Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) partnered with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and True Ground Housing Partners to launch a new public food distribution site in Arlington’s Westover neighborhood, expanding access to free, nutritious groceries for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
The initiative represents AHC’s commitment to supporting health and wellness in our communities. Located at True Ground’s Fisher House apartments, this collaboration extends vital food resources to residents across multiple affordable housing communities in an area where food assistance has been limited.
“We’re proud to partner with AFAC and True Ground to bring fresh, nutritious food to more neighbors,” Susan Davidson, AHC Vice President of Resident Services, said. “This expanded outreach shows how partnerships can strengthen communities and transform lives.”
Addressing Critical Community Needs
The new distribution site tackles a significant barrier to food security: transportation. Many residents in the Westover area previously faced challenges accessing food pantries due to costly or limited transportation options.
“We’re excited to bring the first weekly food pantry to the Westover neighborhood. Expensive and inefficient transportation is one of the biggest barriers to accessing food pantries. Instead, we want to bring the food to the people.”
– Lily Duran, AFAC’s Director of Client Services
The impact has been immediate — in just the first few weeks, the partnership has already served 79 households, providing access to free milk, meat, grains, and fresh produce, Duran said.
Strategic Community Investment
This initiative reflects a thoughtful approach to expanding food access where it’s needed most. The partnership strategically focuses resources in underserved areas, ensuring that food assistance reaches residents who face the greatest barriers to accessing nutritious groceries.
“At True Ground, we are deeply committed to ensuring everyone has quality affordable housing, but we are also committed to the well-being of the whole person,” Garrett Jackson, True Ground’s Vice President of Philanthropy and Communications, said. “We are proud to partner with local providers and community groups to bring vital food resources directly to our neighbors.”
Building Stronger Communities Through Partnership
For AHC, this collaboration exemplifies our mission to create thriving communities where residents have access to not just affordable housing, but the full spectrum of resources needed for healthy, stable lives. The partnership comes at a critical time, as AFAC continues to experience record-high demand for its services.
The new public distribution site represents more than food access — it’s about dignity, community connection, and the power of organizations working together to address complex challenges. Through partnerships like this, AHC continues to demonstrate that affordable housing is the foundation for community wellness and opportunity.
Adapted from AFAC’s press release. AFAC operates this program in collaboration with AHC and True Ground Housing Partners.
About Arlington Food Assistance Center
The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) is an independent, community-based non-profit food pantry that provides dignified access to nutritious supplemental groceries to neighbors in need. Over 3,850 families are coming to AFAC each week at 21 distribution sites throughout Arlington County, Alexandria, and Falls Church to access fresh and healthy supplemental groceries, freeing up tightly stretched funds for child and health care, rent, and other financial demands.
About Affordable Homes & Communities
Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) is a nonprofit developer that creates and preserves affordable and mixed-income housing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Since 1975, AHC has developed more than 8,400 apartments in 54 communities. AHC’s mission is to build opportunity by creating quality homes with holistic resident services. AHC connects residents of all ages with onsite services that help transform lives, provide housing stability, and advance the economic resiliency of entire communities.
About True Ground Housing Partners
True Ground is a nonprofit affordable housing developer, enabling diverse families to imagine hopeful futures, even in one of the nation’s highest cost markets. At True Ground, we believe that hope, like a home, needs nurturing and care. With housing access becoming harder than ever, we’re dedicated to building hope and opportunities for those feeling left out. We are committed community builders, breaking down barriers and providing the support needed to turn aspirations into secure, comfortable apartment homes. We are not just building homes; we are changing the landscape for affordable housing, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live in a safe and welcoming community. True Ground was named one of the nation’s Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2023 by Affordable Housing Finance, one of only a dozen nonprofits to make the list.
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