News from AHC Inc. l September 2021

Developing affordable homes and helping communities thrive since 1975.

Apex Wins Building Sustainability Award for Multifamily New Construction Project of the Year

The Apex is honored to win the Building Sustainability Award for Multifamily New Construction Project of the Year. The award recognizes the region's leaders in high-performance construction with a focus on projects, programs, and initiatives that represent the future of sustainable building. Viridiant, one of the largest regional green building programs in the country, announced the award yesterday during its Building Sustainability Conference.

AHC is very proud to have developed this sustainable EarthCraft Gold property, which includes a variety of energy efficient features, including the largest solar array on any multifamily apartment in Northern Virginia.

Read more about the Apex energy efficiency here.

Watch us "Flip the Switch"

AHC to Participate in National Cohort to Increase Reading Proficiency in Elementary School Students

For the second year, AHC will be participating in a learning cohort of 12 organizations across the nation who are focused on building a culture of education at family rental properties, as measured by reading proficiency by 3^rd grade.

The cohort, sponsored by NeighborWorks America with training and technical assistance from Housing as a Platform for Academic Success (HPASS), will explore best practices and provide training to maximize the use of the online literacy diagnostic iReady. The end goal is for children in affordable rental homes to read at grade level, an early indicator of lifetime success.

The year-long project will begin on October 1, 2021. This $100,000 grant from NeighborWorks America will leverage a match of $6,744,000 of in-kind and direct funds by participating organizations and will provide high-quality after-school programming to an estimated 1,200 students.

Construction and Community Outreach Underway at Arlington View Terrace East

Construction is underway at Arlington View Terrace East in Arlington and is expected to take about two years. The $39 million redevelopment will create 77 new affordable apartments. Recent community outreach efforts include the first issue of a quarterly newsletter for neighbors (read here) and the distribution of goody bags to neighbors to thank them for their patience during construction. If you’re interested in seeing the construction yourself, check out the construction cam (link below).

Watch the Construction Cam

100+ Volunteers Still Needed for Fall Programs! One Hour a Week to Change a Child's Life

Volunteers are the heartbeat of AHC’s educational initiatives and the key to our students’ success. We are looking for homework helpers, reading buddies and mentors, particularly for the community centers in South Arlington. Can you help by volunteering one hour a week?

To learn more about AHC’s education programs, email [email protected] or click below for more information. Please help spread the word with friends and neighbors!

Learn more about volunteering

Join Us for AHC's Annual Meeting on October 19!

Please join AHC (virtually) on Tuesday, October 19, to celebrate what's new and what's next. We will also welcome new Board members, including two AHC residents.

Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, will give us an overview of housing trends in the DMV, challenges that lie ahead, and why affordable housing is critical for our region.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the nuts and bolts of development projects, Resident Services initiatives, and AHC's next steps through small, interactive discussion groups:

Get to Know the Interim CEO - Learn more about what's next for AHC with Interim CEO Susan Cunningham.
Celebrate 5 Years of the College & Career Readiness Program - Hear how the program is changing first-generation students' lives - and their families.
Partnering with the Community - Learn how AHC is partnering with Habitat for Humanity and Montgomery County to create new mixed-income housing.
Weathering the Pandemic - Hear how AHC's Resident Services team continues to develop new partnerships and programs to help residents.
Creating Community - Learn how AHC and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection overcame obstacles to create community around new homes.