Christian Community Services, Inc.

Christian Community Services, Inc. (CCSI) is a faith-based organization that has provided one AFI grant with the objective of empowering low-income residents of Hope IV Communities in Nashville, Tennessee, with economic empowerment.

CCSI is a faith-based grantee with zero subgrantees. It is a faith-based organization that emphasizes homeownership, postsecondary education, and/or business capitalization with the goal of increasing economic self-sufficiency for 21 low-income people in Nashville, Tennessee. CCSI has been successful in strengthening community engagement among diverse congregations in Nashville through long-term financial education, life skills education, and individual financial counseling.

CCSI partners with Schrader Lane Church of Christ and Woodmont Hills Family of God, founding congregations of the faith-based organization to provide funding and resources in the form of stable base funding, teaching space, and volunteers. MDHA, a partner since 1999, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, and program participants and graduates provide referrals for the IDA program. Citizens’ Bank manages CCSI’s project reserve account, while SunTrust Bank and U.S. Bank manage the individual development accounts. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) has invested in training staff so that CCSI can be an approved homebuyer education site for people seeking THDA loan products. Initial training on asset-specific purchases is through NeighborWorks, with staff receiving NeighborWorks Homebuyer Educator certification. Woodbine Community Organization provides yearly tax preparation assistance and consumer education through their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Families in crisis are referred to Family Counseling Services through the Woodmont Hills Agape Counseling Center of Dr. Ben Roberts, LMFT. Esperanza partners with CCSI for financial literacy workshops and financial counseling.