As we’ve navigated the last few years that have been challenging with a global pandemic and America’s grappling with racial justice, HDC has focused on the actions that are within our control. We are excited to share the launch of our Supplier Diversity Program. This work is part of our commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, which underpins everything we do and our efforts to eliminate policies that limit access to affordable housing for marginalized communities.
HDC works with more than 550 vendors and spends approximately $26 million annually to develop and manage our affordable housing communities. As a generator of economic opportunity throughout the region, we believe we can do more to advance equity and extend opportunities to diverse-owned businesses. Our Supplier Diversity Program was launched in 2022 to improve opportunities for local, minority, women-led, and disadvantaged businesses, and to ensure that we are contracting with companies that are aligned with our values.
Our goal is that by 2025, 25% of HDC’s discretionary spending supports Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), and special designation businesses in construction, real estate development, property management, and corporate expenditures. These certifications are complex processes, so HDC is only requiring a self-affidavit from businesses asserting their status. We are committed to supporting them as they work toward certification if they are interested.
HDC’s Supplier Diversity Program began with establishing an internal Business Diversity Committee and sourcing external expertise from LMH Strategies, Inc. We are learning as we lead through this process. Some early lessons include the importance of data analysis and systems review. We are currently working to set a baseline of minority and women-owned businesses we already work with so we can measure progress. We’re evaluating where we can grow our spend and how we can seek out more MBE, WBE, and special designation businesses to work with.
We are early in this process. We know there is much work to do, and we cannot make meaningful, lasting change alone. HDC has started conversations with external partners including general contractors and architects we work with on a regular basis and the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce to encourage their participation in this work. Together, we can problem solve and build momentum to ensure diverse-owned businesses have ample opportunity.
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.
