Relationship building to ensure success.

A strategy that reflects real community needs.

Affordable Housing Strategy

Context
The Annapolis County Housing Association (ACHA) is a relatively new organization formed to address the growing housing challenges in the region. As a start-up community housing organization, ACHA needed to both understand the real housing needs of residents and build trust, relationships, and a positive reputation in the community. In a context where affordability, accessibility, and supply are pressing issues, it was essential that their work begin by listening deeply to local voices and priorities.

Our Role
Colab partnered with ACHA to design and facilitate a community-driven engagement process that would ground the organization’s next steps in lived experience while strengthening its local presence. Through six in-person sessions across the county and a public survey reaching more than 300 residents, we created inclusive spaces for residents to share their concerns, hopes, and ideas. We then synthesized these inputs into clear themes to guide strategy and partnerships moving forward.

Outcome
The engagement process confirmed strong community support for more affordable housing and positioned ACHA as a trusted convener and partner. The findings emphasized the importance of defining affordability in real terms, prioritizing diverse and accessible housing near services, enabling collaboration across sectors, and leveraging policy tools for creative solutions. The process not only provided ACHA with a grounded roadmap for action but also helped establish the organization’s credibility, relationships, and role as a catalyst for community-rooted housing solutions.