Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Founded in 1994, the National AIDS Housing Coalition acts as a housing policy advocate for people with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the Coalition serves as a network for training, educating and sharing experiences regarding HIV/AIDS housing among housing developers, providers, residents and advocates. Read more about National AIDS Housing Coalition...

Living Cities provides financial and technical support to nonprofit CDCs engaged in improving economically distressed inner city neighborhoods. It creates a mechanism through which major corporations, foundations and the federal government can invest in the revitalization of urban neighborhoods. Read more about Living Cities...

The Community Action Partnership was established in 1971 as the National Association of Community Action Agencies (NACAA) and is the national organization representing the interests of the 1,000 Community Action Agencies, which were established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. Community Action Agencies help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency. Read more about Community Action Partnership...

Founded in 1990 as the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, in 2001 the Group adopted a new name, the Alliance for Healthy Homes, and a new mission that supports a broad healthy homes and communities agenda and aims to provide more proactive support to community-based and local advocacy organizations. Read more about Alliance for Healthy Homes...

Formed in 1979, Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) works to help residents of D.C.’s 7^th Ward reach their full potential.  To do so, MHCDO has successfully developed on its own or in partnership with others a 60-unit supportive housing facility, a 469-unit garden-style apartment complex, a 220,000-square-foot complex of retail/office space which includes a major supermarket, 20,000 square feet of warehouse/industrial space, and over 150 affordable homes that have been sold to low- and moderate-income buyers.  Currently, MHCDO is collaborating with several other partner organizations to create Skyland Town Center, a mixed-used project with 342,000 square feet of retail space and 480 residential units.  To help area residents access the construction jobs created through this project, the Skyland team partnered with area nonprofits to create Skyland Workforce Center, which provides job placement services and a range of programs to improve residents’ education and skills.

Established in 1991, the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) aims to catalyze the economic and social advancement of low- to moderate-income Latinos and other D.C. area residents.  To do so, it offers a range of programs designed to equip people with the skills and tools necessary to achieve financial independence and become community leaders.  To support entrepreneurs who have difficulty obtaining credit from mainstream financial institutions, it created a “Community Asset Fund for Entrepreneurs,” which has provided more than $6 million in capital since 1997.  LEDC also engages in advocacy work to promote policies and programs focused on economic inclusion and civic engagement.

Founded in 1984 and governed by a board composed largely of neighborhood residents and business owners, the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights is guided by its long-term mission to lead the physical, economic and social revitalization of the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Since 1991, the group has developed 131 units of affordable housing. Read more about Development Corporation of Columbia Heights...

The Community Development Support Collaborative has been working since 1992 to revitalize and stabilize low-income, distressed neighborhoods in the District of Columbia - especially in the preservation of affordable housing. The Collaborative is a project of Washington Grantmakers - a coalition of more than 140 private and corporate philanthropies and is managed by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). A Steering Committee of 28 corporations, foundations, financial institutions and the DC Department of Housing and Community oversees the effort. Read more about Community Development Support Collaborative - CLOSED 2011...

Founded in 1991, LIHI develops housing, provides support services, and advocates on behalf of low-income, homeless and formerly homeless people in Washington State. LIHI owns and/or manages over 1,700 housing units at 50 sites in six counties throughout the Puget Sound region. Eighty percent of LIHI housing is reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of the area median household income. Read more about Low Income Housing Institute...