As part of our 5-Year Strategic Plan, we set out to expand our presence and deepen our impact in rural, suburban, and urban communities in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. When the opportunity to acquire five additional affordable communities arose from the Diocese of Scranton in Northeastern PA, HDC understood the impact it could have to ensure continued stewardship and preservation of affordable housing for local residents.
HDC is now managing and will soon step in as owner for the following communities: Saint Catherine Manor Apartments in Scranton, PA; Saint John Apartments in Wilkes-Barre, PA; Saint Vincent Apartments in Plymouth, PA; Saint Stanislaus Apartments in Nanticoke, PA; and Saint Thomas Court Apartments in Hazleton, PA.
We are already bringing new resources and investments to these communities as HDC received $400,000 in PHARE funding to make necessary capital improvements and ensure that these communities meet HDC’s standards of excellence. In addition, we will be offering on-site resident services to ensure residents can reach their full potential and thrive while living at an HDC community.
These communities, totaling 153 apartments, along with two other HDC affordable housing communities in Exeter and Wilkes-Barre make Northeastern PA one of HDC’s largest markets with seven communities totaling 255 apartments! HDC sees itself as a long-term partner and we are happy to deepen our roots and connect with other mission-driven organizations who are focused on providing affordable housing and supporting residents.
Special thanks again to our friends at NW NEPA for helping pave the way to build relationships as we expand. We can’t do this work alone and we are excited to see what else we can get done together!
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.
Allentown, PA
Fredericksburg, PA
Lancaster, PA
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:
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.
