Background Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. (CHI) was created in 1993 by a Northwest Iowa Community Action Agency, Upper Des Moines Opportunity. The concept for a non-profit affordable housing organization was the result of a strategic planning session that revealed many Iowa families are caught in a cycle of poverty in part because of a lack of decent, safe and energy efficient affordable housing. CHI was formed to address the lack of new and affordable housing options for families seeking to transition from dependency on public assistance programs. Until its formation, no single non-profit organization had been designed to focus specifically on increasing housing throughout Iowa. Because of its early success and CHI??s on-going commitment to re-investment into housing, CHI has become a major player in the expansion of affordable housing in Iowa. Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. is 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and has been designated Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) for the entire State of Iowa.