For Immediate Release
December 21, 2010
Contact: Song Hutchins
President/CEO
(301) 760-7636
ASIAN-AMERICAN HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING, INC. (AAHC),
ATTAINS NON-PROFIT, TAX-EXAMPT STATUS AND BEGINS OPERATIONS
Asian-American Homeownership Counseling, Inc. (AAHC) announced today it had attained
501 (c) 3, tax exempt, non-profit status and finalized its mission and objectives. AAHC is
headquartered at 12320 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20852, N.Virginia office is schedule to
open in March/April, and is licensed and certified to service clients in MD and VA.
The role of non-profit housing counselors is imperative in the current struggling U.S. housing
market and economy. The counselors’ role is to ensure that consumers are educated on what it
means to be a homeowner. They advise individuals on how to manage their finances properly, so
that they can be financially secure and not only attain, but sustain the American dream of
homeownership. There are thousands of housing counseling agencies in the nation, and
hundreds in the DC metropolitan region. Many of these agencies address housing issues, such as
pre- and post-purchase education, foreclosure prevention, reverse mortgages for seniors,
financial literacy education, rental assistance, credit counseling and many other relevant topics.
However, agencies that serve Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrant and
naturalized communities are extremely rare. An ability to communicate is critical, and there is a
glaring lack of certified counselors with bi-lingual ability (in Chinese, Korean, Filipino,
Vietnamese, Hindi and others) to service AAPI homeownership communities.
Asian-American Homeownership Counseling, Inc. (AAHC)--the first of its kind housing
counseling agency--in the DC metro region—is unique in that it will offer bi-lingual and
multicultural counseling and dedicate its efforts to educate and provide home buying, foreclosure
prevention, rental assistance, mortgage education and assistance, and financial literacy education
(including financial English) to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved
communities.
Mission
According to AAHC President/CEO Song Hutchins, “AAHC is committed to empowering and
inspiring Asian-Americans to achieve the American dream of homeownership by providing
counseling, education, tools, and resources. AAHC increases homeownership success by placing
individuals on the road to financial self-sufficiency. AAHC contributes to the stabilization of
communities and reinvigoration of the U.S. housing economy, and creates housing solutions for
first-time Asian-American and other homebuyers.”
Supporting Organizations and Government Agencies:
(No financial obligations)
Several governmental and non-governmental organizations have provided support to AAHC,
including: Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Governor’s Office, Maryland
Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Montgomery County
Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), Montgomery County Executive's
Office of Community Partnerships – MD, Capital Area Foreclosure Network (CAFN), AREAA
DC Metro, Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP), Virginia Association of Housing
Counseling (VAHC), Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), Korean Community
Service Center (KCSC), Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA-DC), Migrant Heritage
Commission (MHC), Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA), South Asian
American Leading Together (Saalt), Asian American LEAD, Housing Options and Planning
Enterprises, Inc (HOPE), National CAPACD, NID-Housing Counseling Agencies, Seat Pleasant
Community Development Corporation, Northern Virginia Urban League, Urban League of
Washington DC, Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC), Freddie Mac,
NeighborWorks America (NW) and many more,
Tax Deductible Donations:
Donations to AAHC are crucial for it to be able to fulfill its important mission and all donations
are tax deductible. Please check with your tax advisor. To donate, please visit www.aa-hc.org
or make checks payable to AAHC and mail to AAHC, c/o Non-profit Village, 12320 Parklawn
Dr. Rockville, MD 20852. c/o. Non-Profit Village.