At HDC, we believe that everything we do to expand and advocate for affordable housing and support residents must be rooted in the values we hold as an organization. HDC’s Core Values guide our direction, inform decisions we make every day, and help us show up for our employees and our residents. These values contribute to a culture that is driven by excellence, focused on equity, and ensures HDC is a great place to work for every member of the team.
This year, we took time to examine our values—considering what attributes best reflect the culture we are building and the ways we interact with each other and the communities we serve. As we face new challenges around hiring staff in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic like many others across the country, we are more committed than ever to ensure those individuals who choose to work here at HDC believe deeply in the work we are doing and the values we hold.
HDC created a task force to look at our values this spring. Members of the team thought deeply about our Core Values and engaged in robust conversation about their importance and impact. The following are HDC’s Core Values:
- Excellence – We foster a growth-mindset; are forward-looking, strategic, and trusted to deliver results.
- Equity – We foster access to equitable options where people have choice and power in determining their future.
- Collaboration – We honor and engage diverse perspectives and experiences that inspire innovation and creativity to arrive at the best solutions for the greatest impact.
- Community – We cultivate spaces that bring joy, meaning, belonging, and an overall sense of purpose.
- Integrity – We are respectful, honest, and authentic in our ideas, decisions, and actions.
The next, more critical step was establishing the actions HDC employees must take every day to align with these values and live them out in their work. We call these actions and attributes our HDC Fundamentals. Every day, HDC employees are asked to reflect on these fundamentals and consider how they show up for their colleagues and for the residents we serve.
As a people-centered organization, we know that the experiences and perspectives of individuals who both live in HDC housing and choose to work at this organization are critical to making a difference. When we all see ourselves in the work, we are able to show up for each other and create a work-environment where people feel seen, heard, and welcomed. Our HDC Values help us achieve our goals of supporting communities and being an employer of choice in the region.
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.
