CCLF's mission, as stated on its website, is "to provide low cost, flexible financing to community development organizations... throughout metropolitan Chicago.

It also lends money to other types of community development organizations and organizations that support environmental sustainability, such as Chicago's nonprofit car-sharing program, I-GO, Logan Square Kitchen, a commercial shared-use kitchen and 75-seat event space, and Whistler-Crossing in Riverdale, IL, the first LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) in Illinois.

The agency actively encourages the use of energy-efficient building standards and materials in the construction of community real estate developments.

The money went to support the first phase of mixed-use, mixed income subdivision redevelopment (housing for rental and ownership, as well as new commercial space).

CCLF has published several editions of "A Guide to Building for Sustainability," a booklet of techniques, resources, and case studies of affordable housing.