Written By: Babbie Jaco, VP of CAHEC Management, Inc.

Article Published by: Journal of Property Management

Social gatherings can be awkward, even for extroverts. When I meet someone new, the topic of what we each do for a living is the question that follows the formal introduction. When asked, I respond with a large enthusiastic smile: “I manage affordable housing in rural areas across the Southeast!” Next comes the predictable pregnant pause, the head tilt, and the forced smile.

I am familiar with the preconceived notions that people have when they picture affordable housing. While they usually envision the distinctly urban housing projects that for many years represented the public’s idea of what public affordable housing looked like, I am proud to educate them on the wonders of rural affordable housing and the many unique characteristics of these homes. Most of my adult life has been spent developing and managing these communities, and I am passionate about the government programs that make them possible.

Our properties are special and home to amazing people with unique life stories. My career has been dedicated to the management and ownership of such affordable communities, with a heavy emphasis on one housing program: Farmers Home Administration Section 515, now known as the USDA Office of Rural Development (RD). RD 515 is among the few rental housing production programs specific to rural communities. To understand America’s affordable rural housing communities in 2021, we first must look at their history.

We're excited to introduce two new faces to the CAHEC staff! Heather Pierce joined the Investor Relations team in August of last year, and LaTesha Woodard joined the Asset Management team in January. Both bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise to their respective roles, and we're so glad to have them at CAHEC!

Registration for the 2024 CAHEC Partners Conference will open on Monday, March 4. You will receive the registration link via email, or you can access it from our website. We're excited to host everyone at the Raleigh Convention Center and look forward to offering fresh sessions, awesome speakers, and an Olympic themed evening event!

If you have questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, please contact Stefanie Lee at slee@cahec.com for more information. We can't wait to see you there!

If you've partnered with CAHEC for any number of years, you have likely met Bonnie Gravitte, our Manager, Asset Management. She's been a staple around our office for almost 16 years, and aside from being an amazing asset to the organization, she's really fun and outgoing. This year, like many years before, she attempted her infamous field goal kick as part of our Super Bowl celebration. "I always enjoy making everyone laugh," Bonnie explained. "Even if it's just a few minutes during the day, laughter is important. The Super Bowl kick is silly and fun, but it does seem like the height of the field goal gets lower each year!" We love you, Bonnie! Check out her big kick here: