CORES Certification

The Certified Organization for Resident Engagement & Services (CORES) Certification recognizes organizations that have developed a robust commitment, capacity, and competency in providing resident services coordination in affordable rental housing. In addition, this website provides resources, tools, and best practices to help providers of resident services coordination to improve their service delivery and management systems.

A resident services coordination system refers to all functions tied to the organizational mission to implement resident services in affordable housing rental properties, including corporate and site-based staff, funding, technology systems, services and programs, research and evaluation, organizational knowledge, and the tools necessary to support resident services

Download CORES 2 Pager - For Practitioners

Download CORES 2 Pager - For Partners

Download CORES Brand and Media Guide

Framework for Resident Services Coordination

Quality, affordable housing is a foundational social determinant of health and can serve as a platform to increase access to opportunity and promote the independence and dignity of residents. In order to realize the full benefits of housing as a platform to create healthier and more equitable communities, housing and services must be connected in a way that not only provides resources to residents, but also recognizes and supports the agency of residents and gives them real voice and shared power in shaping the design, culture, and the operations of their community. A systematic and strategic approach to resident services coordination is a critical tool for making such a connection.

In 2016, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF) formed a Community of Practice and worked with SAHF members to better understand and define the key capacities, approaches, and structures that have been developed by many leading affordable housing organizations to systematically and thoughtfully frame and implement resident services at their properties. The goal of this work was to identify replicable and scalable approaches to resident services – both at the organizational/corporate level and property levels. Following extensive engagement with SAHF members and other partners in the health, social services, and education fields, SAHF created the Framework for a System of Resident Services Coordination, which was initially published in 2018.

This 2021 Update to the Framework for a System of Resident Services Coordination (Framework) builds off the original tool and highlights the commitments that many in the field are making to re-imagine some of the power structures and decision-making policies that have historically shaped affordable housing development and resident services initiatives. In addition to laying out some of the common elements and recommendations for an effective implementation of a systems-approach to resident services, the Framework now also identifies key strategies and opportunities to implement more resident-centered practices and processes to support greater equity and resident well-being.

Download the Updated 2021 Framework for Resident Services Coordination

Download the Updated 2021 Framework & Guidelines for Resident Services Coordination

Introductory Webinar: CORES 101 Overview of the Certification & Application

Recorded and published in December 2025

The CORES Certification recognizes organizations with a proven track record of providing quality resident services coordination in affordable rental housing. Achieving CORES Certification signals an organization's commitment to the highest standards for resident services, a deep commitment to resident health and well-being, and data-informed operations and decision making.

Access Funding and Partnerships

Organizations regularly leverage CORES certification to unlock funding and partnership opportunities. Some investors and lenders are promoting CORES, and in some cases are also asking developers if they are CORES certified or working with a CORES-certified partner.

Impact Investing: Due to its ability to recognize organizations with experience providing high-quality resident services, CORES has an important role to play in the impact investing space. Awareness of tools favored by different types of funders can be helpful to operators and service providers to develop partnerships, seek investment, and expand the use of operating best practices. Aligning Impact Frameworks: CORES in Context outlines alignment between CORES and three impact investment frameworks.
LIHTC QAP Applications: CORES Certification is also included on LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan applications in New Hampshire, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia. Download the CORES QAP 1 Pager to learn more.

The Value of CORES Certification for Practitioners

Demonstrated Commitment to Quality: CORES certification is a signal that an organization has the highest level of commitment to industry best practices and serves as an external validation of the quality and systems-approach to these services.
Access Funding and Partnerships: Organizations regularly leverage CORES certification to unlock funding and partnership opportunities.
Deepen Impact and Understanding: CORES certification is a mechanism that can help an organization set goals for improvement, deepen impact, and communicate this impact internally and externally. The process of evaluating and formalizing organizational processes and practices drives a deeper understanding and commitment to resident services across an organization.

Hear about the impact and added value of the CORES Certification from Community Housing Partners (CHP), who earned their CORES certification in 2020:

The Value of CORES Certification for Partners

Improved Health Outcomes: Housing is a key social determinant of health and CORES certified organizations understand that investments in resident services lead to greater resident health outcomes.
Accountable and Collaborative Partners: CORES organizations understand the value of partnerships that center resident outcomes. In order to achieve certification, organizations are evaluated on the process for selecting partners and their process for ensuring alignment across partnership goals and outcomes. The CORES certification helps bring together committed organizations and partners to improve resident outcomes in a more meaningful way.
Data-Driven Approach to Resident Impact: CORES certified organizations leverage data to make more informed decisions about operations and programming, prioritizing measurable impact on residents’ health and well-being. CORES certification puts forth a process to guide data collection that helps organizations set goals for improvement, deepen impact, and communicate meaningfully about impact to internal and external audiences.

The Certified Organization for Resident Engagement & Services (CORES) Certification recognizes organizations that have developed a robust commitment, capacity, and competency for providing resident services coordination in affordable rental housing. Achieving CORES certification signals an organization’s commitment to the highest standards for resident services, a deep commitment to resident health and well-being, and data-informed operations and decision-making. Organizations with a scalable and adaptable systems approach to resident services infrastructure, supporting resident engagement and programming in multiple properties, are eligible to pursue the CORES certification.

Download CORES 1-page Overview

Organizations regularly leverage CORES certification to unlock funding and partnership opportunities. Some investors and lenders are promoting CORES, and in some cases are also asking developers if they are CORES certified or working with a CORES-certified partner.

Who can apply for CORES certification?

The certification program is designed to identify owner-operators of multifamily affordable properties and service organizations working in multifamily affordable properties that provide resident services provision in line with a robust coordination system.

A resident services coordination system refers to all functions tied to the organizational mission to implement resident services in affordable rental housing properties, including corporate and site-based staff, funding, technology systems, services and programs, research and evaluation, organizational knowledge, and the tools necessary to support resident services.

To be eligible for CORES Certification, an organization must fit one of the following models for providing resident services coordination and this system must be scaled at multiple properties:

[Owner-Operator] Direct Model – Affordable housing owners/organizations that retain direct responsibility for the management, delivery, and implementation of Resident Service Coordination at their own properties.

[Owner-Operator} Hybrid Model – Affordable rental housing owners/organizations that contract with an unrelated third-party entity (either a property management company or another services organization) to staff the on-site property-based resident services coordinators/staff, but otherwise retain leadership, management, and support capacity for resident services coordination at their properties.

Third-Party Resident Services Coordination Contractor Model – An owner of affordable housing may contract with an external (third-party) organization to provide all aspects of resident services coordination. This includes the management, delivery, and implementation of Resident Services Coordination at the property level and corporate/regional levels. An organization that falls into this model may provide third-party services for one owner or for multiple owners.

Please note: If interested in seeking certification under both the Direct and Third-Party models, please contact CORES for more information about the Streamlined Third-Party application option.

While an organization does not need to offer a CORES-level of resident services coordination or have resident services staff at ALL properties within their portfolio, it must be able to demonstrate that this CORES-level of infrastructure and implementation is in place at multiple properties within their portfolio.

Please see threshold requirements for additional information.

What kind of resident services program qualifies CORES certification?

The CORES certification is designed for affordable housing owner-operators and organizations that provide resident services in line with a robust coordination system.

A resident services coordination system includes all functions tied to the organizational mission to implement resident services in affordable rental housing, including corporate and site-based staff, funding, technology systems, services and programs, research and evaluation, organizational knowledge and tools necessary to support resident services.

To be eligible, an organization does not need to offer a CORES-level of resident services coordination or have frontline resident services staff at all properties within their portfolio, but the organization must be able to demonstrate this level of infrastructure and implementation is in place at multiple properties -- that resident-centered outreach and program models, with adequate frontline staffing are a part of the organization's mission and business model. Please review the CORES staffing FAQ and ensure that your organization meets the certification threshold requirements.

Does CORES Certification apply to an organization’s entire portfolio?

Yes, an organization applies once and if approved, the CORES certification is applicable across the entire portfolio and is inclusive of family, senior and supportive housing communities.

Visit our full list of FAQs and glossary of terms.

Have more questions? Join our CORES Office Hours.

CORES offers a monthly office hour to organizations that would like to connect to ask questions, learn more about CORES, and engage with CORES staff. Office hour times may vary but are typically held on the last Friday of the month from 1-2 PM ET.

2026 Office Hours (as of 2/13/26) are currently scheduled for: 2/27, 3/27, 4/24

Join CORES Office Hours

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Meeting ID: 87992929435
Passcode: 388090

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