HDC MidAtlantic’s Board of Directors renamed the organization’s crisis/emergency fund the “Michael R. Carper Hope & Opportunity Fund” in honor of the organization’s most recent past President & CEO Michael R. Carper.
Carper, who stepped aside in June, served as President & CEO for 15 years. He was only the third president to lead the organization since its founding in 1971.
Michel Gibeault, Chair of HDC MidAtlantic’s Board of Directors, made the announcement at the organization’s 12th annual Faces of Affordable Housing hosted April 19 at the Lancaster Country Club.
The Fund was introduced in 2016 to assist residents at-risk of eviction and homelessness. Since its creation, donors have saved 25 households from eviction including one family who lost income during a mother’s maternity leave, a single father whose unexpected medical issue disrupted his ability to work and earn wages temporarily, and a resident whose savings fell short when she stopped working full-time to complete student teaching requirements for her college degree (which she got!).
This past year, HDC MidAtlantic’s Resident Services Coordinators connected 311 households with eviction-prevention services and provided 171 financial literacy services to residents living at HDC MidAtlantic properties.
You can help, too. To donate to the Carper Hope & Opportunity Fund, visit hdcweb.com/donate.
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.
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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.
