CHICAGO—Chicago-based The Habitat Company, a US multifamily developer and property manager, has decided to place its affordable housing operations under a single umbrella called the Habitat Affordable Group. The new arrangement unites the firm's public housing and affordable housing management divisions with its community development operations, a move that company officials say will improve efficiency and help fulfill their plan to grow nationally.

“In the multifamily world, the operational and development sides always need to work together, but in affordable housing, not only do you have the operational and development aspects, you also have a unique compliance aspect,” Matt Fiascone, president of Habitat, tells GlobeSt.com. The added complexity of meeting government requirements for all types of units, whether public housing or affordable units connected to tax credits or other financing mechanisms, means it “makes even more sense to operate them with a holistic approach.”

Charlton Hamer, senior vice president, will lead the new Habitat Affordable Group along with other key team members, including Shangwé Parker as vice president of affordable housing, and Jeff Head as vice president of community development.