News from AHC Inc. l May 2020

Not surprisingly, the ongoing crisis is taking a toll on residents' financial situations. Realizing that many are struggling, we are encouraging residents to work out six to 12-month payment plans with us. In April, our Resident Services staff worked one-on-one with more than 700 delinquent households to discuss options and refer them to local resources for help.

We wish you and your family good health and safety during this challenging time. Again, thank you for your continuing support.

Along with rental assistance, food insecurity is the top challenge for our residents. Approximately two thirds of our requests for emergency assistance are for food. And our existing food distribution sites in our community centers are experiencing a 30 to 50% increase in demand.

AHC is providing aid in a variety of ways, including meals and food deliveries for vulnerable seniors, grocery gift cards for struggling residents, and grocery purchases and deliveries for quarantined individuals and families.

Fortunately, a large number of community organizations and local governments are stepping in to increase existing services and/or create new partnerships and programs. Our residents are deeply grateful.

Regional partners include Aging and Disability Services, Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), Baltimore City Health Department, Capital Area Food Bank, Manna, Maryland Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Montgomery County and Salvation Army.

Residents have also enjoyed amazing meals thanks to community partnerships with restaurants and chefs. This month, Amazon is providing 2,200 meals to AHC residents as part of their 10,000 Meals in May effort. The meals are being prepared by Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant.

World Central Kitchen, founded by Chef Jose Andres, is supplying hundreds of meals to our residents at different properties. And Montgomery County's Department of Health and Human Services is providing meals Monday through Friday for our seniors in Silver Spring from Mama Lucia Restaurants.

Two wonderful Arlington partnerships have sprung up to help community members purchase food for struggling neighbors. Both support vulnerable Arlingtonians and local businesses - a win win for the whole community.

Volunteer Arlington's "Buy a Neighbor Lunch" effort has supplied lunches from BonChon, Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe and Lost Dog Cafe to more than 100 of our seniors.

The Arlington CAN-DO initiative, a partnership with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, offers neighbors an opportunity to purchase e-gift cards from a wide variety of local restaurants. So far we have received e-gift cards for Tupelo Honey, THAI Shirlington, Lost Dog Cafe, Pupatella and William Jeffrey's Tavern.

Many thanks to all who have helped with these wonderful community initiatives.

The Apex, our newest construction project in Arlington, VA, continues to move forward with extra coronavirus safety measures in place. Despite the pandemic, the demand for affordable housing in Arlington remains strong. We have nearly 1,900 people on the wait list for the 256-unit community.

The East building, with 125 apartments, is almost complete and new residents are moving into several floors that have received the certificate of occupancy. Apex West, which will have 131 apartments, expects to start welcoming families later this summer.

Leasing is being done mostly virtually and on the phone. For more information, please call 1-833-794-7412.