January 30, 2025
In 1975, two concerned citizens in Virginia’s New River Valley saw their neighbors struggling with unsafe housing conditions and decided to take action. Rev. Woody Leach and Emily Stuart organized volunteer college students and faculty to perform minor home repairs for low-income families, launching what would become Community Housing Partners (CHP).
Fifty years later, that grassroots initiative has evolved into one of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic’s leading providers of affordable and sustainable housing, serving more than 10,000 residents and clients across multiple states.
“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we’re reminded that our mission has always been about more than just building and maintaining properties – it’s about creating communities where people can thrive,” said Jeff Reed, President and CEO of CHP. “The impact we’ve made over the past five decades is a testament to the dedication of our employees, those who have gone before us, and the trust our residents and clients place in us.”
A History of Growth and Innovation
CHP’s journey began with small but impactful steps. In its early years, the organization, then known as Project Home Repair, expanded to include professional weatherization services. This milestone dovetailed with the creation of the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which was created in the 1970s to help low-income families decrease energy consumption and utility bills. As the need for more complex home repairs grew, the organization rebranded as Virginia Mountain Housing and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, allowing it to broaden its reach and services. (Learn more about the history of CHP.)

Volunteers with Project Home Repair work on a home in the New River Valley.
During the 1980s, the organization launched its first rental housing preservation projects, added property management services, and began developing affordable multifamily communities. By the 1990s, its geographic footprint expanded beyond the New River Valley, prompting a name change to VMH, Inc. and the establishment of key initiatives like the Resident Services program and the New River Center for Energy Research and Training (NCERT).
The 2000s brought further transformation, with the organization adopting the name Community Housing Partners to reflect its collaborative approach. During this period, CHP established a community development financial institution (CDFI) that later became Virginia Community Capital and opened a state-of-the-art Energy Solutions Research and Training Center (formerly NCERT) facility in Christiansburg, Virginia.
In recent years, CHP has continued to innovate. In 2019, CHP Resident Services launched the CHP Reads! Summer Reading Program to promote literacy at its apartment communities. In 2020, CHP completed J. Van Story Branch Apartments, its largest real estate development to date, in Central Baltimore while navigating through the pandemic. In 2022, CHP announced a new partnership to deliver the benefits of community solar to its residents in the Dominion Energy footprint, and in 2023, the CHP Homeownership team launched the New River Home Trust, a partnership with local governments in the New River Valley to create a permanent stock of affordable homes. From new funding sources and service areas for delivering energy efficient upgrades to age- and income-eligible households to single-family development opportunities that complement the organization’s long-history of multifamily work, CHP is well-positioned to add to its long list of accomplishments.
A Commitment to Impact

Property Manager Kim James cuts the ribbon on J. Van Story Branch Apartments in Baltimore, the largest real estate development in CHP’s history, in 2021.
Today, CHP’s work is guided by a mission-driven focus on creating quality-built, responsibly managed, service-enriched homes for low-income individuals and families across its service area. The organization owns and manages 99 apartment communities, representing nearly 10,000 residents. More than a third of the 5,800 households served have children.
CHP not only provides a wide array of programs designed to enhance quality of life for the residents living at its properties, but also helps other clients make their home more sustainable. CHP Energy Solutions, which is now the largest weatherization provider in Virginia and recently expanded to four more localities in Eastern Virginia, continues to make repairs on clients’ homes, helping them not only improve their energy efficiency but also reduce the cost of monthly utilities.
“Our growth has been purposeful and mission-driven,” said Andy Hall, Chief Operating Officer. “Whether it’s through our property management, energy solutions, or resident services, every aspect of our work focuses on creating healthy, sustainable, and affordable communities.”
Lance Sutherland, Chief Financial Officer at CHP, agreed. “Over the past 50 years, we’ve built a strong foundation that allows us to pursue our mission at scale,” he said. “Through careful stewardship and strategic partnerships, we’ve grown from a volunteer-driven initiative to an organization that can make lasting investments in communities across multiple states. This financial sustainability ensures we can continue to expand our impact for decades to come.”
Looking Ahead
Throughout 2025, CHP will celebrate its 50th anniversary by highlighting its history, impact, and vision for the future. A dedicated webpage will showcase the organization’s milestones and share stories from residents and employees, while regular features will explore the people and programs that have defined its legacy. CHP is planning to use this occasion to thank its partners that have made its decades-long work possible. The commemorative theme, “A Half Century of Strengthening Communities,” will underscore CHP’s work in 2025.
As CHP embarks on its next half-century, the organization remains focused on expanding its reach and impact. With more than 400 employees across various divisions, CHP is prepared to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
“Our 50th anniversary isn’t just about reflecting on where we’ve been – it’s also about where we’re going,” Reed said. “We’re committed to continuing this important work for the next 50 years and beyond.”
From its humble beginnings as Project Home Repair to its current status as a multi-state housing organization, CHP’s journey exemplifies how grassroots activism can grow into lasting, meaningful change for communities in need. “This anniversary is a celebration of all of us,” Reed added. “Together, we’ve made a difference, and we’re just getting started.”