Community leaders share a desire to help their neighbors through challenges and to be a part of making their community and neighborhood the best it can be. This can take on many forms—big and small—and often begins with creating ways to build connections among residents like greeting people when they just moved into the neighborhood, organizing a community yard sale, or helping with community gardens. As residents make deeper connections with each other, and as leaders grow in their capacity, together they can become strong advocates for their communities and neighborhoods. And they can and often do make a difference by focusing on issues that are important to them and their neighbors.
NeighborWorks emphasizing peer to peer mentoring and encourage resident engagement. The Community Leadership Institute (CLI) brings together community leaders from across the country for an intensive training to strengthen the voices and enhance the skills of resident leaders. This invaluable opportunity to learn from each other inspires participants to take new ideas and opportunities back to their communities.
This year, HDC’s third CLI team graduated in May. In September 2021, HDC will launch its own Resident Leadership Program so we can reach more residents, grow their leadership, and work together to build stronger communities. We are looking forward to the next 50 years with our residents leading the way.
Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
Allentown, PA
Fredericksburg, PA
Lancaster, PA
