HDC MidAtlantic

As NeighborWorks Weeks comes to a close, we are reflecting on what it means to be part of the NeighborWorks America network, a national community of nearly 250 organizations working to create homes and strengthen communities.

This year’s theme, Creating Homes, Building America, reflects the work HDC MidAtlantic carries forward every day across 64 communities in Pennsylvania and Delaware. It is work made possible by community leaders, partners, funders, and a national network committed to expanding opportunity through affordable housing.

Grateful to be part of the NeighborWorks America network and grateful for everyone who builds alongside us and believes, as we do, that housing is the foundation for everything else.

We’re honored to share that The Apartments at College Avenue, HDC MidAtlantic's adaptive reuse of the former St. Joseph's Hospital site in Lancaster City's West End, has been named a 2026 Top Project by Central Penn Business Journal.

Affordable housing developments like College Avenue are only possible through strong public-private partnerships. This recognition reflects the shared commitment of investors, government leaders, community stakeholders and neighbors who come together to transform vision into homes.

As we continue celebrating NeighborWorks Week, we’re proud to uplift moments like this that demonstrate what collective investment can make possible: safe, stable housing, stronger neighborhoods and communities where residents have the opportunity to thrive!

NeighborWorks America

Sunshine, laughter, and community filled the day at Ruoff Tower’s block party in Lancaster! Residents came together for an afternoon of connection and celebration, complete with delicious pizza, lively bingo games, exciting prizes, and a crowd favorite raffle. Ice cream added a sweet touch to the sunny day for residents enjoying the festivities.

As we celebrate NeighborWorks Week, moments like these remind us that affordable housing is about more than a place to live. It is also about creating communities where residents feel connected, supported, and at home.

Thank you to our partners at Aging with Comfort for helping make this joyful gathering possible.

NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks Weeks is a meaningful opportunity to recognize how NeighborWorks America supports HDC’s mission beyond funding for housing, including through professional development opportunities like the National Training Institute. Through NTI, HDC staff gain access to practical, timely training that helps strengthen our work in fair housing, leadership, compliance, resident engagement, and organizational excellence.

Just as importantly, our team brings those insights back to HDC, helping us better support residents, colleagues, and communities across our portfolio.

“I had a great experience at NTI and I’ve been sharing with other Regional Community Managers how much I appreciated the opportunity. I took classes on emotional intelligence in the workplace, fair housing, and leadership development. All of the classes were inspiring and motivating. I felt especially proud during the fair housing course when I realized how compliant and up to date we are at HDC. There are definitely several things I’ll be applying to my day-to-day work.”

Reflections from Mallelyn Hernandez’s time at the 2025 NTI Conference in New Orleans, where sessions on emotional intelligence, fair housing, and leadership development inspired new ideas she brought back to her colleagues and day-to-day work.

Learning and leadership remain at the heart of our work, shaping how we serve communities every day. Last year’s NeighborWorks America National Training Institute (NTI) in New Orleans was a powerful reminder of how professional development strengthens our work and fuels our mission.

At NTI, Ciara participated in an Emotional Intelligence class and a Building Community class, deepening skills that directly support her work and impact.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the NTI. I enjoyed my classes and having a chance to connect with so many different people from all walks of life who are in the industry. My instructors were both knowledgeable and personable.” NeighborWorks training equips our team with the tools, skills, and connections needed to better serve our communities — and that’s what this week is all about.

Professional development opportunities like NTI fuel new ideas, new skills, and new ways to support our mission.

NeighborWorks America

In honor of NeighborWorks Week, we’re celebrating the moments that bring our communities together. What started as a rainy day turned into a powerful celebration of community, wellness, and connection!

Thanks to the incredible support of our partners at Latino Connection and Aging with Comfort, residents at Ruoff Tower in Lancaster, PA enjoyed a day filled with music, movement, laughter, learning, and meaningful engagement.

From an energizing Zumba session to a hands-on gardening class rooted in culture and history, this event was a powerful reminder that housing is more than shelter: it is the foundation for health, connection, and quality of life! For seniors, opportunities like this support mobility, reduce social isolation, and strengthen overall well-being. When community partners come together to invest in health within affordable housing communities, they help create the conditions for residents to thrive.

We are grateful for the generosity, collaboration, and positive energy that made this day unforgettable.

NeighborWorks America

More than $500,000 from NeighborWorks America helped advance HDC’s work to create and preserve affordable housing and expand opportunity across the region in 2025.

Communities thrive when everyone has a place to call home. For every dollar invested, HDC leverages an additional $8 in public and private resources, helping turn critical support into lasting community impact.

That impact is reflected in HDC’s 2025 production: 113 new affordable homes developed, 200 homes preserved, and a pipeline of more than 830 affordable housing units advanced across the region. This work generated $231 million in economic impact, including $4 million invested in local businesses.

As we celebrate NeighborWorks Week, we’re honoring the people, partners, and neighborhoods that make our region stronger.

See how this investment fuels real impact in our communities: https://hdcweb.org/2026/03/20/hdc-midatlantic-2025-impact-report/

It’s officially NeighborWorks Weeks!

Over the next two weeks, HDC joins nearly 250 organizations across the national NeighborWorks America network to recognize the role affordable housing plays in building stronger, more stable communities.

For HDC, this work happens every day through the homes we create and preserve, the residents we support, and the partnerships we build to expand opportunity across our region.

NeighborWorks Weeks is a chance to celebrate this shared commitment and the collective impact of a national network working to ensure more people have a safe, affordable place to call home.

Today, we want to extend a sincere thank you to Barley Snyder for supporting HDC’s corporate sponsorship campaign.

Barley Snyder has quickly become a valued resource in providing legal counsel on real estate, land use, corporate, and employment needs that advances our mission and strengthens our ability to serve our residents, employees, and communities.

Their sponsorship reflects a commitment to reinvest back into the community for greater impact. We are grateful for their partnership, their expertise and their continued support of HDC’s work across our region.