DECEMBER 2023

RESIDENTS

IN THE KNOW

About Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC)

Founded in 1975, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides quality homes, education programs, and social services for families and individuals living on low and moderate incomes in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

AHC contracts third-party companies that manage its apartment communities. These companies have onsite staff, including community managers, maintenance teams, and leasing staff. AHC also has Resident Services (RS) onsite representatives of AHC. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, adults, and seniors annually through onsite education, social service programs, and activities.

AHC wants to connect with our communities, so we started this newsletter to share updates. Please contact us if you have feedback or ideas for newsletter content.

Email: communityengagement@ahcinc.org

Keeping Residents at the Heart

Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) revealed its new mission, vision, values, beliefs, and strategic plan, reaffirming its commitment to building equitable communities by putting residents at the heart of its work. See a snippet of our new commitments below.

Our Vision

A world where all people share the same opportunities regardless of income, race, or other qualities; where housing is integral to a healthy, welcoming, and equitable society; and where affordable homes are available to all.

Our Mission

The residents of Affordable Homes & Communities are at the heart of all we do. AHC builds opportunity by creating quality homes with holistic resident services. We drive change through innovation, genuine partnerships, and responsible investment.

Our Values

Integrity First: AHC is dedicated to pursuing quality and excellence in housing and services. We are honest, uphold commitments, and accountable even when no one is watching.

Welcoming to All: AHC prioritizes inclusivity, celebrating diverse identities, and respecting unique experiences within our communities. We cultivate environments where all individuals belong, are valued, and treated as partners.

Authenticity in Action: AHC advances our mission through genuine connections and intentional work. We embrace transparency, trustworthiness, and credibility in every interaction and transaction.

Sustainable Practice: AHC serves people today while safeguarding the interests of future generations. We protect resources, deliver economic efficiencies, and champion social responsibility.

Service Together: AHC approaches our work with empathy and compassion, recognizing the dignity of people. We empower residents and collaborate with community partners and stakeholders.

A Message from our President & CEO,

Paul Bernard

I am excited to share our new mission, vision, values, and five-year roadmap for Affordable Homes & Communities.

We’ve changed more than our name. Our direction builds on AHC’s past successes while taking a big step forward in our evolution. We gathered valuable input from many perspectives: our staff and community partners, industry experts and national leaders in affordable housing, and, of course, AHC residents.

3 Ways We're Ensuring Food Security

Health and wellness is a key cornerstone for resident services. Across the communities' residents have access to valuable resources.

Some include:

Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) food distributions and referrals
Real Food for Kids supports residents at three communities.
Capital Area Food Bank runs its Senior Brown Bag program, providing seniors with nutritious food to support healthy aging.

To get more information about resources or referrals, contact resident services.

Email residentservices@ahcinc.org

Read the full story here

Interested in becoming a Resident Ambassador?

What is a Resident Ambassador?

AHC’s Resident Ambassador program started earlier this year. Resident leaders were asked to join this group to be part of a team of resident leaders to represent and give back to their apartment community.

We seek community leaders to tell us their stories and discuss meaningful ideas and topics in their communities.

This group convenes monthly and collaborates with AHC liaisons and other community resident leaders.

Join us! Be part of the solution and new ideas.

Are you interested in becoming a Resident Ambassador?

Click here to sign up

Updated Resident Concern Guides Available Now

AHC strives to deliver good customer service and communication to our residents. We have heard your concerns and developed a Resident Concern Guide to help facilitate a better experience. Guides are available in 3 languages.

Click Here for the Harbor Group Resident Concern Guide

Click for Paradigm’s Resident Concern Guide

Click for Drucker and Falk Resident Concern Guide

10 Ways to Prepare Your Apartment for Winter

The winter season is officially here. While it may not feel like winter in some areas yet, history has taught us that winter weather can strike at any moment. Here are some ways to prepare:

Test out your heat. Make sure it works properly and keep it at 68 degrees. If you travel, remember to keep the heat on.
Adjust fans.
Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. If you are having any issues or are unsure how to test, put in a work order for maintenance to test.
Prevent frozen pipes. Open your cabinet doors to allow heat into the cabinet spaces to heat the walls; this will help prevent your pipes from freezing and possibly bursting.
Prepare for an emergency winter storm by preparing an emergency winter storm kit.
Be careful with candles and space heaters.
Support your furry friends during the cold.
Take care of yourself.
Notify your maintenance team of any issues as soon as possible.
Protect your plants!