i-Ready, Slideshow, Awards & Back2School Newsbriefs l July 2023 Developing Affordable Homes & Helping Communities Thrive Since 1975 Unlocking Literacy: i-Ready Tool Making a Difference Reading is an essential skill for children. But the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education was significant, especially in reading proficiency. That's where AHC can help. AHC's after-school education programs are making a difference. Using a reading diagnostic tool, i-Ready, AHC successfully assesses and enhances reading skills for children in grades K-5. At the start of the 2022-23 school year, AHC identified 21 out of 101 children reading at or above their grade level. End-of-year testing showed this number nearly doubled to 40 students now reading at grade level or above. The success story doesn't end there. Read full story Award Winners from AHC Communities The Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) recently honored two students from AHC communities. AHC couldn’t be prouder of these inspiring young residents! Toromo Funsho, an incoming first-year student at the Univ. of Virginia, was a GenerationHAND Scholarship awardee and gave remarks to the packed audience. Watch Toromo's video. Hermon Weldegiorgis (shown with parents) was the grand prize winner of the Children’s Essay Contest. She read her wonderful essay at the event. Read Hermon’s essay. New Community in D.C. Welcomes Residents This Fall Construction is in its final stages at Waterfront Station II, a mixed-use, mixed-income property in Washington, D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront neighborhood. The community’s first residents are scheduled to move in this November, with the entire building open by February 2024. AHC is developing the project with Hoffman & Associates, City Partners, and Paramount Development. The community will have 449 homes, 136 (30%) of which will be affordable. Half of the affordable apartments are for households earning up to 30% Area Median Income (AMI) and the remainder for households earning up to 50% AMI. Homes at these deeply affordable rents are acutely needed and increasingly rare in our region. The community will also include three permanent supportive housing (PSH) apartments, to serve individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness. The partnership is finalizing leases for the project’s first-floor commercial spaces. In addition to traditional retailers, the community will include a performing arts/cultural space and D.C.-based early childhood education provider, AppleTree School. The community is adjacent to a Safeway grocery store, a public library, and a metro station. Summer Camp Swimmingly Fun In addition to educational activities, AHC's summer camp includes swimming trips, fire department visits, field trips, and even cupcake decorating with celebrity baker Keith Holland. Thanks to our many partners and donors! View Slideshow with More Images AHC in Action Seniors Celebrate Juneteenth Residents and volunteers at AHC's Charter House in Maryland recently celebrated Juneteenth and the start of summer with good food plus poetry and song from a special guest. Related story: 5 Ways Older Adults Are Aging Unbound at AHC Communities AHC Moves to More Resident-Centric Fees ‌ AHC recently looked across its portfolio at fees charged to residents – for late rent, pets, key replacements, and more. To ensure fees are fair, consistent, and compassionate, AHC developed a new policy for all its communities going forward. As a result, at many AHC communities, fees are now significantly lower than in the past. For example, late fees are now only 5% of the month’s rent or $50, whichever is lower. Check out the policy. AHC Community Earns Beautification Award We're excited to share that The Spire community won a prestigious award from the Alexandria Beautification Commission. The Spire was only one of three awardees from a pool of 70 nominations. It was selected for its contribution to the city’s beauty through community revitalization, native plantings, and environmentally sustainable practices. The Spire was built after the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection decided to redevelop its property with a smaller worship space. The Spire's green spaces include beautiful native plants on the hillside, extending along the front of the church and apartments. The plants also limit soil erosion and stormwater runoff. (Photo by Yanique Revers) News Nuggets Volunteers Recognized for 100+ Hours of Service Volunteer Arlington recognized the below individuals at a recent Arlington Cares event for having volunteered more than 100 hours with AHC in the last year. Whether it's leading food distribution, tutoring in the afterschool program, or volunteering during our summer camps -- we appreciate our dedicated volunteers. Leslie Korn Lucy Miller Fatima Jamal Ammber Farooq Tate Dropkin Learn more and sign up to volunteer today. Watch Construction Progress in Montgomery County Work continues at the Randolph Road community in Maryland. The builder is pouring foundations and starting to install stormwater and underground sanitary plumbing. View a way-cool timelapse of the construction from early March through today. Great work Harkins Builders! This is a partnership between AHC and Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland to develop a 195-home, deeply affordable community. The community co-locates rental and homeownership housing options and will offer onsite resident services programming and childcare. AHC Welcomes New COO Ken Crawford recently joined AHC as chief operating officer (COO). Ken has over 30 years of experience in real estate finance and affordable housing. Prior to AHC, he served as the executive vice president and co-leader of The Michael's Development Company - Affordable and in senior roles at Enterprise Community Development. Ken leads the real estate development, asset management, data, and construction management functions, working to further AHC's mission. Bella’s second-grade curiosity in AHC’s afterschool academic program led to her proudly completing the AHC College & Career Readiness program in high school. (Name has been changed to protect privacy.) Please help AHC children proudly start a new school year with the supplies they need to participate fully in the school day – and have the tools to do their homework. Your gift of $23 helps a child receive a fully stuffed backpack! 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