A world where a safe, welcoming, affordable place to call home is open to everyone.

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August 17, 2020

Advancing Equity

This year has been hugely challenging as our country deals with the devastating effects of Covid-19, a pandemic disproportionately impacting Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and lower income communities, and as we collectively work to face and address racism in all its forms. As a leader in affordable housing, HDC is dedicated to advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI) as a central goal of our organization to do everything we can to break down barriers to an affordable and safe home.

Focusing on REDI will help HDC be a better employer, a trusted community partner, a more robust housing and resident advocate, and an organization that is positioned to increase social justice, equity, and inclusion in society. HDC has formed an 18 member, cross-departmental employee work group to build knowledge, skills and implement changes across the organization. Some of our early successes have been:    Being accepted into NeighborWorks REDI Initiative; Issuing Public Anti-Racism and Call to Action Statements; Establishing Juneteenth as a paid holiday; Incorporating Land Acknowledgment into our groundbreakings; Conducting small group learning workshops; and Issuing a 21-day Racial Equity Challenge to all staff.

Jennifer Sanitago, Charisse Perez, Kimberly Fletcher, Dana Hanchin and Omar Whitfield of HDC’s core REDI group at NeighborWorks America’s first REDI gathering.

But we are just getting started! In the coming year, HDC plans to implement more initiatives across our organization that include:    Implement trainings for all staff and board members to build knowledge and increase REDI practices; Applying the REDI lens to all operational policies and procedures, human resource practices, securing contractors and other vendors, and choosing partners; Instituting strategies for developing resident leaders and engaging residents in meaningful conversations to affect positive change in their communities; Developing the capacity to serve as public policy advocates; and Creating strategies to enhance the quality of life of all employees and promote pathways for career advancement. Have questions about our REDI work? Get in touch and learn more!

Equitable Development in the City of Lancaster In partnership with Washington Place Equities, HDC plans to transform a former hospital campus into a mixed-use, mixed-income development including affordable and market-rate housing. READ MORE

Leadership Spotlight - Kimberly Fletcher Since joining the organization in 2019, Kimberly has worked to bring HDC’s organizational culture, recruiting process and HR practices into alignment with our 2020-2025 strategic plan and commitments to racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI). READ MORE

In the News HDC Receives $1 million in PA PHARE funding for housing preservation in Chester County HDC Receives $1 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits for development of The Flats IV in Delaware Washington Place Equities and HDC propose mixed-use development at former UPMC/St. Joseph hospital site LNP Op-Ed: Development of former St. Joseph’s Hospital site in Lancaster holds promise Partnership with tech firm Fizika brings digital health app to HDC's senior communities HDC receives Lancaster Cares Grant to support Eviction Prevention Program HDC breaks ground at Beach Run Apartments in Lebanon County Grand Openings and Groundbreakings Go Virtual – including HDC’s!

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