Dear AHS Friends and Supporters,  

As we approach the halfway point of 2023, with warmer weather and longer days of summer ahead, we can reflect on the past several months with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

We are proud of our accomplishments with the FY2024 County Budget and Expanded Housing Options zoning. Thanks to our joint efforts, the County Board approved a budget that doubled the manager’s recommended funding levels for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund and restored funding for inspections of committed affordable units. With your hard work, Missing Middle and Expanded Housing Options are no longer abstract or unattainable goals. They are now a regular part of conversations on how to undo decades of harm and housing discrimination across the country. Our work in leading the way in Arlington was recently featured on national media platform Scripps News. Keep reading to see more of our coverage there.

As we look to address the affordable housing issues of the months and years ahead, the AHS board is reflecting on what we’ve done well and where we have opportunities for growth and development. Our Board of Directors is continuing our strategic planning process, and we would love to hear from you as well. Please let us know what we’re doing that resonates with you and what you’d like to see us improve upon. We would appreciate it if you could fill out the two-question survey later in this newsletter.

Are you interested in getting more involved with AHS? We are currently recruiting volunteer board members who are dedicated, passionate, and committed to the work of affordable housing. If you or someone you know fits this description, please read on to learn how you can get involved and join us.

With Gratitude,
 

 

Early voting is underway and the June 20th Democratic primary is fast approaching.

In this episode, we explore the housing policy priorities of the six candidates for County Board participating in the Democratic primary. You’ll hear what each candidate had to say when given four minutes to speak at a recent meeting of the AHS Housing Action Arlington group. Listen and compare. At the end of the video, you’ll receive valuable online resources about when, where, and how to vote using the ranked choice voting method.

Make sure you like and subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on the latest from the AHS/AHS Show for insights from our Executive Director Charles McCullough and guests!

Watch the latest episode
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Arlington’s Homelessness Continuum of Care (CoC) served 1,070 people in 2022, according to its FY 2021-2022 annual report. The number likely would have been significantly higher if not for eviction prevention efforts totaling $20 million in state, federal and local funding that helped more than 3,400 households during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, challenges remain in serving diverse populations affected by homelessness. Black and African American residents continue to be disproportionately impacted by homelessness due to the root causes of systemic racism.  
 

“The total number of individuals served in FY 2022 was almost identical to pre-pandemic levels,” said Department of Human Services Director Anita Friedman. “Without strong eviction prevention efforts, we would have seen many more households upended and in crisis. Nonetheless, for those households that do experience homelessness, it is traumatic, and we remain committed to working alongside them as they return to housing stability. We will also continue to address critical gaps, including in the areas of racial equity, immigrant and refugee households, and the aging population.” | Read the report

 

The Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) recently released its updated Housing Indicator Tool (HIT), a dashboard designed to measure progress towards meeting our regional housing needs.

The tool includes new interactive features that put a human face to the housing affordability challenge; new indicators on housing production and preservation outcomes; additional policies the HIT is tracking; and data that speaks to a number of key issues including: rental production for units with income or rent restrictions, production of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units to support the most vulnerable populations, funding needs for maintenance and rehabilitation of public housing units, and local efforts to achieving racial equity through housing. See how HIT works here. 

Our May AHS Meet the Board spotlight is on Grace White. Grace recently joined the AHS board.

What drove your interest in AHS?
 

Housing affordability has been a priority for me since moving back to Arlington after college. AHS has been a long time leader in the Missing Middle discussion (advocating for it years before the county took a position) and I appreciate the work AHS has done in providing a voice for more housing supply. It’s an honor to serve in a forward-looking organization fighting to make housing affordable to all Arlingtonians. 

What are your AHS goals for 2023?
 

Now that the County Board has banned exclusionary zoning and Missing Middle can become a reality, I believe the next steps are finding ways to make committed affordable projects feasible in the places where multifamily housing is now permitted. In addition to organizing events with AHS and leading on current housing issues like Plan Langston Boulevard, I would like for us to take a look into future policies to expand the areas where affordable housing can exist in Arlington.

 

On Saturday, June 3, Arlington County's Housing division will host a day of workshops and targeted education for tenants, tenant advocates, and housing advocates. The summit will provide technical (Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Fair Housing) and non-technical (how to file complaints, conflict resolution, communication skills) information to empower participants to address housing issues. 

Registration for this FREE event by is suggested but not required by May 31, click here.

Community members are invited to weigh in on the direction for Arlington County’s homeownership programs by identifying priorities and values. 

June 29: Virtual Collective to Shape the Vision for Homeownership Programs   
 

 

Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 19th from 3:30 PM -7 PM for an AHS 20th anniversary celebration featuring the Leckey Forum and Bozman Awards. Stay tuned to AHS for more information!

 

AHS is currently conducting a strategic planning process. To help us understand where you get your AHS news and updates from, please complete this two question survey and let us know where we are reaching you.

You can access the survey here.

 

AHS is looking for committed and dedicated board members who want to lead the way in creating an Arlington for Everyone. Let us know if you have the time and interest in helping AHS advocate for affordable housing by completing the Volunteer Board Member Interest Form on our website, which you can access here!

Get Ready! The draft Plan for Langston Boulevard is being formulated now to reflect community and commission input collected to date. It will include the vision, goals, policy recommendations, and short- and long-term strategies for Langston Boulevard.

Additional public engagement and affordable housing advocacy opportunities will take place once the draft is released this summer. AHS will share details and dates as soon as they are set.
 

Go to: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Plans-Studies/Land-Use/Plan-Langston-Boulevard to learn more about the plan and view video presentations on Plan Langston Boulevard.
 

Become a member of the Alliance for Housing Solutions community on the platform Mobilize.io to learn, share ideas, and be part of policy discussions. We currently offer the following groups:
 

Increasing the supply of affordable housing through education, policy, advocacy, and innovation.