Portfolio Partner Profile
Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC)
Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) is a nonprofit developer that creates and preserves affordable and mixed-income housing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Since 1975, AHC has developed more than 8,700 apartments in 55 communities. AHC’s mission is to build opportunity by creating quality homes with holistic resident services. AHC connects residents of all ages with onsite services that help transform lives, provide housing stability, and advance the economic resiliency of entire communities.
Featured Impact Story
Impact Story
Allium Place Offers a Fresh Start
When Shae F. and her family were displaced in July 2024, they started staying with friends while she looked for a new place to live. In her search for affordable housing, she found Allium Place.
“I thought it was too good to be true,” Shae said. “I applied, and… they reached out to me this year. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is real.’”
Affordable Homes & Communities began welcoming its first residents to Allium Place earlier in 2025. Shae and her two teens, ages 17 and 18, moved into a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in early April. Now they each have their own room and enjoy having space for themselves.
“I think just having a door you can close and have privacy is probably the thing we missed the most [prior to] our transition to here,” she said.
The new community offers 168 affordable apartments and co-locates rental and homeownership housing options with 24 condos and three single-family homes from partner Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland. Allium Place is in the final phases of construction, and once completed, it will include onsite childcare and onsite Resident Services.
Shae said that she and her kids love their apartment and its brand-new features, like the in-unit washer/dryer and stainless steel appliances.
“It is such an amazing place. One, just being brand-new everything makes you feel more like royalty,” Shae said. “My mental well-being is better as well, just knowing I have a stable place to stay.”
Her kids have grown up in Montgomery County and know their way around, so Shae said it’s the perfect location — and only one bus ride away from work. She also appreciates the secure entry and safety features.
“The key fobs with the extra security — I love that part because I do have two teens,” she said. “I feel more comfortable knowing that they're safe and no one's just walking in the building.”
Resident Braeden R., who has two young kids ages seven and nine, likes that Allium Place is close to their school. Her family moved into a three-bedroom, two-bathroom in early February. She said it’s a blessing for the kids to have their own rooms.
“They come from sharing a room,” Braeden said. “We had one bathroom, so my daughter just told me the other day, ‘Mom, we don't have to say, ‘Five minutes in the bathroom!’ We can use this one [or] use that one.’”
Coming from a difficult situation, Braeden found a fresh start at Allium Place.
“It was almost to a point where I did not know how I was going to get out. And it's one thing to be by yourself, but then you have two other people that you're responsible for,” Braeden said. “That in itself, that mental state, is just so hard. So when I heard about this, I was like, ‘This is God speaking to me.’”
The community is also a fresh start for Shae and her kids. Shae shared that Allium Place has changed her life, giving her family “a space of stability and security.”
“I want to spread that word so others can also benefit,” Shae said. “I just want to let everyone know that this is very true, and it's very real.”
Impact Story
AHC Celebrates 2025 Graduates of CCR Program
On June 13, 2025, family, friends, and mentors celebrated the 32 graduates of AHC’s College & Career Readiness (CCR) program. This year’s graduates included nine students who started in AHC’s Afterschool program as elementary students and worked their way all the way through high school in the CCR program.
The graduates applied to 120 schools and received 156 acceptances. The students received $3 million in gift aid and scholarships from those schools. This year’s graduates are moving on to two- and four-year schools, trade schools, the military, and the workforce.
Of the graduates planning to continue their education, many are first-generation students, making them the first in their families to reach this educational milestone.
The CCR program has served more than 300 students since its inception nearly 10 years ago in 2016. This year, 62 high school students participated in the program. Tutors, mentors, and staff members attended the graduation ceremony. The event had two keynote speakers, graduating seniors Dana Mendoza and Harold Arnez.
Dana grew up at Gates of Ballston and has been in AHC’s education programs for 11 years. She also works with AHC, supporting young students in our programs.
“I began working with AHC, and it’s been an incredible experience over the past two years,” Dana said. “I’ve improved my communication skills — became confident in interacting with new people. I’ve learned how to earn the respect of the kids, ensuring they feel safe and confident in approaching me, not just as another staff member, but also a friend they can talk to.”
Dana received a full tuition scholarship to attend George Mason University in the fall and will major in education. In her speech, she thanked AHC staff members who have been instrumental in her life.
Harold, a former resident of Gates of Ballston, joined CCR in high school and enjoyed being able to grow not only academically, but also socially. He said he’s grateful to all who make AHC’s programs possible.
“We all have different backgrounds and different starting points, but somehow, we all made it together in this program helped by the staff and people to help guide us towards our future opportunities that are possible after high school,” Harold said.
Harold will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall to study chemical engineering. Watch a video of the keynote speeches by Dana and Harold.
This year’s graduates received prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Linda H. Woodley Service Scholarship, multiple Arlington Community Foundation scholarships, and university-specific honors like the University of Mary Washington Merit Scholarship and a full-ride scholarship to William & Mary. In May, AHC also held a Decision Day event for CCR seniors and celebrated their next steps.
CCR mentors play important roles in students’ success. Their connection to the students creates lasting and meaningful relationships. Many mentors have worked with students for multiple years. Read about one pair who has worked together for nine years.
Impact Story
AHC, Hoffman & Associates, and Mayor Bowser Celebrate the Grand Opening of The Westerly in Southwest DC
In Summer 2024, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC), Hoffman & Associates, a nationally recognized leader in mixed-use and residential development, along with the District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Charles Allen celebrated the grand opening of The Westerly in the heart of Washington, DC’s Southwest neighborhood. This unique residence is less than one block from the Waterfront Station Green Line metro station and three blocks from The Wharf. The Westerly includes 449 apartment residences, ranging from studios to two bedrooms with dens, with 136 affordable residences. With a wide array of amenity spaces, retail, educational, and cultural options, The Westerly provides critically needed housing and expands community offerings for the Southwest DC neighborhood.
Of the total residences at The Westerly, 30% are designated affordable housing, more than twice the regional average, made possible through an innovative financing structure and partnership with AHC, an affordable housing developer that works across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. These homes are evenly split between households earning 30% and 50% of the Area Median Income. To deliver this level of affordable housing availability at The Westerly, the project team took an unprecedented approach by combining a market-rate equity investment with 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. This new approach to funding is poised to support both public and private entities, paving the way for more affordable housing solutions across the country.
“We know that to meet our city’s housing needs and goals, we have to be relentlessly creative in how we invest in, execute, and deliver projects in neighborhoods across our city,” Mayor Bowser said. “We’re proud that what was once a vacant parcel is now a mixed-use and mixed-income community that is bringing more vibrancy and creating new opportunities in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.”
“We’re proud to partner with Hoffman & Associates to integrate this deeply affordable housing component within the overall development. We’ve created a dynamic, mixed-income community of opportunity where residents at all income levels live side-by-side in a vibrant, growing neighborhood,” Paul Bernard, AHC President & CEO, said. “The great amenities, neighborhood features, and onsite resident services programming at The Westerly will bolster the ability of individuals and families to thrive and transform. This new community is a milestone in our efforts, positively impacting the lives of all who call The Westerly home.”
The Westerly is also home to 29,000 square feet of space for neighborhood-serving retail. This includes Good Company Doughnut Cafe, a family-owned and operated three-meal cafe that specializes in doughnuts; GoodVets, the popular nationwide modern veterinary care provider; AppleTree Public Charter School, a pre-kindergarten education staple of the Southwest neighborhood, which provides families with classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and an enclosed play area; and a to-be-announced dedicated cultural space.
Impact Story
The Spire – A Church and Community Collaboration in Alexandria, VA
Gathered together below the church’s towering steeple, leaders of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, the City of Alexandria and nonprofit developer AHC Inc. broke ground on The Spire, 113 new affordable apartments for low- and moderate-income families in Alexandria’s West Beauregard neighborhood in late 2019.
“This is a really exciting project that will provide affordable homes for some of our most vulnerable population near a brand new transit system and jobs,” said City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. “We wouldn’t be standing here today if not for the selfless act of a congregation that looked outside their walls and asked what they could do for the community at large.”
Seven years in the making, The Spire is becoming a reality thanks to ECR’s mission-driven generosity. By a nearly unanimous vote, the congregation voted to make a lasting difference to the community by transforming their two-acre plot of land into a combination of affordable housing and worship space.
“Ours is a church that works together,” said Reverend Jo Belser. “It has really taken the whole community to make this possible. And we are really proud of what we have accomplished together.”
The Spire will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including 12 fully accessible homes, that will serve households with incomes ranging from 30 to 60% AMI. It will also include Universal Design features and achieve EarthCraft Gold certification.
“Thanks to a wonderful partnership – the leadership and commitment of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, the ongoing support of Alexandria’s Mayor and City Council, and the steadfast efforts of the City’s Office of Housing – we are delighted to break ground on homes that will be affordable for hard-working families in need,” said John Welsh, AHC’s Vice President Multifamily Group.
The $48.3 million affordable apartment development successfully competed for a variety of local, state and national funds, including $23 million in tax credit equity from the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), a $9.9 million loan from the City of Alexandria, a $1.3 million loan from Virginia/National Housing Trust Funds, and a $500,000 loan from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.
Other sources include a $11.5 first trust loan from Capital One and Freddie Mac and $500,000 from NeighborWorks America. The City of Alexandria also provided a rental assistance grant of $350,000 to make 12 apartments deeply affordable. The Spire, designed by Cunningham-Quill and constructed by Harkins Builders, will welcome families in 2021.
Impact Story
AHC 2020 Grads – 31 First-Gen College Students & $1.24 Million in Scholarships
Celebrating graduation may have looked a little different this year, but we could not be any prouder of the students from our College and Career Readiness (CCR) program who graduated from high school in 2020. All 31 of the amazing young people who participated in the program this year are off to college in the fall. In total, they were accepted into 135 schools and received an estimated $1.24 million in scholarships and aid.
“I’m going to be the first person in my family to go to college in the United States,” said Sosna Marshet “I’m looking forward to all the college experiences.” Sosna, like all of her CCR classmates this year, is among the first in her family to pursue a college education.
Sagar Sapkota echoed Sosna’s sentiments saying, “I’m really happy that I’m going to college because my parents have sacrificed a lot for me and my brothers.” Throughout the school year, volunteer mentors work one-on-one with the students to study for standardized tests, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and write their college essays. Many of the students in our College and Career Readiness program have been with us since elementary school. And, that is by design. AHC offers after school and summer programming that grows with children, meets their needs at each stage from elementary school to senior year of high school, and helps them build stronger futures.
Students are already planning their next steps. Many are choosing practical majors like Information Technology, Business or Engineering. Others are committed to helping others by becoming teachers, social justice lawyers, doctors, nurses, and social workers. And several are exploring creative careers in journalism and architecture.
“We have such hardworking students in this program. It is so valuable to connect them with another caring and supportive adult who can help them navigate applying for college – especially since so many of them are first-generation college students,” said Milenka Coronel, AHC’s College and Career Readiness Manager. “Thanks to our volunteer mentors and supporters, these students are all taking that crucial next step. I’m so proud of our graduates; they are going to do such great things in college and beyond.”
You can hear from our graduates about their hopes for college in their own words in this video
Impact Story
New Arlington Redevelopment Creates 256 Affordable Apartments
The Apex, AHC’s newest affordable apartment community in Arlington, VA, is building community along with hundreds of high-quality affordable homes in the fast-growing South Glebe Road corridor.
“Affordable housing developments do more than provide a roof overhead, they also contribute to the community by providing homes near jobs, adding to the local economy, and building partnerships,” said John Welsh, AHC’s Vice President, Multifamily Group.
The $100 million redevelopment was designed to reduce environmental impact. The 4.6-acre site includes one of Northern Virginia’s largest solar roof installations that will provide 130 KW. The redevelopment is also more permeable with additional green areas, which will help reduce water run off by 80 percent. The Apex is on track to earn the EarthCraft Platinum certification, the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) highest environmental standard available for an apartment community in Virginia.
Along with a green design, the new development includes active outdoor spaces and increased access to the waterfront through additional access points and a much wider trail for bikes and pedestrians. Other positive community benefits include space for resident services, a fitness room, a playground and an outdoor sports court.
The project includes a broader mix of housing options than most affordable projects. “Along with much-needed affordable housing, we are also adding ‘missing middle’ housing for households that earn 60% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) – a demographic that is having an increasingly tough time finding homes they can afford,” said AHC Board Vice-Chair John Snyder.
Families started moving into the Apex in March 2020. A local community garden has started sharing fresh produce with Apex residents twice a week. Eventually the Arlington Food Assistance Center will also distribute food at the site. Arlington County Community Outreach Program staff will also be located onsite to help residents access local services.
The information presented is provided by our portfolio partners for general informational purposes only. We have not independently verified for accuracy or completeness. The testimonials presented reflect the personal experiences and opinions of portfolio partners and their investees, and do not guarantee the same results for others.
Affordable Housing
Community Development
