Comments from Courtney | Happy Black History Month

February 6, 2025

HAND Members,

Greetings & Happy Black History Month! As the Library of Congress reminds us, the origins of this month can be attributed to Carter G. Woodson, who “believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice.” I hope you will join us in honoring the rich history of the African American experience, and the milestones that are yet unseen.

It’s hard to believe it’s officially been one year in my role as Executive Director. The time is moving swiftly, but it’s already been such an incredible adventure. I continue to extend my sincere gratitude to my predecessors, HAND’s Board of Directors, and the larger HAND community for your support.

If you’ve been following our journey, you should have also noticed that our team is growing! Over the last two quarters, we have welcomed our two newest staff members: Steven Palmer (Director of Public Policy) & Racine Tucker-Hamilton (Director of Communications & Thought Leadership). Both Steven & Racine have been incredible additions to the staff, and I am confident that their expertise will help us sustain a first-class member experience. You can learn more about our entire team here – and as always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions, partnership opportunities, or concerns you’d like to discuss.

I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t also acknowledge the unprecedented climate that we are all navigating. In times of uncertainty, there are often more questions than answers – but what I can share with you is nothing new: HAND stands ready to work with its members to remove barriers to opportunity for our most vulnerable neighbors. As we process the implications of shifts in policies and programs, we will also prioritize bringing our members along with custom learning opportunities, policy updates and additional resources. I encourage you to keep up with us via notices just like this one, and on our website at www.HANDHousing.org. Over the coming months we have a number of sessions that we believe will be impactful for your work, culminating in the Annual Meeting & Housing Expo on June 5! We can’t make any of this happen without YOU, and we hope you will tap in as we CONVENE, EDUCATE and ACTIVATE our collective.

Thank you for all that you do for our communities across the region. It is an honor to work together toward greater outcomes.

In partnership,

0 Comments/in HAND News, Areas Of Need, Opportunities, HAND Thought Leadership /by H.A.N.D.

Celebrating the Impact of Mentorship During National Mentoring Month

January 27, 2025

Mentorship is a cornerstone of personal and professional growth, and this January, during National Mentoring Month, HAND is proud to highlight its commitment to fostering the next generation of housing and community development leaders through its GenerationHAND initiative. The program provides emerging leaders with resources and mentorship to help them thrive in their careers.

Launched in 2021, the year-long program pairs mentees with experienced mentors to provide guidance, insights, and professional development support. The program not only equips mentees with essential skills but also creates a ripple effect of empowerment, as participants are encouraged to pay it forward by becoming mentors themselves. This cycle of support is key to building a robust leadership pipeline in the housing industry.

One example of this impact is Remarno Chambers, Housing Financial Analyst at the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development, who has benefited from and contributed to the mentorship program. Initially joining the program as a mentee in 2023, Chambers has since transitioned into a dual role as mentor and mentee, embodying the program’s mission of continuous learning and collaboration.

“What inspired me to become a mentor is the opportunity to give back and pay it forward,” Chambers shares. Reflecting on the guidance he received from mentors throughout his career, Chambers emphasizes the value of helping others navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and grow personally and professionally. For him, mentorship is about creating a ripple effect—supporting mentees so they, in turn, can uplift others.“

Chambers joined several other mentor/mentee pairs on January 22 during an in-person kick-off meeting. The event featured a panel discussion with a previous mentor/mentee pair: Ayesha Hudson (A-Peace), Priya Jayachandran (National Housing Trust), and Gerry Joseph (Joseph & Browne Development Associates) moderated by HAND Executive Director Courtney Battle.

“Here at HAND, we emphasize the importance of relationships. Our members’ shared mission to build and sustain more equitable communities is not an easy goal, and it is not one that can be accomplished alone,” said Battle. “It’s exciting to hear from our participants about how the program is helping them succeed professionally and personally.“

By offering mentorship, fostering diversity, and championing equity, GenerationHAND ensures the housing industry benefits from a wide array of perspectives and ideas.

“A program like GenerationHAND is crucial in the housing industry because it provides invaluable support to professionals navigating a complex landscape,” Chambers explains.

Through mentorship, Chambers has honed his leadership abilities and expanded his professional network. He credits the program with preparing him to take on higher-level roles and fostering a unified effort to address the challenges of the housing industry.

As we celebrate National Mentoring Month, we look forward to seeing our mentor-mentee pairs thrive and make meaningful contributions to building a stronger, more inclusive community development field.

0 Comments/in Areas Of Need, Opportunities, HAND Thought Leadership, Industry Highlights, HAND News /by H.A.N.D.

Fellowship Square and Community Partners: Uniting for Impact at the Annual Summer Food Rally

July 2, 2024

Last month, StarKist, Feed the Children, and Cornerstones hosted their third annual StarKist-Feed The Children Summer Food Rally aimed at combating food insecurity in Northern Virginia. The event successfully provided 21,000 pounds of donated food to five local food pantries and affordable housing nonprofits that reach vulnerable individuals and families in the region. Initially, this event was geared towards supporting families with children who depend on free or reduced-price meals during the school year and face challenges accessing food over the summer break. However, this year’s rally was expanded to include older adults, recognizing the unique challenges of food insecurity they face, such as physical difficulties in grocery shopping, meal preparation, and the financial dilemma of choosing between medications and groceries.

Fellowship Square, a HAND member and affordable housing and services provider for vulnerable seniors in the Washington DC metro area, was one of the five partners of the Food Rally. This event was an enjoyable occasion for Fellowship Square’s 300+ residents at Hunters Woods Fellowship House in Reston, Va., many of whom live on a restricted fixed income of less than $10,000/year, as it received widespread support and supplies from the Food Rally.

Nationally, food insecurity is a challenge that over 5 million older adults courageously face every day. In Virginia alone, 7.5% of the more than 1.9+ million seniors strive to meet thier nutritional needs. Addressing food insecurity requires collaboration and partnership. For Fellowship Square, partnering with Feed the Children (who focus on the other side of the age range!) and StarKist (who focus on the other side of the age range!) was an excellent opportunity to improve the lives of older adults by providing them access to nutrient-rich foods, contributing to a healthier Fellowship Square community overall. For additional information, please read the news release.

0 Comments/in Areas Of Need, Member Events & Success Stories, HAND Thought Leadership, Industry Highlights /by H.A.N.D.

Help Arlington County Track How Their Broadband Stacks Up!

September 21, 2022

Arlington County launched a broadband study as part of its effort to make sure residents have affordable, reliable access to high-speed internet. Arlington County will track how they stack up with their digital eCheckup assessment. Please share widely among your network and, if applicable, with tenants at your property:

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From “Cradle to Career” | APAH’s Mission to Support the Next Generation Fund

March 28, 2022

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) has received an exciting leadership gift from Tim and Diane Naughton, which was matched by AvalonBay Communities, to directly impact children and youth living in APAH communities from “cradle to career”. This combined $500,000 gift is part of a holistic strategy around youth programming called the Next Generation Fund.

This initiative seeks to foster the expectation and provide support to enable every child living in an APAH community to graduate from high school and pursue college, or vocational training, to achieve a family-sustaining job that allows them to thrive.

Check out the official press release here.

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We invite you to participate in a survey about DC’s housing market!

November 2, 2021

Judith Keller, a research scholar from Heidelberg University, is conducting a housing survey focusing on the Washington DC region. She aims to gain new insights into residents’ experiences on the housing and rental markets. If you are interested in participating, please find the link to her survey below. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Your help is very much appreciated!

Start the Survey

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You’re invited to attend! Rent Reporting Implementation 101

October 19, 2021

As you know, unlike homeowners, renters don’t typically get credit for their largest bill: rent. Rent reporting, the reporting of resident’s rental payments to one or more of the main credit bureaus, addresses this disparity head on. Gaining traction across the country, affordable housing providers are well poised to offer rent reporting as an impactful economic mobility strategy for their residents, yet, many don’t know where to start. That’s why Kaiser Permanente and Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) are partnering to share the fundamentals of rent reporting. Join them for a 45-minute interactive informational session about rent reporting. They will cover:

The benefits of rent reporting
Indicators that your agency could be a good fit
Initial steps needed to undertake a rent reporting program
Future funding opportunities for affordable housing providers seeking to offer rent reporting to their tenants

Learn more about rent reporting and CBA’s why here. Register to join one of two info sessions linked below:

Monday, November 8 | 2:00pm – 2:45pm ET | Register here
Wednesday, November 10 | 3:30pm – 4:15pm ET | Register here

0 Comments/in Areas Of Need, Industry Highlights /by H.A.N.D.

Maryland DHCD’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program

September 28, 2021

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is administering federal emergency rental funding in two ways, directly to local jurisdictions through the Maryland Eviction Partnership Program and to property management on behalf of tenants residing in affordable rental properties that received federal or state financing through the Assisted Housing Relief Program. Local jurisdictions are operating rental assistance programs independently, see here for each counties’ program details and directions for how to apply for assistance. As of July 31 2021, more than $58 million has been provided through Maryland DHCD’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to nearly 10,000 renters in the state of Maryland. Maryland will also receive an additional $352 million through a second phase of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and is currently making plans for distribution.

Interested in Maryland’s relief fund distribution data? The Maryland DHCD launched its’ Emergency Rental Assistance Data Dashboard to track the progress local jurisdictions are making in distributing relief funds for tenants and landlords affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The dashboard which will be updated on a monthly basis to show progress focuses on the first round of funding through the federal ERAP that was launched in Maryland in May 2021. The dashboard has information on specific county programs, demographics and data on marketing and outreach efforts. To access the dashboard, visit rentrelief.maryland.gov and click on “Data Dashboard.”

0 Comments/in Areas Of Need, Opportunities /by H.A.N.D.

Housing Finance Professionals, Developers, Policymakers, Academics, & Other Affordable Housing Stakeholders: The NHP Foundation & Enterprise Wants You to Participate in Their Survey

September 28, 2021

The NHP Foundation & Enterprise Needs You!
The NHP Foundation and Enterprise invites you to participate in their survey. The goal of the survey is to offer a comprehensive look at lessons learned over the last 10 years of affordable housing policy challenges, starting from the Great Recession, up until now. Findings will be presented this fall at the NHP Foundation’s 5th Annual Symposium, A Decade of Rental Housing Vulnerability: Lessons Learned from Financial Crisis to Coronavirus. The survey should take only 15 minutes and is available here. The survey deadline is September 24.

0 Comments/in Areas Of Need, Opportunities, Industry Highlights /by H.A.N.D.

Still We Rise | A Collection of Learnings & Toolkit for Advancing Racial Equity

September 10, 2021

“The actual foundation of racism is not ignorance and hate, but self- interest, particularly economic and political and cultural. Self-interest drives racist policies that benefit that self-interest. When the policies are challenged because they produce inequalities, racist ideas spring up to justify those policies. Hate flows freely from there.”

-Ibram X. Kendi

For the last six years, HAND has been intentional in our approach of reaching beyond the symptoms of inequity to address the root causes that amplify housing disparities and restrict access to opportunity for communities of color. If you’ve been following our journey, you know we have prioritized educating our members on racial equity issues and how they intersect with our work in real estate and community development – from 2015 when we began integrating trainings on fair housing and best practices for working with returning citizens; to the 2018 Annual Meeting featuring the “Undesign the Redline” exhibit on the history of discrimination and housing policy; and last year’s launch of the “Red Lines, White Papers, and Blue Prints” learning series designed to further build members’ capacity in operationalizing racial equity.

Over the years as we saw an increasing need for this work, we doubled down on our commitment to provide ongoing learning; while also modeling for our members what it looks like to implement racial equity in our work. In 2020 alone, we launched both the Housing Indicator Tool – a policy platform grounded in a racial equity framework; and Equity in Action – a debt and equity platform designed to support black and brown real estate developers who too often face the obstacle of accessing the capital needed to execute their visions for equitable communities. Here at HAND, we believe that the change we seek is the cumulative impact of anti-racist interventions on the institutional and personal levels. In each of these spaces we must consider what role we play in dismantling these toxic systems and structures designed to benefit a select few at the expense of others.

Today we are excited to release, “Still We Rise: A Collection of Learnings & Toolkit for Advancing Racial Equity.” This toolkit captures the learnings of HAND to date and will be useful for members wherever they are in their racial equity journey. Each section includes a session summary, how it relates to the housing industry, a series of reflection questions and search terms for continued education. We encourage you to take advantage of the toolkit, and share with your colleagues, family and friends. We look forward to hearing how you are leveraging this work to create positive change in the office, your home and our communities.

Access the Toolkit