AHC

Impact Story

Allium Place Offers a Fresh Start

When Shae F. and her family were displaced in July, 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 this year. 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.

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.”

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.