Community Housing Development Corporation – Des Moines

Summary: Summary: From 2006 to 2007, the Partnership assisted Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) with multiple aspects of capacity building to enhance the organization’s ability to serve the housing needs of the greater Des Moines area.

Staff contact: Joanna Balsamo-Lilien

Wisconsin Partnership's role: CHDO TA provider

Status of work: Completed in 2007

CHDC is a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) serving the City of Des Moines and larger Polk County in central Iowa. Over the span of a year, the Partnership provided no-cost technical assistance to CHDC under its technical assistance contracts with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The most important part of the Partnership’s work with CHDC was an in-depth program review addressing all areas of the agency’s work. The review was designed to create a comprehensive package of services to be offered by the agency. Steps in the review process included the following:

• Surveying the community’s thoughts on program function and performance
• Identifying competitors for each program
• Defining distinguishing features of CHDC program models
• Identifying opportunities for program expansion
• Locating additional funding sources
• Presenting all information to the board, along with examples and model program manuals

Other aspects of the Partnership’s work with CHDC included analysis of board capacity and recommendations for enhancement of board effectiveness. The Partnership also helped the CHDC board with a strategic planning process to help them decide whether to expand programs, contract programs or consider new programs that might fit the needs of the people served by the organization.