Resident Services is at the core of HDC’s work, providing support to individuals who choose to live in HDC affordable housing. HDC staff connects residents with services and programs, offers skill and knowledge-building opportunities, and helps to foster a sense of community amongst neighbors so individuals can reach their full potential—not just to survive, but to thrive in HDC affordable housing.
HDC actively reflects on and revises our programs with feedback and input from residents. Their unique perspectives and lived experiences strengthen service-delivery and increase the impact of HDC’s work in affordable communities.
HDC recently worked with Millersville University’s Center for Public Scholarship & Social Change to conduct a survey to better understand the impact of HDC’s Resident Services programs and services in building agency, power, and transformation in people’s lives.
Residents were engaged in the process from the beginning, reviewing the content of the survey before it was issued. The survey was sent, in both English and Spanish, to every household in HDC’s portfolio across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
Survey results indicated that the majority of residents report having a high quality of life while living in HDC affordable housing. Residents reported the following high-level responses:
- 90% of residents feel confident they are able to handle their personal problems.
- 89% of residents feel they are able to control the important things in their life.
- 89% of residents feel satisfied with their apartment.
- 87% of residents feel safe walking in their community during the daytime.
- 86% of residents are confident that their housing situation is stable.
- 80% of residents feel their household is able to make financial ends meet.
These findings affirm HDC’s core belief that stable housing is the cornerstone of success in many other areas of life. We know that when an individual has secured safe, affordable housing, they can focus on other personal achievements including financial stability, educational growth, career advancement, and other goals.
Residents were also able to provide written comments and could volunteer to participate in further interviews with the researchers from Millersville. Resident quotes included the following sentiments:
- “I plan to spend the rest of my life here. I’m very happy here & I can’t imagine going anywhere else.” (female resident, 65+, senior community)
- “I wouldn’t move, because it would be hard to live somewhere else that has the benefits you receive here like the security of the building.” (female resident, 65+, senior community)
- “Well, I have a 9-year-old daughter and the school district is the best for her to grow up. In conclusion, I love it here because it is an excellent environment for my kids.” (female resident, 35-44, family community)
- “I would like to buy my own home someday. I am in the process of going back to school to further my career so that I am able to afford my own home.” (female resident, 35-44, family community)
- “The neighbors I have here really made me feel welcome and have gone out of their way to help me when I needed it. (female resident, 55 – 64, family community)
HDC deeply values the direct feedback and personal experiences of residents who chose to participate in this survey. These results help HDC continue to improve our programs, plan future affordable housing developments, and understand the impact Resident Services has on individuals living in HDC communities every day.
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.
