Success Stories

Lakina Mabins, a mother of five from Bronzeville and a CHA resident, recently celebrated a major milestone—graduating as the Valedictorian of Kennedy King College. Her journey back to school wasn’t easy. After putting her education on hold, she received a life-changing opportunity: the CHA Partners in Education Scholarship.

In the past month alone, 15 families became homeowners with the support of CHA's HOME program. HOME offers two impactful pathways: Choose to Own (CTO) and Down Payment Assistance (DPA). These programs are not just about buying homes—they're about creating stability, building generational wealth, and opening doors to long-term financial independence.

Robiar Smith, known as “Robi,” grew up on the south side of Chicago. A product of Chicago Public Schools, she has friends and relatives have live in Chicago Housing Authority properties. When she arrives to address her customers' pest issues, she often defies their expectations.

Traceye Butler and her daughter Shannell walked into a Chicago Housing Authority office in 2019 and inquired about becoming homeowners. Five years later, they are not only on the road to accomplishing their goal – but their journey has allowed them to grow closer.

CHA’s new HCV Health and Wellness Program offers support to participants who are experiencing life stressors that place them at risk of housing instability or other situations that create difficulties in their daily lives.

Three CHA students participating in DePaul’s “Become a Filmmaker” program got the chance of a lifetime in 2023 - traveling to the Cannes (France) Film Festival - thanks to the generosity of Chicago businesswoman Chaz Ebert, who funded the trip. 

Nearly 100 CHA college students joined representatives from 18 Chicago-area corporations, including BMO Harris, the Obama Foundation, and Cabrera Capital Markets, for the agency’s annual Take Flight Networking and Recruiting event.

Former Housing Choice Voucher holder Samantha Stokes grew up one of four children living under the roof of hard-working parents. Ends didn’t always meet, and she remembers being evicted as a child – something she vowed never to experience as an adult.

CHA resident Molly Wilson was recently named to the 5th cohort of the Mayor’s Youth Commission. The Youth Commission meets monthly to give their input on youth-related City projects and policy. Youth Commissioners are between the ages of 14-19 and were selected through a rigorous application process which saw a record number of applicants from across the city.