Newsbriefs l December 2022
Developing Affordable Homes & Helping Communities Thrive Since 1975
Cornucopia of Celebrations 
AHC communities around the region hosted celebrations and meals in November. We helped 700 families enjoy Thanksgiving through meals served as well as gift cards. We’re grateful to the many volunteers who made these events so special – including Amazon employees, students from the women’s lacrosse team at Marymount University, youth from AHC’s Teen Program, and more.
 
These were our first in-person holiday dinners since the start of the pandemic. Each celebration was filled with smiles, entertainment, and amazing conversation! 
New Beginnings! We’ve Officially Closed on Randolph Road in Montgomery County
AHC teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland to close on an innovative multifamily development that offers 195 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom mixed-income homes. The Randolph Road project includes 24 affordable Habitat condos and three affordable single-family homes plus 168 deeply affordable apartments.
  
The groundbreaking is planned for January 2023 – stay tuned for more details about this exciting project.
New Trauma-Informed Trainings Dig Deep 
Over the summer, AHC created a trauma-informed training plan and started training on basic trauma awareness and response for all our staff and property management partners in our AHC communities. The goal is to ensure through our policies, procedures, and practices that we are helping build resilient communities and providing quality services.
NeighborWorks Partnership in Green Valley 
AHC is excited to partner with NeighborWorks America to implement a new comprehensive community development plan. The research-based approach is geared towards strengthening the Green Valley community by gathering information from residents, local police, schools and other assets in the growing community. Our Resident Services team brought in behavioral health specialists from Arlington County to offer listening sessions to provide a safe space for AHC residents to voice their opinions on the status of their community. 
  
The process is designed to help AHC assess its internal work and goals while better aligning resources. AHC will share the findings in early 2023.
AHC in Action  
Keynoting Langston Blvd. Event 
In early December, AHC President & CEO Paul Bernard was honored to be a keynote speaker at the Langston Boulevard Alliance’s Vision 2050 Celebration in Arlington County. The Alliance’s goal is to create a joint community vision for an economically vibrant, equitable, tree-lined, walkable, sustainable, and attractive corridor – that benefits both residents and businesses. Adding housing choice and affordability along this important corridor are critical elements of the long-term plan. 
Waterfront Station II Wins New Award
We're thrilled that Multi-Housing News recognized the Waterfront Station II project with a Gold award for Best Transaction. This project’s unique financing model allows the project to deliver 30% affordable housing and is made possible through a partnership among AHC, Hoffman & Associates, and capital partners Grosvenor, Merchants Capital, and The Richmond Group USA.
AHC Leadership Attends ULI Future Forum 
AHC leaders attended the Urban Land Institute’s recent Future Forum at George Mason University’s Arlington campus. The focus of the daylong forum was “Housing and Infrastructure for the Region We Want.” AHC’s President & CEO, Paul Bernard, was honored to participate in a roundtable discussion, including 14 industry experts and thought leaders who probed “the complexities, competing forces, and tensions that stand in the way of achieving success in meeting regional housing, commercial, and infrastructure needs.” 
AHC News Nuggets
AHC Featured in The Washington Post
As part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), on November 29, AHC Inc. was featured in a special supplement in The Washington Post. The story also profiles one of AHC’s remarkable employees, Resident Services Coordinator Brenda Quintanilla.
Hot Chocolate Event
Students from Woodbury Park's after-school program hosted a hot chocolate sale for residents. The students used the proceeds from the sale to make affordable holiday meals for people in their community.  
AHC-GB's Mary Claire Davis Reaches New Heights
Congratulations to AHC Greater Baltimore's Mary Claire Davis, for her appointment to the Maryland Governor-Elect Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Aruna Miller’s Executive Policy Committee. She will be advising the Housing Executive Committee team on Housing Policy and Priorities for the State of Maryland. 
Together, We Can Do So Much
A heartful thank you to all who helped raise $31,585 during #GivingTuesday! We received $21,585 from caring donors, plus a generous $10,000 matching gift from the Chu & Piper Family Fund. These funds provide vital social services and education programs to families and individuals living at AHC communities.

If you missed Giving Tuesday, consider a special gift to the Holiday Fund Drive today. Skyrocketing housing costs, inflationary pressures, and lingering issues from the pandemic continue to challenge our residents. With your continued dedication, together, we can make a real difference. 
Consider putting volunteerism on your list! AHC always has opportunities to volunteer – big and small, for groups and individuals! Here’s just a sampling:

  • make snack bags for after-school programs 
  • mentor teens in high school 
  • be a reading buddy for a young child 
  • help deliver groceries or food boxes.

Visit www.ahcinc.org/volunteer to learn more.