Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, an increasing number of homes across Savannah, Georgia deteriorated into blighted, crime-riddled properties. Places where families and neighbors once gathered had become uninhabitable spaces. In some neighborhoods, the vacancy rate was over 40%, with many homes owned by distant relatives without the funds to renovate—and sometimes lacking title to sell. The City of Savannah, in collaboration with community, banking, and local government leaders, envisioned these properties could be transformed into affordable housing.

To this end, the City and partners formally established the Community Housing Services Agency, Inc. (CHSA) in 1989. As an independent 501(c)(3) organization, CHSA’s charge was to develop, finance, and implement affordable housing partnerships with lenders, developers, and property owners. The nonprofit board of directors was composed of finance professionals from local banks and housing development experts with a vision: to create affordable housing opportunities that would transform neighborhoods and lead to stable communities.

In the early years of CHSA, the City of Savannah’s Department of Housing provided staff support for the operations and governance. Then and now, CHSA board members and/or leaders served on the loan committee that allocates funding for projects.