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Enhancing Affordable Housing Projects with Strategic Financial Oversight

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How Hollyhand Development strengthens project oversight, streamlines financial tracking, and makes faster, more confident decisions across its affordable housing portfolio.

Client

Hollyhand Development (Hollyhand) and its affiliated construction and management companies is a vertically integrated affordable housing firm based in Northport, Alabama. With operations spanning several southeastern states, they specialize in developing, constructing and managing affordable housing properties primarily financed utilizing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program.

a building under construction

Challenge

As Hollyhand expanded its footprint and project portfolio, the complexity of financial structuring and development oversight increased. They sought an advisor with deep industry expertise who could both support their expansion and guide them. Key priorities included avoiding costly missteps, streamlining development and construction tracking, and receiving strategic guidance from project inception through completion.

We needed help on the front end to make sure we were looking at projects correctly… and not getting too far down the road on projects that had hidden financing and accounting issues.

Winton Yerby

Hollyhand Development

Hollyhand’s leadership recognized that internal resources alone couldn’t keep pace with the demands of financial modeling, investor communication, and compliance. Navigating these challenges would require more than transactional support — they needed an advisor who could support them in the short term but also grow with them.

Approach

Since 2007, Hollyhand has relied on EisnerAmper’s Affordable Housing Advisory Services (AHAS) team, for strategic modeling and accounting guidance to structure each project for long-term success. Early in the relationship, the AHAS team utilized a proprietary development workbook that tracks their costs, deadlines and equity installments, but also allows for projecting the "what-if" scenarios. Beyond technical support, the AHAS team leverages their experience and industry relationships with investors and lenders, in order to streamline communications and help Hollyhand navigate complex financial closings.

The AHAS team’s hands-on approach integrates seamlessly with Hollyhand’s operations, with the firm’s regional expertise and collaborative style making it easy to adapt solutions to Hollyhand’s evolving needs.

We’re able to make decisions earlier and with more confidence because we know the numbers are solid and the structure is sound.

Winton Yerby

Results

Hollyhand has shifted from reactive problem-solving to proactive, confident decision-making. With real-time financial modeling and strategic guidance at their fingertips, Hollyhand’s leadership now enters each project with clarity and control. This increased confidence has translated into tangible business outcomes.

Hollyhand has:

Accelerated its development pipeline

Taken on more complex projects

Strengthened relationships with investors and housing authorities.

The ability to rely on EisnerAmper’s expertise has reduced internal strain and allowed Hollyhand’s teams to execute better and focus on long-term growth. Additionally, the clarity provided by EisnerAmper’s tools and insights has improved collaboration and reduced uncertainty across the organization.

a group of people playing a game

Beyond the immediate scope of this collaboration, the AHAS team and EisnerAmper have become a trusted extension of Hollyhand’s internal team. What began as small-scale financial planning discussions has matured into a collaborative rhythm — bi-weekly touchpoints, ongoing modeling support, and proactive guidance that helps Hollyhand stay ahead of industry shifts.

This partnership has become a cornerstone of Hollyhand’s operational confidence, allowing their team to focus on what they do best: developing communities.

Our whole organization tends to be a little sharper because EisnerAmper works with all parts of the team—from management to construction to development.

Winton Yerby

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Discover how EisnerAmper’s Real Estate team can help your organization uncover savings, strengthen business intelligence, and support smarter decision-making for affordable housing. Ready to get started? Connect with our team.