Illinois Housing Development Authority Welcomes Development Teams to the Fourth Illinois Supportive Housing Institute

CHICAGO - The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) announced the 11 development teams selected to participate in the 2025 Supportive Housing Institute (SHI). SHI is signature CSH initiative designed for Illinois to equip teams with the tools and knowledge to navigate the complex process of developing and financing affordable housing with access to supportive services that help residents maintain their health and housing stability. Participants will receive technical assistance, training, and resources and by the end of the institute, each team will have created a fully developed and detailed supportive housing project plan for a community in Illinois. 

"Over the past two years, IHDA has awarded ten SHI graduate teams more than $76 million to create new developments that address local needs and expand the supply of supportive housing across the state," said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust. "The SHI is an opportunity to streamline processes, improve housing stability, and equip the next generation of developers with the knowledge and skillsets to continue this work, and we applaud the teams selected for their dedication to building healthy communities in Illinois."  

Each team is comprised of a developer, property manager, and a supportive services partner, two of which also include a team member with lived experience. The 11 teams will meet twice a month, from March through June 2025, in Springfield. During this time, they will work closely with IHDA and CSH to each create a housing development plan and gain an understanding of how to access funding available through public and private resources, including IHDA's Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program. SHI graduates will also be eligible to apply for pre-development financing through CSH's Project Initiation Loan Fund that provides the required capital to begin the process of creating supportive housing.

"Building more affordable and permanent supporting housing is one of the pillars of the Home Illinois Plan. SHI embodies what Home Illinois aims to do: build on the foundation of partnership, while uniting Illinois residents, community agencies, and the state to prevent homelessness from ever happening, and when it does, to make sure it is brief and rare," said Christine Haley, State of Illinois Chief Homelessness Officer. "We are so thankful to IHDA and CSH for advancing this important work."

Along with SHI, IHDA also oversees the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Development Program, which is designed to increase community-based housing options available to vulnerable populations. Developments funded through the program serve individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, persons living with chronic disabilities, and those who are at risk of institutionalization, including those exiting the criminal justice system. These developments provide residents access to a range of elective supportive services and referrals, and employment resources.

"We congratulate the IL SHI selected teams and applaud their dedication to developing new pipelines for affordable and supportive housing across the state," said Julie Nelson, acting director of CSH Illinois. "The past three SHI's have developed projects to create more than 820 affordable and supportive housing units. Each new home and collaboration created through the SHI transforms lives and builds safer, resilient neighborhoods."

Last year, IHDA announced the largest PSH Development Program award its history, with $123 million allocated to fund 14 life-changing, supportive housing developments for persons with disabilities and those at risk of homelessness. Half of the developments that received funding were SHI graduates.

The following is a list of the 2025 Supportive Housing Institute participants along with the tentative communities where the development sites will be planned.