Affordable Housing Associates [AHA] was founded in 1993 to "create and preserve high-quality, affordable housing communities that strengthen individuals, families, and neighborhoods." AHA has worked to fulfill its mission with the development of 500 units of affordable housing, which provide homes for over a thousand people in the East Bay. Our work addresses one of the most significant obstacles to individual, family and community advancement in our cities--the high cost of housing.



AHA’s first developments were small buildings in Berkeley that AHA acquired and renovated using its own construction crew, preserving affordability of housing threatened by market rate conversion. As we worked on these early properties, we built up our Property Management Department and gained the financial record and experience necessary to pursue larger developments, and new construction projects. Our professional Property Management staff maintain our buildings to the highest standards and establish close relationships with our residents. AHA manages 400 units, both our own developments and the Berkeley Housing Authority properties. The next few years will be significant: AHA has more housing in the pipeline than ever before--about 400 units--which will enrich East Bay cities with beautifully designed, well-located developments for low-income families, seniors, and people with special needs.



AHA has enjoyed a high degree of organizational stability, with steady growth under its founding Executive Director, Ali Kashani, and three founding Board members who continue to serve. Ali stepped down after leading AHA for nearly 11 years. Our new Executive Director, Susan Friedland, joined us in July 2004.



Most of AHA’s current work is in new construction, which allows us to use our full planning abilities to apply principles of smart growth, green construction, and community integration to our developments. In new construction, we plan developments around the needs of populations who traditionally face barriers to finding affordable housing, such as seniors, people with disabilities, or youth leaving the foster care system. Working with collaborating service organizations, tenant services and design amenities are part of the early planning process.



Today, AHA has a staff of 28 people, including a growing number of top industry professionals, who are attracted to AHA for its entrepreneurial drive and compassionate mission.



According to Executive Director Susan Friedland, "Affordable housing is the basic building block for transforming the lives of individuals and families." With Susan"s new leadership dedicated to the founding principles of AHA, we are poised to continue to grow and transform the lives of more individuals and families.