Firmly committed to the idea that income should not dictate the quality and quantity of services one receives, ELACC quickly realized there was no one in the community filling a desperately-needed void, and sought to become much more—a community development corporation focused on developing not just housing, but community residents as well. A community development corporation that builds with intent to mesh with the existing fabric of the neighborhood, while addressing health and environmental concerns.

Our model for community development centers around empowering community residents to be significantly involved in making the decisions for their neighborhood. We believe this approach changes the system and practice of "planning being done to us" to "planning being done with us." Shifting this practice increases residents' commitment to neighborhood improvements and increases their individual feeling of power over their situation.

ELACC's model has three programmatic areas:

Real Estate Development
We build quality affordable family housing and neighborhood assets to fit the context of our neighborhood.

Community Organizing
We cultivate community resident leadership for them to actively shape and guide the development of the neighborhood.

Community Wealth
We strengthen families' financial capacity through financial education and advocacy for improved financial services.

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