The HAND network is hard at work to address the growing housing affordability challenge across the Capital Region. Five Minutes With is a series highlighting these members and other stakeholders. This informal conversation delves into their recent projects, the affordable housing industry, and more.

In this edition of Five Minutes With, we’re excited to delve into a conversation with Carmen Romero, the President & CEO of True Ground Housing Partners, formerly known as Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH). Explore the interview to gain insights into the organization’s rebrand, Carmen’s vision for tackling the affordable housing crisis and the development of comprehensive supportive housing solutions. Discover more about how True Ground Housing Partners is making a tangible difference in the lives of communities in need.

HAND: What inspired your organization to rebrand?
CR: The evolution from Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) to True Ground Housing Partners came about to meet the increasingly severe affordable housing shortage in our region. In 2018, our board and staff looked across the Washington DC region and affirmed that we no longer wanted to limit ourselves to Arlington—we felt an obligation to step up. After expanding into new jurisdictions in recent years, we began the rebranding process in 2023 with feedback from staff, our board, residents, and community stakeholders. So, this change reflects our regional scope and is built on our mission to provide quality affordable housing and resident-centered programming to everyone who calls a True Ground community home.

HAND: What does the new name mean to you?
CR: To me, the name True Ground Housing Partners is a commitment to our vision: Everyone deserves a place to call home—a foundation to live their dreams. We wanted the name to signal care, optimism, and hope, and that we provide so much more than just housing. Each word of our full name has its own significance. True denotes a commitment and sincerity to bring hope and opportunity to a housing environment that leaves many feeling left out. Ground signifies the firm foundation provided to residents. Housing is a basic human right and is foundational to all that we do. Partners acknowledges the roots of the former APAH brand and represents a desire to be both good neighbors and thoughtful partners to residents and the communities we serve.

HAND: How does this rebrand reflect your vision for the organization over the coming years?
CR: Our new identity sets us up to achieve the bold, ambitious goals outlined in our strategic plan. By 2027, we aim to achieve five targets that can be viewed on our new website. But more than that, we want to show that we are committed to improving the regional affordable housing crisis while striving to make residents’ lives better every day. We’re doubling down on our commitment to racial equity so that we can make our region a better place to live for everyone, regardless of background or circumstances.

HAND: What is one lesson you’ve learned moving from a localized focus to a more regional reach?
CR: We have learned and seen who is most affected by the housing shortage, and where the greatest needs are. HAND has done a great job showing where additional homes are needed with the Housing Indicator Tool (HIT), so that continues to allow us to confidently move forward with building and preserving much-needed homes. When we become engrained in communities and speak with local leaders and residents, we’re able to see the people beyond the dashboards. It’s those moments and HAND’s data points that have helped us effectively address the growing housing need. This holistic approach allows our team to focus on where affordable housing is needed most while staying centered on the community and the residents, who are central to everything we do.

HAND: Now that the rebrand is official, what is another project or program your team is working on that has you all excited for the future of affordable housing?
CR: We are now focusing on systems change and scaling capacity. We spent the last 5 years focused on building the resident services team, quadrupling the staff and formalizing program offerings. Now we can positively impact residents’ lives with a community-centric approach and proactive and responsive programming that meets their needs. Our next phase looks like a deeper focus on our strategic plan, which calls for us to increase our portfolio to 7,500 units by 2028. We will be working across all levels of government to advocate for better financial tools to meet supply targets. We will also be sharing our experience as a nonprofit developer that provides housing stability and helps residents realize their dreams.

The True Ground team looks forward to harnessing the power of philanthropy to continue growing our mission. We are serving neighbors who are the engine of our local economy—when they do well, we all do well. We aim to simplify access to healthcare, healthy foods, education, and social capital – all of which are necessary for a successful future. Philanthropic giving allows True Ground to provide working with families with that extra support and stability when it is needed the most. Our strong supporters, volunteers, partners, and donors are critical to removing societal barriers faced by our residents, and creating brighter futures for everyone.