CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY CELEBRATES 1,000TH HOMEOWNER THROUGH THE AGENCY’S CHOOSE TO OWN PROGRAM


CHA CEO Keith Pettigrew (center) smiles with Derenda Bradley, CHA’s 1000th homeowner in the Choose to Own (CTO) program, and her family at Bradley’s house in the Roseland community on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.

 


CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY CELEBRATES 1,000TH HOMEOWNER THROUGH THE AGENCY’S CHOOSE TO OWN PROGRAM

CHA, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Lowe’s Celebrate at Homeowner Derenda Bradley’s New Home in the Roseland Community


The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) celebrated a milestone for its Choose to Own (CTO) Homeownership Program by honoring Derenda Bradley, the program's 1,000th homeowner, at her newly purchased home in the Roseland community. Launched in 2002, CTO allows qualified public housing families and Housing Choice Voucher participants to put a portion of their rent payments toward building equity that offsets a portion of their mortgage, the same way a voucher offsets a portion of rent.


CHA CEO Keith Pettigrew and CHA Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Jawanza Malone joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Regional Administrator Kimberly Danna for a celebration at the home of Derenda Bradley, marking both the program’s milestone and Ms. Bradley’s personal journey to homeownership.


Prior to her home purchase, Bradley was a CHA Housing Choice Voucher holder who lived in her previous apartment for 19 years. She successfully completed CHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, known as LevelUp, before pursuing homeownership through CTO. The same day her offer on the home was accepted, she also finalized the adoption of her four grandchildren, who now live in the Chicago-style bungalow with her. 

As part of the celebration at Ms. Bradley’s home, Lowe’s and Electrolux provided a suite of new appliances to help her and her family start fresh in their new home, including a refrigerator, stove, and countertop microwave.


“From the time I first heard your story it has stayed with me,” said Chicago Housing Authority CEO Keith Pettigrew. “The road you walked to get here and everything you’ve built for your family along the way is why we all do this work. One thousand families have become homeowners through the CHA homeownership program Choose to Own. That is a milestone.”


“I am so glad that CHA believed in me. I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to become a part of this program and I used it to my benefit. It's worth it. CHA is set up for you to win,” said Derenda Bradley.

 

“At the end of the day, it's about everyday people who are moving forward in their lives. And the progress that we make in our individual lives makes our communities that much stronger, that much better,” said CHA Board Chairman Jawanza Malone. “So we have a veteran of the South Side here who's doing her part and her family right along with her to make this a stronger community. And that's what we're here to do. That's what CHA is here to do.”


CTO is one of two CHA programs that help residents become homeowners. This year, CHA’s Home Ownership Made Easy (HOME), which integrates CTO with the agency’s Down Payment Assistance program, received a 2026 Award of Merit from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, recognizing its role in transitioning low-income households from rental assistance to long-term asset ownership.

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