History

Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) is a not-for-profit corporation chartered to develop, own, and manage low- and moderate-income housing. It was created in 1968 by the Leadership Council of Metropolitan Open Communities to produce non-discriminatory housing for low-income and minority persons in areas of emerging job growth.

MHDC has taken its charter seriously. Since 1968 MHDC has:

• Produced more than 2,000 new or rehabbed units for low- and moderate-income families and the elderly.
• Secured over $6 million in housing grants for rehabilitation projects.
• Obtained more than $60 million in mortgages and other loans from HUD, IHDA, Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and other sources of low-income housing development.
• Participated in landmark litigation that made it possible to develop low-income family and elderly housing.
• Researched and published the study, “Chicago’s Building Code: An Impediment to Affordable Housing Development” with grants from the Amoco Foundation and the Graham Foundation. This study resulted in significant changes to the city’s building code.

MHDC continues to develop innovative programs to house low- and moderate-income families who are at a disadvantage because of rising costs, racial discrimination, or lack of information. MHDC believes that people build neighborhoods and the neighborhoods build communities. We know that we cannot do it alone – MHDC works with local not-for-profits, social service agencies, municipal governments, and educational providers to create comprehensive and need-based services.