On Wednesday, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) accepted the 2026 Best Affordable Housing Project award for Allium Place at Housing&’s 35th Annual Meeting & Housing Expo, an innovative partnership with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and Montgomery County. Allium Place is a 195-home mixed-income community in Silver Spring, Maryland, and one of the largest new affordable housing developments in Montgomery County’s history.
“Allium Place is a model because it shows that public-private partnership really allows us to share the burden, share the cost, and get more done with less resources.”
– Paul Bernard, AHC President & CEO
Together, AHC and its partners transformed a 6-acre county-owned site into a thriving community serving households earning 30–70% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Of the 168 affordable rental apartments, 57% are reserved for extremely and very low-income families.
An additional 27 homeownership opportunities, financed through Habitat’s zero-interest mortgage model, give residents a path to long-term stability. Of those homes, 85 are family-sized, three- and four-bedroom units.
The $96M development was completed despite pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and rising interest rates, requiring innovative financing solutions. The project was possible through a layered financing structure that included Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity, County Housing Initiative Fund loans, county land conveyed for $2, and federal and state funds for an onsite childcare center.
“The award is a testament to the outstanding partners, individuals, and resilience that make pioneering, cost-effective housing solutions like this one possible,” said Mary Claire Davis, AHC Vice President of Real Estate Development.
The community also features a half-acre public park, fitness and community rooms, electric vehicle charging stations, and free high-speed internet through Montgomery County’s MoCoNet program.
All shared spaces incorporate Trauma-Informed Design to promote safety and connection. AHC’s Resident Services team provides onsite programming focused on education, economic mobility, health and wellness, and community engagement.
”We are — every day, at every step — attempting to improve the model of service to give folks a chance and an opportunity,” Paul said. “With 99-year affordability guarantees, Allium Place serves as a blueprint for communities throughout the region.”
Learn more about Allium Place’s community impact.
2230 North Fairfax Drive
Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22201
703-486-0626
1501 Saint Paul Street
Suite 130
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-685-0366
