Turning Houses into Homes: The Impact of 3C’s First Three Years

Launched in April of 2022 as a three-year program, Connecting Capital and Community (3C) Chicago is a collaborative effort between lenders, developers, and community members that aims to give Chicagoans a smoother path to homeownership in two West Side communities: East Garfield Park and Humboldt Park. Part of a national initiative to strengthen local investments and increase housing opportunities, 3C Chicago is made possible through initial funding from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, and the Polk Bros. Foundation. 3C supports the entire homeownership process, from counseling potential homebuyers to increasing affordable housing inventory to expanding access to capital. Because of 3C’s remarkable impact, the program is being extended, and we’re looking back at what 3C set out to do, the progress made over the past three years, and what’s ahead.

What 3C Set Out to Do

Over the past three years, the team has worked to leverage 3C funding to design and pilot innovative housing strategies aimed at identifying scalable models. The core pillars of 3C’s work are to expand affordable home inventory, support a pipeline of borrowers, and promote access to capital. Some concepts included in each pillar are:

• Increase supply by building affordable homes on vacant lots, uplifting mission-aligned developers, and removing barriers to development.
• Provide free financial and homebuying education, purchase assistance, and ongoing support for first-time homeowners.
• Expand access to capital through innovative tools like the 3C Mortgage product and the 3C Developers’ Fund to accelerate affordable housing development.

The Progress of the Past 3 Years

With an investment of over $8.9 million in capital and programmatic support, 3C has built 17 homes, with another 16 planned by early 2026, and secured 72 vacant lots, with 28 more in progress. The program has also created 72 first-time homebuyers and funded homeownership counseling, education, and mentoring services for nearly 700 people.

 For new homeowner Anna, 3C’s program design—combining education, financial assistance, and city support—made homeownership feel attainable. “It wasn’t charity,” she said, “it was structure and guidance that set her up for success.” The program’s holistic approach, requiring certification, documentation, and one-on-one support, proved to be critical. Anna said that each step reinforced her confidence that she could not only buy a home but keep it. She credits the program for giving her the stability to stay: “I will be here more than 10 years.”

Launched in November 2024 and administered by Neighborhood Lending Services, an affiliate of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, the 3C Mortgage saves buyers an average of $7,392 a year. With five loans closed, three more pending in early 2026, and another three pre-approved, 3C has fully committed the $2.7 million raised to support this product. Meanwhile, the Developers’ Fund, which launched in November 2025 is administered by the Community Investment Corporation, was designed to enable mission-driven developers to build affordable homes at scale in underinvested communities, supporting about 25 homes.

What’s Ahead for 3C

With new homes built, residents successfully transitioning to homeownership, and a strong network of committed partners, 3C is ready for its next chapter. Joanna Trotter, Executive Director & Senior Program Officer at JPMorgan Chase, says, “The momentum behind 3C is undeniable. What began as a three-year initiative has proven so effective that partners are eager to keep going. This next chapter is about deepening impact, scaling what works for Chicago’s neighborhoods, and continuing to create a model that can transform communities across the country for decades to come.” 3C will continue expanding the 3C Mortgage product and Developers’ Fund, revitalizing Chicago’s existing housing stock, and driving systemic change, all to help Chicagoans turn houses into homes and create lasting community wealth.

For folks interested in starting their homeownership journey, click here to learn more.

3C Partners