HDC MidAtlantic participated in NeighborWorks Week, a weeklong initiative of NeighborWorks America that encourages network members to host neighborhood improvement events in the communities they serve.
HDC MidAtlantic celebrated by renovating two common rooms at Duke Manor Apartments in Lancaster, Pa., to accommodate the organization’s growing Story Time program. Story Time is a reading program for children ages 5-10.
The program currently serves about 15 children, but limited space meant there wasn’t enough room to accommodate all of the children who wanted to participate and the program consistently had a waitlist.
The newly renovated spaces, which were previously unfinished and used for storage, are larger and will allow more children to enroll in Story Time in this fall.
Renovations included new walls, lighting and paint. The concrete floors got a makeover thanks to the generosity and support of Sherwin-Williams who donated new carpet tiles. The cost of installation was covered by a grant from NeighborWorks America.
Ten HDC MidAtlantic employees and three residents (parents of children who attend Story Time) volunteered to finish cleaning the space, move and arrange donated desks and chairs, paint a chalkboard wall and set up bookshelves for a new Story Time library. Several employees donated books and other supplies to complete the space.
The time spent renovating the space encouraged a sense of community and relationship building between HDC MidAtlantic employees and residents. The children who participate in Story Time will grow into strong readers thanks to contributions from volunteers and donors who helped to renovate the space into a warm, welcoming and creative place designed to instill a life-long love of reading.
NeighborWorks America is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Since its Congressional chartering in 1978, it has expanded from around 50 organizations to nearly 25 nationwide. Yet, it has retained what makes it unique: a grassroots approach that allows every organization the flexibility to focus on the needs of its particular community. Over the past 40 years, NeighborWorks and its network have assisted close to 8 million people through affordable housing and counseling. In 2017, the NeighborWorks network provided housing and counseling services to 455,100 people, repaired 71,300 homes, and created and maintained 43,600 jobs.
To see more photos HDC MidAtlantic’s NeighborWorks Week, please visit us on Facebook.
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.
