Residents are at the core of HDC’s mission. Our Resident Services team uses a trauma-informed lens to connect residents to services and programs in their communities so that they can reach their full potential, not just to survive, but to thrive while living in an HDC community. Resident Services has been critical in helping HDC achieve it’s mission for nearly 15 years.
We are thrilled to announce that HDC’s robust Resident Services program, which is built on a commitment to honoring residents’ lived experiences and supporting their well-being, has been recognized through CORES (Certified Organization for Resident Engagement and Services) Certification from the Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF).
This certification highlights affordable housing owners that have developed a deep commitment, capacity, and competency in providing resident services coordination in affordable rental homes.
Being CORES certified is an incredible acknowledgement of HDC’s people-centered approach, a focus of our 5-Year Strategic Plan. SAHF highlighted the ongoing training of HDC staff that promotes increased knowledge and capacity, protocols and strategies that encourage collaboration between our Resident Services and Property Management teams, and a recent portfolio-wide survey of residents to understand the impact of our programming on individuals in their certification feedback.
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.
