CHA’s LevelUp Program, (formerly known as the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program), helps participants achieve financial stability while working towards their educational, professional, and personal goals. The program is designed to assist participants on a personalized path toward economic independence and overall well-being.
The Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA) helps families with upfront costs of buying a home. CHA residents are eligible for a $20,000 grant. However, CHA residents who receive a grant will be transitioned off of their subsidy. If you are not a CHA resident, but are an Illinois resident or moving to Chicago, you are eligible for a $10,000 grant. (Download a summary flier.)
The CHA Scholarship application is closed until next year. Please check back at the beginning of 2026 to apply.
CHA encourages residents pursuing an undergraduate education to apply for the CHA Scholarship program. Awardees will receive $2,000 which can be used for tuition, books, or supplies.
The application for the 2025-2026 school year will be live January 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of award status by July.
The Youth Summer Jobs application is now closed - please check back in Spring 2026 to apply.
CHA’s Summer Youth Employment Program gives young people a chance to work and earn money for six to eight weeks. It usually starts in June and goes until early August. Participants can work up to 20 hours each week.
Past careers have included filmmaking, photography, culinary arts, cosmetology, basketball, entrepreneurship, and music production.
CHA’s Choose to Own Homeownership Program (CTO) allows qualifying Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing families to use their housing subsidy to purchase a home.
CHA primarily conducts business with applicants, participants and owners/managers via online portals, email and phone. Digital requests are more easily tracked, which limits repeat requests and processing delays.
The following steps summarize the process for becoming a successful HCV property owner. However, please note that it is the family’s responsibility to find housing and determine whether they wish to rent your property.
What is the purpose of the survey? This survey is designed to help the Chicago Housing Authority better understand how residents feel about their housing and the services they receive. Your feedback will help identify areas that are working well and those that may need improvement.
