The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) paid tribute to 2016 APAH Affordable Housing Honorees, Timothy J. Naughton, CEO of AvalonBay Communities, and David C. Leibson and the Arlington Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, at their Annual Fundraiser Celebration at the Clarendon Ballroom on October 6, 2016. Over 350 guests attended this networking celebration of affordable housing and generously contributed a record-breaking $525,000 to support APAH and their resident services program.

Tim Naughton is CEO of AvalonBay Communities, the nation’s second largest Multifamily REIT with 84,000 units in 11 states and headquartered right here in Arlington. “Tim knows a few things about housing and the importance of community,” said John Milliken, APAH Board Chair and Master of Ceremonies for the event. “Along with his wife Diane, Tim supports essential services for low-income Arlington residents. And his generosity doesn’t stop there, last fall, Naughton was named the most liked CEO in Greater Washington, based on his own employee’s reviews” Milliken added.

AvalonBay Communities and APAH have been partners for a number of years. “We are particularly proud of our partnership with APAH here in Arlington,” said Naughton. “As an organization, we see firsthand how extraordinarily effective APAH is at engaging the goodwill and resources of the broader community to advance its mission of providing diverse and quality housing for all residents of Arlington County. Given what we do, it’s certainly a mission that resonates with our company and one we’re proud to support.”

David C. Leibson has been managing and supporting affordable housing programs in the United States and abroad for more than 45 years. “In retirement, Dave turned his focus to Arlington, and we have all benefitted from his dedication and talent,” said Milliken. As the co-chair of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, and a member of the Affordable Housing Master Plan Working Group, Leibson is an all-in advocate for affordable housing in Arlington.

Along with Leibson, APAH honored the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. “While there is still much to do, this is a plan that is working. The number of chronically homeless dropped 52% in the past year, in part thanks to Dave’s commitment,” added Milliken.

“I am honored by this very special recognition from the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, both for my own work and for the work of my friends and colleagues leading the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness,” said Leibson. Recognizing that the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is a group effort, he continued, “The wonderful work of APAH and its key partners, like A-SPAN, is absolutely essential.”

A resident of APAH’s Marbella Apartments, Cassandra Jones shared her personal story. Aside from her time away at college, Jones has called Arlington home. But, when she found herself lacking a physical space to call her own, the idea of “home” started to fade until APAH and A-SPAN connected her to an apartment at Marbella.

Cassandra lives with a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. While at James Madison University, pursuing a Masters Degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling, she found herself in the midst of an episode of depression. Unable to continue her studies and recover simultaneously, she needed to focus on her recovery.

Her home at Marbella allows her to do just that. Weekly, Cassandra works with an A-SPAN Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager who helps connect her with resources across Arlington that are helping her get back on her feet.

“Cassandra’s story of homelessness defies our traditional expectations of ‘homeless’,” said Milliken, adding “I’m thankful that she was courageous enough to share her story with us.” Jones’ success story highlights the importance of the partnerships that APAH has built with other Arlington County safety-net organizations, like A-SPAN, AFAC, and Doorways.

APAH is a nonprofit that develops, preserves, owns, and advocates quality rental housing that is affordable to low and moderate-income families and promotes opportunity for residents through partnerships and programs. APAH works exclusively in Arlington County. Founded in 1989, APAH now helps 1200 households live in stable, secure and affordable rental homes. APAH’s Arlington Mill Residences received numerous awards including 2015 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award, 2015 Urban Land Institute-Washington Excellence in Housing Development and 2014 Best Housing Development in Virginia at the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference. In 2014 APAH was named Developer of the Year by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). APAH received the 2015 Leadership Legacy Award from Leadership Arlington; the Prize for Innovation and Impact from the Arlington Community Foundation in 2011; in 2009 APAH received the HAND Innovation Award and in 2008 was named Best Nonprofit by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.