A CURATED LIST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTERS
September 2023
City of Alexandria
Recommendations for the Alexandria Zoning for Housing/Housing for All Initiative will be released at the City Council/Planning Commission work session tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 5, from 5-7 p.m. in the City Council workroom at City Hall and on-line. No public comment will be accepted, but Community Meetings are scheduled at 6 pm on Sept. 14, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12. Advocates are needed to show support of the changes to address housing affordability, accessibility and availability. Key supporting data was presented by a panel of experts at the Fall Kick-off Meeting on Aug. 29.
The next Alexandria West Planning Community Meeting will be held on Sept. 27, at 7:00 pm at the Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School. Zoom information and an agenda will be posted soon. City Council prioritized this planning process to update the long-term vision for the 1992 Alexandria West Small Area Plan and integrate the 2012 Beauregard Small Area Plan. This planning process will address housing vulnerability and affordability and will set clear expectations for future development.
Alexandria’s Draft Citizen Participation Plan for Housing and Community Development, which seeks participation by persons of low- or moderate-income, particularly residents of predominantly low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in the allocation process HUD funding programs, is now available for comment in writing by Sept. 22, or by providing testimony at a public hearing at the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee meeting beginning at 7 p.m. on Sept. 7 at City Hall.
Arlington County
The final draft of Plan Langston Boulevard is anticipated in September, and should reflect public feedback and survey results. If you are interested in learning about the updated plan, please attend the Long Range Planning Committee meeting tonight, Sept. 5 from 7 - 9:30 pm at the Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Room 311, or on line. We are working with our partners at the Alliance for Housing Solutions to seek a plan that achieves the 2,500 CAFs goal, maximum zoning flexibility for affordable units, and a commitment to an immediate review of the East Falls Church and Cherrydale area plans to bring them into alignment with the county's stated affordable housing goals for the Langston Blvd corridor.
The FY 2025 Community Development Fund Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is soliciting proposals to help to improve the economic conditions and quality of life for low- and moderate-income individuals and households in Arlington. Grants are generally in the $20,000-$50,000 range Applications are due by Sept. 8 at 5pm.
For the first time in over 10 years, Arlington will open its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program waitlist to 5,000 households through a special application and lottery process. Interested families and individuals will be able to apply on any internet-enabled at arlingtonva.us/HCV2023 starting at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13 through Saturday, Sept. 23. Nonprofit partners are organizing to help individuals with the application process.
Fairfax County
Fairfax County announced a NOFA for more than $31.9 million through local, state, and federal funding sources to support affordable housing development and preservation. A pre-application conference will be held on Sept. 18 at 3:30pm at 3700 Pender Drive, HCD Center (1st Floor), Fairfax, VA 22030, with a virtual option for those who would like to attend online. Please send an e-mail to [email protected] to register by Sept. 8.
Additional funding opportunities through the County include, the Innovation Fund, providing financial assistance to businesses and nonprofit organizations to create programs or projects that benefit the most vulnerable residents in Fairfax County. Applications are due Sept. 20. As well as $357,000 from the HOME/CDBG funding to Acquire, Develop and Rehabilitate Affordable Rental Housing. Applications are due Sept. 22.
Parking Reimagined is set to go back before the Planning Commission on Sept. 13, and then before the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 26. If approved, the changes would go into effect on Jan 1. Parking Reimagined aims to tackle the “right-sizing” of parking requirements. Too much parking contributes to wasting land area, discouraging walking and biking, creating heat islands and storm runoff, and increasing the cost of housing and other development.
Office to residential conversions are becoming more commonplace, however rarely are buildings converted to affordable housing. Fairfax County is working on a conversion of an old office building to affordable housing in Merrifield.
Fairfax County will provide monthly cash payments to eligible, randomly selected households, along with optional financial coaching and supportive resources, to promote economic stability and social capital. The 2023 Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot (FCEMP) application portal opens Sept. 23.
Fairfax DHCD welcomes comments and feedback on the Fairfax DHCD welcomes comments and feedback on the draft of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). This report provides an evaluation of Fairfax County’s use of federal funding provided through the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grants programs. The public review and comment period will run from Aug. 24 through Sept. 17.
City of Fairfax
The Fairfax City Council will meet for a work session tonight, Sept. 5 at 7:00 pm to discuss Zoning Ordinance provisions for Affordable Dwelling Units, which was only adopted on June 23, 2020. Advocates are encouraged to track any changes to the program which would result in fewer affordable housing units being produced.
Loudoun County
Work continues on the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will host a Work Session on Chapter 9: Attainable Housing on Oct. 23 at 6 pm. Supervisors could vote to adopt the new ordinance as early as Dec. 13, following the second public hearing scheduled for that day.
The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development invites residents to provide comments on the Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (PDF). The Draft CAPER covers the performance of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Residents may view the document online at loudoun.gov/cdbg or visit the office of the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development.
Reminder that Loudoun County’s proposals for their Affordable Multi-family Housing Loans funded by the Loudoun Housing Trust applications in support of 9% LIHTC applications are due Oct. 2, 2023. Applications that will be using 4% LIHTCs may choose to submit an application by January 2, 2024, or June 3, 2024.
Prince William
A draft Prince William County
Affordable Housing Dwelling Unit Ordinance is expected in September, and the County will hold a Public Hearing on Oct. 2 from 5:30-7:30PM at Beacon Hall at George Mason University Science and Technology Campus.
Delegate Michelle Maldonado, in collaboration with Manassas Park City Council members, Yesy Amaya and Darryl Moore, will host an Affordable Housing Town Hall with the Virginia Poverty Law Center on Sept. 7, from 6:30 - 8:00pm at Manassas Park City Hall.
NOVA
The Fairfax County Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs will be hosting a multi-jurisdictional Fair Housing and Equal Employment event Human Rights: Legal Updates and Emerging Frontiers at the Fairfax County Government Center on Sept. 21 from 9:30-12:30.
Join the Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust (VSCLT) for an Information Session to learn more about the community land trust model, VSCLT's unique approach to permanent affordability, and to share what partnership with the VSCLT looks like. This free session will be held on Oct. 4 from 4 - 5:30 pm at the Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Blenheim Boulevard in Fairfax.
Election Day is November 7 and Northern Virginia will welcome a large number of newly elected officials into office come January. While NVAHA does not have Candidate Forums or Candidate Questionnaires, our partners do. Please meet the candidates and consider advocating for more affordable housing and supportive services at any of these events happening this month and in October. The ARC of Northern Virginia and Autism Society of Northern Virginia Campaign Forums is hosting multiple events. The Loudoun County Chamber hosts a Loudoun Board of Supervisors Candidates Forum and a Virginia General Assembly Candidates Forum. The Arlington Chapter of the NAACP is hosting an on-line Candidates Forum. And our partners at Fairfax Healthy Communities have posted answers to their Fairfax County BOS campaign questionnaire. Feel free to send us additional campaign forums and events and we will post them in our October issue.
State
The Department of Housing and Community Development's Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) Program opened the first of two competitive application cycles for fiscal year 2024. For Fall 2023, DHCD will hold two How-to-Apply Workshops. The Homeownership Workshop will be held on Sept. 13, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Video call link. The Rental Workshop will be held on Sept. 28, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Video call link. Applications are due Oct. 6.
DHCD also announced the availability of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) One-Time Supplemental Infrastructure Fund on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications can be accessed through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Centralized Application and Management System (CAMS) under “2023 CDBG Program”. Funding requests cannot exceed $1.5 million and the program will remain open until Dec. 30 or until funds are expended.
The Virginia Mortgage Relief Program (VMRP) will no longer accept new applications effective Oct. 1, 2023. In addition, forward mortgage payment assistance is being discontinued with a final monthly payment for eligible applicants taking place in Oct. 2023.
Virginia Diocesan Homes is hosting a forum on How Houses of Worship Can Faithfully Respond to the Housing Crisis on Sept. 23 from 9 am - 3 pm at Aquia Espicopal Church, 2938 Jefferson Davis Highway in Stafford, VA.
Last chance to register for Virginia Housing Alliance’s Housing Credit Conference, Learning Academy Workshop, and Housing Virginia’s Most Vulnerable Conference on September 19-22. The registration deadline is Friday, September 8.
Articles of Interest
How States Can Use Medicaid to Address Housing Costs, ShelterForce
Apple has Spent $1.5B on Affordable Housing, Here's Where the Money Went, Fast Company
This Is Public Housing. Just Don’t Call It That. Montgomery County, Md., like many places, has an affordable housing crisis. So it started acting like a benevolent real estate investor, NY Times (paywall)
How a Mobile Home Park Saved Its Community from a Corporate Buyout, High Country News
Priorities for Advancing Latino Homeownership, Urban Institute
How an Arlington Mill Condo Association Plans to Transform Itself on a Budget, ArlNow
