Yes, CHEFF: Serving others through financial education

Some people are born to be of service to others, and Delores Allen, founder and president of Center for Housing Education and Financial Freedom (CHEFF), is no exception. Serving others has always come naturally to Delores. As a young girl, she used to provide breakfast to seniors at her childhood church. Now as an adult, she educates and empowers her community through financial education. Over the past two decades, her call to serve others became mingled with her passion and ultimately intertwined with the programs and mission of Habitat Chicago. 

It all started in the early 2000s when Delores was a Mortgage Loan Officer. Her job was more than just matching people with suitable mortgage programs; she cared about her clients and wanted to ensure they chose the best mortgage for their financial situation. She recommended Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans more often because her clients could receive a favorable interest rate, even if their credit was lacking. FHA loan applications were more work for her, but she was committed to the long-term financial success of her clients. 

After a company change and a new position as a Housing/Financial Counseling Program Administrator, she brought her empathetic nature into the nonprofit space, helping individuals and families improve their financial literacy and learn the homebuying process. In the role, Delores talked to clients about their situation, assessed where they were financially, and gave suggestions on how to improve their financial management. 

This is where she developed her passion for financial education and helping people turn their current situation around. She really enjoyed the job, however as time went on, she felt an imbalance between doing the administrative work and being out in the field connecting with the community. She wanted to do even more. 

“I started to see my purpose in life. It was just time. At some point you cannot ignore those emotions and what builds up in you. You become more empowered to pursue your purpose in life,” explained Delores. 

Delores created CHEFF in 2017 to offer financial literacy, homebuyer education, and entrepreneurial education to individuals and families in disinvested communities through a lens of personal growth. By providing a way for people to grow both financially and personally, her hope is for her clients to go beyond just meeting their needs; she wants to motivate them to holistically achieve the best for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

“My passion is really to help people understand their self-worth and that they can reach their goals. It just takes commitment and focus,” Delores said matter-of-factly. 

Built on shared passion and commitment to community, Delores’ partnership with Habitat Chicago began at her nonprofit job. After her homebuying workshops, she recommended Habitat Chicago’s Affordable Homeownership Program to those interested in taking the next step in homeownership. 

But the partnership didn’t end there. Now, Delores’ CHEFF programming is one of the recommended community financial resources at every Habitat Chicago Homebuyer University series. In 2024, she co-taught a community credit-building workshop with Habitat Chicago, and CHEFF received funding through the Neighborhood Grants Initiative to host a community resource fair in West Pullman. 

“Partnerships are the lifeline of your business,” Delores stresses, and as a fellow partner equally passionate about strengthening Chicago communities through homeownership, financial literacy, and service, Habitat Chicago couldn’t agree more.