12 organizations across DC, Maryland, Virginia, selected through a competitive process to receive intensive training and $360,000 in grants.
COLUMBIA, MD (May 20, 2025) — Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), in partnership with Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States, announces a cohort of high-impact housing developers, providers, and owner-operators selected for its first Mid-Atlantic Preservation Academy. Twelve organizations across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia will receive training and technical assistance, grant funding, and peer-learning opportunities focused on preserving the affordability of small- and medium-multifamily housing (SMMF) in the region.
Previously launched in California, Colorado, and the Southeast, this marks the fourth regional academy for Enterprise’s national Preservation Next initiative. Since its inception, Preservation Next has preserved more than 1,600 homes, engaged over 2,500 housing practitioners, disbursed $1.2 million in grants, and developed a national toolkit to support SMMF housing preservation efforts. Since 2022, Kaiser Permanente has provided $2.2 million to support Enterprise’s Preservation Next Initiative, including $250,000 for the Mid-Atlantic academy.
“Small- and medium-multifamily properties are a critical source of affordable housing across the country and here in the Mid-Atlantic. At a time when half the country’s renters are burdened by the cost of housing, we cannot afford to lose any of our existing stock to the threat of rising rents, deterioration, and destabilization," said David Bowers, Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Market, Enterprise Community Partners.
“The healthcare industry is evolving from a hospital-based system to one that revolves around the home, where patients can get care more conveniently and recover more effectively. When people experience housing insecurity, their health suffers because of their difficult living conditions and their inability to use the healthcare services available to housed individuals,” added Israel Rocha Jr., Regional President, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States. “At Kaiser Permanente, we believe it is our responsibility to work with our community partners to expand access to affordable housing. The Mid-Atlantic Preservation Academy represents a critical step in the right direction.”
SMMF buildings—typically between 2 and 49 units—are the second most common rental housing type in the Mid-Atlantic, housing more than 900,000 renters. These homes are critical for low-income households but are often unsubsidized and at risk of loss to rising rents and deferred maintenance. The Academy will focus on the unique challenges and opportunities to maintain this vital source of affordable homes in the region and address common barriers like limited financing options, aging infrastructure, and small-scale operations.
The Mid-Atlantic Preservation Next cohort members are:
- A-Peace LLC
- Bon Secours Community Works
- Embolden Real Estate
- Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services
- Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation
- HEP Development
- Housing Initiative Partnership
- Jubilee Housing
- MHP
- Wesley Housing Development Corporation
- Within Reach Development Collective
- Women's Home Preservation
The cohort includes both for-profit and nonprofit developers that range from emerging organizations to mature owner-operators. Collectively, members have preserved more than 1,500 homes in the region thus far.
The Preservation Academy kicked off on May 20th with a site visit to MHP property 515 Thayer in Silver Spring, Maryland.
“We are honored to join the Enterprise Mid-Atlantic Preservation Academy and share successes and challenges with a network of peers working towards a shared goal of preserving housing for low- and moderate-income people. Given the tremendous need for more affordable housing in our region, it is imperative to preserve everything we can and build forward-thinking strategies that prevent resident displacement,” said Robert A. Goldman, MHP President.
With public and private funds—including from Kaiser Permanente—cohort member, MHP completed renovations in 2022 to preserve these 55 affordable homes, upgrading them to be more modern, accessible, and efficient.