Reflecting on a year of change, the work ahead and RHA’s enduring commitment to the people and communities we serve.
As summer draws to a close and we begin another fall season, life looks a little different depending on where you sit. For families, September means children returning to school and the routines that come with it. For older adults and persons with disabilities, cooler weather brings a change of pace and different needs. For many working households, it is another season of balancing jobs, family responsibilities, rising costs, and the everyday work of making ends meet. At RHA, the changing season also gives us an opportunity to reflect on a year that has brought a remarkable amount of change.
Much of that change has happened within our own organization. We introduced a new software system that changed how nearly every employee performs some part of their job—and how residents and participants interact with us. Longtime employees retired, responsibilities shifted, job descriptions changed, new employees joined us, and others stepped into expanded roles. Change of this magnitude is rarely seamless. I am deeply appreciative of our employees who worked through the learning curves while continuing to serve the public, and equally grateful to our residents, program participants, landlords, vendors, and community partners for their patience as we worked our way through it.
There is also much work ahead. The shortage of safe, quality housing that people can afford remains one of the most significant challenges facing our community and our country. We see it in the number of people seeking assistance, in rents that are beyond the reach of lower- and middle-income households, and in the difficult choices families make when the cost of daily living consumes too much of their income. RHA cannot solve the housing crisis alone, but we can make certain that the housing entrusted to us remains strong, that our resources are used responsibly, and that affordable housing creates as much opportunity as possible for the people who receive it.
That responsibility is also prompting important conversations at RHA. As federal housing policy evolves, we are considering how affordable housing can provide stability while also encouraging greater economic independence for residents who are able to work. We believe that people who are capable of greater independence generally want something more for themselves and their families, and we are thoughtfully considering how opportunity, support, and reasonable expectations might work together toward that goal.
None of this work happens without partnership. We are grateful for the support RHA receives from the City of Reading, Berks County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, HUD, our elected officials, and the many community organizations that work alongside us. At the same time, construction and operating costs continue to rise, resources are finite, and the need for affordable housing continues to exceed what any one organization or funding source can provide. Those realities require us to be disciplined with our resources, creative in our partnerships, and willing to adapt.
As we move into fall, I am optimistic about where RHA is headed—not because the challenges before us are small, but because this past year has reminded me of our capacity to adapt. Our employees have learned new ways of working. Our clients have adapted alongside us. Our partners continue to invest their time, resources, and confidence in our work. Through all of that change, our purpose has remained constant.
We remain committed to providing the foundation for people to find a home of hope and achieve their aspirations—and to making sure that foundation is strong enough for people to build upon.
We invite you to visit us again soon.