN 2021, 36 CHW RESIDENTS FROM 20 COMMUNITIES WON SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $36,000.3. HEALTH AND WELLNESS: CHW CONNECTS RESIDENTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAMS, IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE INDEPENDENCE OF SENIOR AND DISABLED RESIDENTS, PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND SUPPORT SELF-EMPOWERED RESIDENTS TO MANAGE THEIR OWN HEALTH.- SENIOR PROGRAMS. CHW OFFERS ONSITE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES, TO SUPPORT SENIOR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE, ENCOURAGE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND MUTUAL SUPPORT, AND REDUCE DEADLY ISOLATION. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY CHW STAFF OR BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS.- SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS. SINCE 1989, CHW HAS BEEN PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS, WITH SERVICES PROVIDED BY LOCAL SERVICE PARTNERS.- COLLABORATING. CHW WAS AN EARLY MEMBER OF THE COUNTY REGIONAL CONTINUUM OF CARE, HAS RECEIVED HUD SHP FUNDING FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND ACTIVELY USES THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM.- INTEGRATING. SOME CHW COMMUNITIES ARE 100% SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. MORE OFTEN, WE HAVE INCLUDED HOMELESS RESIDENTS AS PART OF LARGER AFFORDABLE COMMUNITIES, STARTING WITH OUR INNOVATIVE INTEGRATION OF HOMELESS FAMILIES INTO CEDAR APARTMENTS (VISTA) IN 1994.- SERVING A RANGE OF NEEDS. AS OF THE END OF 2021, CHW PROVIDED OVER 115 SUPPORTIVE AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING APARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. CHW APARTMENTS SERVE HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN WITH HIV/AIDS, HOMELESS VETERANS, HOMELESS AND DISABLED SENIORS, TAY FOSTER YOUTH, CWS-AT-RISK YOUNG MOTHERS AND CHILDREN, ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND HOMELESS CWS-CLIENT PARENTS REUNITING WITH THEIR CHILDREN AFTER SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. CHW PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS COUNTY AGENCIES TO SUPPORT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT:CHW DEVELOPS AND OWNS AFFORDABLE, ATTRACTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE RENTAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA THAT PEOPLE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME. OVER 9,800 PEOPLE LIVING ON A LIMITED INCOME FIND HOME STABILITY IN THE ORGANIZATIONS AWARD-WINNING APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. CHW HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE AND WITHIN THE SAN DIEGO REGION FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENT, FROM THE NATIONAL GOLD NUGGET AWARD TO THEURBAN LAND INSTITUTE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE AMERICAS. AS OF 2021, CHW OPERATED 3,741 RENTAL APARTMENTS IN 43 COMMUNITIES, DESIGNED AND MANAGED TO IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND HELP RESIDENTS BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES. EXTENSIVE RESIDENT SERVICE PROGRAMS FURTHER SUPPORT RESIDENT SUCCESS.IN 19 OF OUR COMMUNITIES, RESIDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A COMMUNITY CENTER WITH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. IN 2021, THESE SERVICES WERE OFFERED REMOTELY AND IN A HYBRID APPROACH OF BOTH ON-SITE AND REMOTE SERVICES. ALL RESIDENTS CAN ALSO ACCESS OUR COMPREHENSIVE ASSET-BUILDING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL FITNESS CLASSESAND FINANCIAL COACHING.

ASSET MANAGEMENT:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ONGOING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT, RISK MANAGEMENT REVIEW, AND/OR OVERSIGHT OF FINANCIAL AND REPAIR PLANS FOR THE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR VERY LOW-INCOME AND LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN NEED. CHWS ASSET MANAGEMENT STAFF MAINTAINS HIGH STANDARDS IN A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO. CHWS PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO OPERATES AT 98.8% OCCUPANCY AND HAS CONSISTENTLY MET ALL RESERVE AND PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT FEE TARGETS. DUE TO THE ORGANIZATIONS OUTSTANDING TRACK RECORD, BANKS AND INVESTORS CONSIDER CHW AMONG THE HIGHEST-RATED DEVELOPERS.