Get to know our portfolio partners: Affordable Homes & Communities

This piece is part of our ongoing series, “Get to know our portfolio partners,” where we asked organizations from across the Community Investment Note® portfolio to share favorite moments from their recent work and what they're looking forward to in the future.

Stay tuned for more highlights from our portfolio partners’ work on the ground!

Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC ) is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing in the mid-Atlantic region that provides quality homes for low- and moderate-income families. Since 1975, AHC has developed and preserved more than 8,700 apartments in 55 communities across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

AHC also offers educational services including after-school programs, teen tutoring, workshops for adults and senior citizens, and English language classes, to strengthen residents' economic and social stability and help them build stronger futures. AHC serves more than 6,000 children and adults through these programs annually.

We asked AHC a few questions about their work and upcoming projects. Read on for their responses and visit their portfolio partner profile to learn more about their impact.

Can you share a recent highlight or favorite moment from your organization’s work?

A highlight from this past year was the grand opening of Allium Place in Maryland on June 26. Along with many partners and stakeholders, dozens of residents attended the event, and two spoke during the program. (Read more.) The ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of one of the largest new construction affordable developments in Montgomery County’s history – a 195-home community embodying our innovation and partnership mission.

Working with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and Montgomery County, we transformed 6 acres of underused public land into a thriving, affordable community. Located at 4024 Gannon Road in Silver Spring, Allium Place includes 168 affordable rental apartments and 27 Habitat for Humanity homeownership opportunities on former County land. With 85 large, family-sized homes, a future childcare center, free high-speed internet, and a half-acre public park, the $96 million development tackles key housing challenges in the region.

More than half the rental homes are affordable at 30%–50% of Area Median Income (roughly $44,000–$82,000 for a family of four). Habitat’s homeownership model includes zero-interest mortgages, with buyers paying no more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

“Allium Place is more than housing — it’s a foundation for opportunity. By transforming public land into deeply affordable homes, we’re building economic infrastructure that supports families and strengthens Montgomery County’s future.” – Paul Bernard, AHC President & CEO

What is something special or unique about the work that your organization does?

When it comes to our resident services, AHC’s approach goes beyond bricks and mortar — we believe housing is the foundation for opportunity. What makes our work special is the integration of affordable housing with our nationally accredited Resident Services (RS) programs.

AHC connects residents of all ages with onsite services that help transform lives, provide housing stability, and advance the economic resiliency of entire communities. These RS programs strengthen financial independence, academic achievement, and workforce readiness. We believe housing is just the beginning — supporting residents leads to thriving, resilient communities.

AHC also uses forward-thinking real estate strategies to deliver high-quality, affordable housing in competitive markets. We have a long track record of innovative partnerships and creative financing solutions — tax credits, bonds, public lands, and other layered funding.

In addition to Allium Place, The Westerly in Washington, D.C., is another recent example of innovation and creativity. The Westerly is a mixed-use, mixed-income community in Southwest DC (located near The Wharf) that opened in 2024. The Westerly provides critically needed housing and expands community offerings for the Southwest DC neighborhood.

Of the 449 total residences at The Westerly, 30% are designated for affordable housing, more than twice the regional average. To deliver this level of affordable housing availability at The Westerly, AHC took an unprecedented approach by combining a market-rate equity investment with 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. (More about The Westerly.)

What is something exciting coming up for your organization, industry, or region?

We’re thrilled about our upcoming redevelopment of the Goodwill flagship store in Arlington, a transformative project that will bring together affordable housing, retail, and workforce development under one roof. This collaboration with Goodwill of Greater Washington is a bold step toward creating a mixed-use, mission-aligned community that meets both housing and economic opportunity needs. It’s a powerful example of how innovative partnerships, along with creative financing, can reimagine underutilized spaces to serve the broader community. (Learn more.)

To learn more about AHC and read more stories about their impact, visit their portfolio partner profile here.

The responses presented in this article are for general informational purposes only and have not been 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.