As the M&T Charitable Foundation celebrates 30 years of service to the community, HDC is thankful for the collaborative partnership we have fostered with M&T Bank that helps us realize our vision of a world where a safe, affordable home is available to everyone. We cannot do the work of expanding housing access, supporting residents, and advancing equity without the steadfast support of partners like M&T.
Throughout our working relationship, M&T has generously supported many aspects of HDC’s work including financing future affordable housing developments, assisting HDC in the operation of existing communities, supporting resident programs focused on housing stability and eviction prevention, and volunteering directly with residents in HDC communities.
The foundation provided critical funds to help fill a gap on HDC’s future affordable housing community, The Apartments at College Avenue, in Lancaster, PA. M&T provided $75,000 to support this important development, which will add 64 new affordable apartments, making a small but meaningful dent in the need for affordable housing in Lancaster County. The foundation also committed $25,000 as a leadership corporate sponsor of HDC in 2023.
“M&T Bank believes in the work HDC MidAtlantic does to develop affordable housing in the communities we mutually serve. That belief in the work, and the community, drives us to support HDC MidAtlantic’s vision through the M&T Charitable Foundation, Neighborhood Assistance Program funds and employee engagement,” says Brooke Baker, Senior Vice President and M&T Bank Group Manager in the Lancaster/Lebanon Middle Market Group, who also serves as a member of HDC’s Resource Development Committee. “The work being done at HDC MidAtlantic serves one of the most fundamental human needs, housing. A home can bring stability to a person, a family, and a community. We are honored to partner with HDC MidAtlantic with a common vision of making our communities stronger through a consistent effort to improve.”
The work of creating and preserving affordable housing, supporting residents, and advancing equity is complex, and not something that HDC can do alone. It takes collaboration with like-minded organizations to achieve. We are thankful for our close working relationship with M&T that helps us achieve our mission 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.
