Portfolio Partner Profile
Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC)
Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) is a nonprofit developer that creates and preserves affordable and mixed-income housing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Since 1975, AHC has developed more than 8,700 apartments in 55 communities. AHC’s mission is to build opportunity by creating quality homes with holistic resident services. AHC connects residents of all ages with onsite services that help transform lives, provide housing stability, and advance the economic resiliency of entire communities.
Featured Impact Story
Impact Story
Allium Place Offers a Fresh Start
When Shae F. and her family were displaced in July 2024, they started staying with friends while she looked for a new place to live. In her search for affordable housing, she found Allium Place.
“I thought it was too good to be true,” Shae said. “I applied, and… they reached out to me this year. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is real.’”
Affordable Homes & Communities began welcoming its first residents to Allium Place earlier in 2025. Shae and her two teens, ages 17 and 18, moved into a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in early April. Now they each have their own room and enjoy having space for themselves.
“I think just having a door you can close and have privacy is probably the thing we missed the most [prior to] our transition to here,” she said.
The new community offers 168 affordable apartments and co-locates rental and homeownership housing options with 24 condos and three single-family homes from partner Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland. Allium Place is in the final phases of construction, and once completed, it will include onsite childcare and onsite Resident Services.
Shae said that she and her kids love their apartment and its brand-new features, like the in-unit washer/dryer and stainless steel appliances.
“It is such an amazing place. One, just being brand-new everything makes you feel more like royalty,” Shae said. “My mental well-being is better as well, just knowing I have a stable place to stay.”
Her kids have grown up in Montgomery County and know their way around, so Shae said it’s the perfect location — and only one bus ride away from work. She also appreciates the secure entry and safety features.
“The key fobs with the extra security — I love that part because I do have two teens,” she said. “I feel more comfortable knowing that they're safe and no one's just walking in the building.”
Resident Braeden R., who has two young kids ages seven and nine, likes that Allium Place is close to their school. Her family moved into a three-bedroom, two-bathroom in early February. She said it’s a blessing for the kids to have their own rooms.
“They come from sharing a room,” Braeden said. “We had one bathroom, so my daughter just told me the other day, ‘Mom, we don't have to say, ‘Five minutes in the bathroom!’ We can use this one [or] use that one.’”
Coming from a difficult situation, Braeden found a fresh start at Allium Place.
“It was almost to a point where I did not know how I was going to get out. And it's one thing to be by yourself, but then you have two other people that you're responsible for,” Braeden said. “That in itself, that mental state, is just so hard. So when I heard about this, I was like, ‘This is God speaking to me.’”
The community is also a fresh start for Shae and her kids. Shae shared that Allium Place has changed her life, giving her family “a space of stability and security.”
“I want to spread that word so others can also benefit,” Shae said. “I just want to let everyone know that this is very true, and it's very real.”
Impact Story
AHC Celebrates 2025 Graduates of CCR Program
On June 13, 2025, family, friends, and mentors celebrated the 32 graduates of AHC’s College & Career Readiness (CCR) program. This year’s graduates included nine students who started in AHC’s Afterschool program as elementary students and worked their way all the way through high school in the CCR program.
The graduates applied to 120 schools and received 156 acceptances. The students received $3 million in gift aid and scholarships from those schools. This year’s graduates are moving on to two- and four-year schools, trade schools, the military, and the workforce.
Of the graduates planning to continue their education, many are first-generation students, making them the first in their families to reach this educational milestone.
The CCR program has served more than 300 students since its inception nearly 10 years ago in 2016. This year, 62 high school students participated in the program. Tutors, mentors, and staff members attended the graduation ceremony. The event had two keynote speakers, graduating seniors Dana Mendoza and Harold Arnez.
Dana grew up at Gates of Ballston and has been in AHC’s education programs for 11 years. She also works with AHC, supporting young students in our programs.
“I began working with AHC, and it’s been an incredible experience over the past two years,” Dana said. “I’ve improved my communication skills — became confident in interacting with new people. I’ve learned how to earn the respect of the kids, ensuring they feel safe and confident in approaching me, not just as another staff member, but also a friend they can talk to.”
Dana received a full tuition scholarship to attend George Mason University in the fall and will major in education. In her speech, she thanked AHC staff members who have been instrumental in her life.
Harold, a former resident of Gates of Ballston, joined CCR in high school and enjoyed being able to grow not only academically, but also socially. He said he’s grateful to all who make AHC’s programs possible.
“We all have different backgrounds and different starting points, but somehow, we all made it together in this program helped by the staff and people to help guide us towards our future opportunities that are possible after high school,” Harold said.
Harold will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall to study chemical engineering. Watch a video of the keynote speeches by Dana and Harold.
This year’s graduates received prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Linda H. Woodley Service Scholarship, multiple Arlington Community Foundation scholarships, and university-specific honors like the University of Mary Washington Merit Scholarship and a full-ride scholarship to William & Mary. In May, AHC also held a Decision Day event for CCR seniors and celebrated their next steps.
CCR mentors play important roles in students’ success. Their connection to the students creates lasting and meaningful relationships. Many mentors have worked with students for multiple years. Read about one pair who has worked together for nine years.
Impact Story
AHC, Hoffman & Associates, and Mayor Bowser Celebrate the Grand Opening of The Westerly in Southwest DC
In Summer 2024, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC), Hoffman & Associates, a nationally recognized leader in mixed-use and residential development, along with the District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Charles Allen celebrated the grand opening of The Westerly in the heart of Washington, DC’s Southwest neighborhood. This unique residence is less than one block from the Waterfront Station Green Line metro station and three blocks from The Wharf. The Westerly includes 449 apartment residences, ranging from studios to two bedrooms with dens, with 136 affordable residences. With a wide array of amenity spaces, retail, educational, and cultural options, The Westerly provides critically needed housing and expands community offerings for the Southwest DC neighborhood.
Of the total residences at The Westerly, 30% are designated affordable housing, more than twice the regional average, made possible through an innovative financing structure and partnership with AHC, an affordable housing developer that works across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. These homes are evenly split between households earning 30% and 50% of the Area Median Income. To deliver this level of affordable housing availability at The Westerly, the project team took an unprecedented approach by combining a market-rate equity investment with 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. This new approach to funding is poised to support both public and private entities, paving the way for more affordable housing solutions across the country.
“We know that to meet our city’s housing needs and goals, we have to be relentlessly creative in how we invest in, execute, and deliver projects in neighborhoods across our city,” Mayor Bowser said. “We’re proud that what was once a vacant parcel is now a mixed-use and mixed-income community that is bringing more vibrancy and creating new opportunities in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.”
“We’re proud to partner with Hoffman & Associates to integrate this deeply affordable housing component within the overall development. We’ve created a dynamic, mixed-income community of opportunity where residents at all income levels live side-by-side in a vibrant, growing neighborhood,” Paul Bernard, AHC President & CEO, said. “The great amenities, neighborhood features, and onsite resident services programming at The Westerly will bolster the ability of individuals and families to thrive and transform. This new community is a milestone in our efforts, positively impacting the lives of all who call The Westerly home.”
The Westerly is also home to 29,000 square feet of space for neighborhood-serving retail. This includes Good Company Doughnut Cafe, a family-owned and operated three-meal cafe that specializes in doughnuts; GoodVets, the popular nationwide modern veterinary care provider; AppleTree Public Charter School, a pre-kindergarten education staple of the Southwest neighborhood, which provides families with classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and an enclosed play area; and a to-be-announced dedicated cultural space.
The information presented is provided by our portfolio partners for general informational purposes only. We have not independently verified for accuracy or completeness. The testimonials presented reflect the personal experiences and opinions of portfolio partners and their investees, and do not guarantee the same results for others.
Affordable Housing
Community Development
