ACHD Monthly Edition —The January Report
- African Community Housing and Development
- Feb 3
- 8 min read
Welcome to the New Year. While we’re living in complex times, we’re excited to share the many exciting things that took place at ACHD these past four weeks and a few opportunities to join us in the future. Our hope is that the ACHD Monthly Edition is something you look forward to in your inbox each month.
HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES
ACHD’s Housing and Human Services team is making strides in key initiatives that impact our community. From our role in a Washington State effort supporting asylees and refugees to breakthroughs in rapid rehousing, we're committed to driving change. We’ll also explore the vital connection between our Markets and essential needs, plus share an exciting update on our own rehousing initiative—the Phoenix Program.
Strengthening ACHD’s largest area of focus
Having received a grant this past November, ACHD is now proud to take part in MASS, a WA State government program that supports asylees and refugees by weaving together a web of organizations that provide essential services, culturally responsive case management, legal assistance, and housing support. The initiative provides ACHD with funding support that will help us continue our mission to uplift the communities of the Greater Seattle area.
Rapid rehousing highlight
Rapid Rehousing Case Manager Samater Mahmoud works around the clock to ensure financial stability for the families he serves. He takes every day one step at a time, building case-by-case plans that not only envision economic security but offer holistic values to families.
When we asked Samater for his most important news for January, he jumped straight into the meaningful work his team is doing. “I want to shout-out Mohamed Yussuf and Mustafe Abdi for the work they do in their respective departments—Diversion and Youth and Family Homelessness,” Samater said. “Over just this past month, I have seen them work so hard to ensure families avoid eviction, attain stable jobs, and overall, prevent homelessness.”
Farmers Market flex
Our Farmers Market Program is of two helping hands when it comes to community involvement—one that supports the livelihood of small businesses by providing a safe space for entrepreneurs to sell their goods and feel empowered by growing community kinship.
On the other hand, the Markets boost the basics—the SeaTac Mid-Winter Festival, a recent extension of our typical Farmers Markets, served the community this past Friday by offering free necessities to all attendees. As a mighty community resource, ACHD Farmers Markets provide essential support while creating a welcoming space to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make Seattle so vibrant.
Waiting for rebirth
Last month, I reported on the success of the Phoenix Program, spearheaded by Mohamed Yussuf. The initiative sought to support individuals who are underserved by the legal system, in need of secure housing, wanting to strengthen community bonds, and positively reshape their futures.
The Phoenix Program has been a powerful force for good, helping countless families achieve stable housing and a sense of security. While the program is currently in a transitional phase, with its supporting contract having concluded, Mohamed remains steadfast. His resilience and dedication to the cause stand as a testament to the program’s lasting impact and potential to continue making a difference. Mohamed and our team continue to advocate for more funding to help individuals find the safe, secure housing that every person deserves. To support these families in need, you can donate to ACHD here. Your donations are vital to helping families in need and cultivating hope in our communities.
EDUCATION
At the heart of everything we do is our commitment to providing high-quality services to the community. This month, our Education team took a significant step in that mission by participating in an intensive Wilderness First Aid program. This hands-on training equips them with essential skills to ensure safety and preparedness as they gear up for our exciting summer excursions.
Another huge leap was taken on January 22nd, when the Ed. Team hosted a Positive Family Connection (PFC) program at South Shore K-8 to discuss the needs of families and their students for the 2025 school year. The PFC Program is made possible by a grant the Department received from the City of Seattle, and through this initiative, ACHD regularly meets with families in person to acquire a comprehensive understanding of what struggles they are facing and how to address them. The Ed. Team will host these programs, dubbed Community Cafes, throughout the year with the aim of ensuring success for the whole family unit.
Quick Updates:
The next parent meeting will be held on January 31st to continue the community conversation.
Snowshoeing with the Forest Service will take place on February 15th. Students will embark on an exciting excursion in the Snoqualmie pass—stay tuned for reels on our social media!
Students will embark on yet another adventure to the Seattle Aquarium on February 22nd to learn about marine life and discover one of Seattle’s hot spots for family fun.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Technical Support
The Small Business Program (SBP) continues to offer technical support to small businesses. Business owners and prospective entrepreneurs are welcome to make an appointment or walk in for assistance.
Upcoming
The SBD is excited to announce an upcoming workshop for business owners, hosted by Labor & Industries (L&I). The workshop will take place on February 7th, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, in ACHD’s Learning Center. Topics include:
Quarterly Reports
Rates & Risk Classes
Self-Insurance
Employee Rights
Claims for Employers, Medical Providers, & Vocational Workers
Workplace Policies
Look for ACHD’s office in SeaTac (16256 Military Rd S, Seatac, WA 98188). Food will be provided during the session, and we are eager to engage with our local business community.
Save the date for our next event—on February 13th, The SBD will be tabling at the State of the Mayor’s Address on February 13th, held at the Federal Way Performing Arts Center.
From 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM, along with ACHD’s Education Department, the SBD will share information about ACHD and connect with attendees. The event will include a speaker and is especially open to business owners based in Federal Way.
Opportunity Highlight
This month, the SBD is shining a spotlight on the Minority Business Certification (MBE). MBE certification offers business owners of color a range of benefits, such as:
Access to government contract bidding opportunities.
A competitive edge, as many organizations prioritize working with certified MBE vendors.
The ability to use MBE logos to market their business to the community.
Assistance with qualifying for specific grants and loans for minority-owned businesses.
According to the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE):
"The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certifies small businesses owned and controlled by minority, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged persons. OMWBE certifies businesses to increase contracting opportunities for certified businesses with state and local governments."
If anyone is interested in learning more about the certification process or needs help with an application, ACHD is here to help.
Farmers Market
Farmers Market fans had a good reason to visit The Roadhouse on Friday, January 24th—the SeaTac Mid-Winter Festival delivered an evening of family friendly fun, with live music, free resources, and more!
ACHD hosts both the Delridge and SeaTac Farmers Markets, which have been wildly successful in bringing together small businesses, local non-profits, and community members. ACHD’s Farmers Markets are rooted in food justice, health equity, and sharing seasonal abundance from our Pacific Northwest bounty, influenced by global cultures and traditions.
Here are some of the exceptional moments from the event:
100 free produce bags distributed, full of fresh winter produce grown by local farmers (potatoes, beets, turnips, rutabaga, squash, frozen blueberries, apples, pears, and more!)
35 packs of diapers distributed in our basic needs distro
18 BIPOC vendors selling a range of farm, food, and artisan products
Free acupuncture provided by Burien Community Acupuncture Project (CAP)
Free massage by Iyo Torres (specifically Indigenous Filipino bodywork therapy called Ablon)
Free scavenger hunt hosted by ACHD's education team, as a means to have youth interact with and learn about local vendors
SeaTac Council Member Senayet Negusse stopped by and posted lots of photos and reels on her IG
"These events are safe spaces for our community to celebrate the seasons together — to reflect on what keeps us connected: our culture, shared values and commitment to caring for each other.” - Indra Budiman, Assistant Farmers Market Manager at ACHD.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
2025 is ACHD’s groundbreaking year—literally! This quarter, we’re breaking ground on our first townhome project with Habitat for Humanity. As part of our growth, we’re renaming our Community Development Program to Real Estate Development to better reflect our expanding real estate efforts. Development Manager David Lieberman has also shared some exciting updates to our plans.
“We have been building up our resources and capacity over the past few years and we’re finally ready to turn the real estate vision into a reality,” said David. “A lot of our real estate efforts are really a physical manifestation of our efforts that have already existed for a long time, such as housing and social services. Large-scale real estate development is the logical step for ACHD’s expansion.”
“The work we do in real estate is not just about developing projects for the sake of developing projects—we also intend to create widespread economic development in the Greater Seattle area. We aim to bring the ACHD ethos of equity and diversity to the people who live in our projects, to the people who build our projects, and to the people who help to envision the projects.”
TEAM ACHD
Zzaj Collins, our former Director of Fundraising and Communications, has been named Chief Operations Officer (COO) of ACHD. Zzaj’s focus in this new role is to ensure the mission and vision is infused in every aspect of programs, services, and ACHD Culture.
We’re welcoming Daniel Ovando to the PNW and Team ACHD as our new Chief Business and Finance Officer (CBFO). Daniel has a lifetime of financial and leadership experience spanning the profit and nonprofit sectors, bringing invaluable knowledge to ACHD.
RESOURCES
ACHD’s Commitment to Community Stability and Support
At ACHD, we remain deeply aware of our rapidly evolving political climate and its direct impact on our community. Our top priority is to ensure that ACHD and our programs continue to serve as a safe, inclusive space that upholds and protects the rights of those we serve.
We recognize that these ongoing changes may bring uncertainty, and we are committed to open dialogue, active engagement, and unwavering support as we navigate these challenges together. Our dedication to community resilience remains steadfast, and we will continue to provide the resources and advocacy needed to foster stability and empowerment.
Here’s a list of resources and informational sites for communities in need:
Thank you for taking some time out of your busy day to learn about ACHD and our many programs. See you next month.
African Community Housing is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to serving the community of African Diaspora, BIPOC communities, immigrants, and refugees in the Greater Seattle Area by building culturally rooted health and housing stability through economic development, legal support, resource navigation, holistic education, and access to cultural arts and traditions.
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