HDC MidAtlantic is more than just a housing provider. We are property managers, community partners, collaborators, and most importantly, resident advocates. As a people-centered organization, we value residents’ unique experiences and perspectives in all layers of our work, informing the direction of the organization and building residents’ skills and leadership to affect change in HDC’s affordable housing communities.
This important work was highlighted by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania at this year’s Homes Within Reach Conference at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA. HDC received the Resident Empowerment Award, recognizing the organization’s commitment to resident engagement, empowerment, and leadership programs.
At HDC, we know that when an individual has secured stable housing, they can focus on other personal goals including building skills and knowledge to have a greater impact in their communities and affect change in their lives. Resident engagement is a focus of HDC’s Resident Services work—a core service of the organization alongside Real Estate Development and Property Management.
“I am incredibly proud to work alongside residents, sharing power, to build an incredible organization that is resident-centered, and one that is bold and brave enough to create the change we want see in this world,” Dana Hanchin, President & CEO of HDC said at the conference. “Our work is not just about the ‘bricks and sticks’ of building affordable housing. It is about building community, connecting neighbors, and fostering leadership.”
HDC residents can participate in leadership development and skill-building workshops, meet with elected officials, share their personal stories at local, state, and federal hearings, and more. HDC’s engagement initiatives were catalyzed through our chartered membership with NeighborWorks America, a network of nearly 250 nonprofit high-performing housing and community development organizations across the United States.
“Housing provides the stability that a person needs to move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’—to achieve their own life goal and dreams. HDC MidAtlantic is an example of a housing provider that is not just providing affordable housing but is actively supporting and partnering with residents to use this new-found stability to act on their personal goals, use their voices, and exert control over their lives,” said Phyllis Chamberlain, Executive Director at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. “This focus on listening to and engaging residents as peers helps individuals and makes the organization stronger.”
HDC Board Member and resident Edwin Martinez Feliciano shared personal reflections on the positive impact leadership roles at HDC and in his community, Duke Manor Apartments in Lancaster, PA, have had on his life at the conference.
“We just finished the first year of the Resident Advisory Council. This council allows me to guide HDC with the residents, build new programs, and listen to them. I take their feedback to the board, and we do our best to help them,” he shared. “Communication is leadership. Motivation is leadership. With passion, every person can achieve every step of the way.”
Learn more about Resident Engagement opportunities at HDC here: https://hdcweb.org/resident-engagement/
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.
