United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) awarded $50,000 in designated affordable housing funds through an Affordable Housing Initiative grant to the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). The grant enables the development of a Communications Action Network (CAN) that will advocate for affordable housing throughout United Way NCA’s eight regions.

“This important, region-wide grant will increase collaboration, inform our communities and civic leaders, plus create a united voice in support of the rapidly growing need for affordable housing,” said United Way NCA President and CEO Bill Hanbury. “The call to act now and act together is compelling.”

Over the next two decades, according to George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, 731,457 new housing units will be needed to house the region’s growing workforce. Many of these new workers will have jobs that pay less than the area median income. In addition, in D.C. alone, more than 6,500 people are currently homeless, of which more than 1,600 are children. Some 39,000 households are on the waiting list for Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing. An additional 47,500 households spend 50 percent or more of their incomes on housing, leaving little for other basic needs.

“The challenges of providing housing that people can afford impact each local jurisdiction and thus our entire region,” observed Heather M. Raspberry, executive director of HAND. The regional nonprofit organization is dedicated to building a professional community of housing providers in order to increase the supply of affordable housing in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C.-Richmond corridor. “It’s important that we communicate these realities effectively so we can help policymakers and housing providers better meet the need,” she added.

Join us in sharing the positive benefits of housing affordability across the region.

Enterprise Homes announced that several of its recently developed communities were recognized –Harper House in Columbia, Md. as recipient of an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Baltimore WaveMaker award; The Greens at Liberty Road in Randallstown, Md. as the overall winner of the Property Management Association’s (PMA) Apartment Community Excellence (PACE) Award for “Affordable Communities with Rents Less than $900”; and The Greens at Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park, Md., also honored by the PMA as a 2012 distinguished community. “Our reward is building quality, affordable for-sale and rental homes for people from all walks of life,” said Chickie Grayson, President and CEO of Enterprise Homes. “The icing on the cake is the recognition we receive by such notable organizations as ULI and the Property Management Association.” More information.

Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on November 14 to mark the completion of a $3.2 million green renovation of Edinburgh House. The 10-story brick building, located in the heart of Takoma Park on Maple Avenue, was awarded the first Be SMART multi-family loan for energy-efficient upgrades that are expected to yield an ongoing energy savings of 15-20 percent. Edinburgh House is also one of the first multifamily properties in Montgomery County to receive financing through the state’s New Issue Bond Program. State and local officials joined MHP, residents and investors to tour the 45-unit affordable rental community located less than a mile from the Takoma metro station. Renovations included installing new kitchens and bathrooms; hard surface recycled flooring in the common areas and units; energy efficient appliances, doors, windows, and lighting fixtures; and a reflective Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) roof, which is made of recycled material. Three new handicap accessible units were also added to the building, and the laundry room and leasing office received a facelift. The project was completed in August and created 38 jobs.