A CURATED LIST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTERS
October 2023
Alexandria
The final Alexandria Zoning for Housing/Housing for All hybrid Community Meeting will be on Oct. 12. While the recommendations have not been as impactful as some expected, advocates are needed to show support for the changes to address housing affordability, accessibility and availability. It is expected that this will be voted on by the Planning Commission on Nov. 1, followed by City Council on Nov. 28, with many opportunities for public comment in between.
The next phase for the Alexandria West Planning process involves hosting a series of Community Workshops on Oct. 26, Nov. 4 and Nov. 8. This planning process will address housing vulnerability and affordability and will set clear expectations for future development. For the latest updates, please refer to the Sept. 27 Community Meeting presentation.
Arlington
The Arlington County Board will review the Draft Plan Langston Boulevard on October 14 as a request to advertise. Advocates are encouraged to sign up to speak on behalf of the September 28 Updated Draft Plan. This will help ensure 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, aligning them with the county's stated affordable housing goals for the Langston Blvd corridor.
Ten EHO/Missing Middle projects have been approved with 17 permits under review. Some neighbors successfully fought a duplex, but Arlington continues to add more Missing Middle homes.
Arlington just released their Homeownership Study Phase 2 report, summarizing the community engagement work that occurred between May and July 2023 and presents ideas from the community for possible objectives to support the vision and goals. The next Housing Commission Homeownership Subcommittee meeting will be on Oct. 18 from 12 to 1:30pm. Virtual participation is strongly encouraged.
Arlington celebrates Affordable Housing Month during the month of October with a series of programming, including a virtual Lunch and Learn with County staff and Bu-GATA on October 17 at noon and a Bus Tour of affordable housing communities on October 26 from 9:30 - 1.
Fairfax
Parking Reimagined was adopted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) on Sept. 26, modernizing the off-street parking and loading requirements in neighborhoods and commercial areas of the county. Most of the changes are targeted to transit areas of the County.
Consider speaking at the CCFAC Public Hearing on Affordable Housing and Human Services, either in-person or virtually, on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government center.
Advocates are needed to show support for the proposed transfer of a county-owned land for affordable housing, which currently serves as a temporary cricket field near the Innovation Center Metro at a BOS public hearing on Oct. 24 at 4:30 pm.
Fairfax County has issued Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP) RFPs for FY 2025-2026 to solicit applications from eligible nonprofits for health, housing and human services to residents within the county. To receive notifications of the RFP 1 and RFP 2 releases, register with Bonfire, the county’s procurement portal and at eVA. Applications are due by 2 p.m. on Dec. 5.
Register for the Tysons Community Alliance’s upcoming interactive workshop, Accessing Attainable Housing in Tysons, on Nov. 8 from 2 to 7 pm at the Boro Station Conference Center.
Loudoun
Loudoun County is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Support Services Grant Program. Nonprofit organizations with a history of working in Loudoun County that assist residents with low incomes are encouraged to apply by Oct. 12.
Loudoun County is scheduled to open the waitlist for the county’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program on Oct. 5 at 8:30 a.m. Eligibility for the waitlist requires household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income. This is the first opportunity of its kind in over a decade.
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 and will hold a public hearing to adopt the new ordinance on Dec. 13.
Prince William
The Prince William County ADU Ordinance Community Engagement session, initially scheduled for this week, has been postponed. Instead, the Planning Commission will hold a Work Session on Affordable Dwelling Units at 6 pm on Oct 11 at the James J. McCoart Administration Building, located at 1 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192.
The Prince William County Chair Candidate Debate, hosted by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, will be held Oct. 26 from 6 - 8 pm at the George Mason University Scitech Campus in Manassas. Registration is required.
NOVA
Early voting has begun in advance of Election Day on Nov 7. Our partners at DCist.com have an excellent Northern Virginia Election Guide about how you can find out who is running in your district.
George Mason’s Schar School of Policy, through its Regional Elected Leaders Initiative, is hosting a free policy webinars on Expanding Affordable Homeownership in NOVA on Oct. 13 from 12 - 1:15.
See what is happening just outside of our traditional NOVA region by attending the George Washington Regional Commission’s Housing Summit on Oct. 17 from 9-5 at the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center.
State
Virginia Housing will begin a review of the Minimum Design and Construction Requirements (MDCR) and modifications to the current MDCR will affect:
The MDCR Committee would like your feedback on the current requirements. For those interested, please forward your comments and suggestions to [email protected] by Oct. 6.
HUD announced the
2024 difficult development areas (DDAs) and qualified census tracts (QCTs) for purposes of the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC). LIHTC properties built in a QCT or DDA are eligible to increase their eligible basis by up to 30%.
Articles of Interest
How It’s Working: Laws That Help Tenants and Nonprofits Buy Buildings, ShelterForce
Inclusionary Housing: Secrets to Success, ShelterForce
Amazon Launches Plan to Help ‘Underserved’ D.C.-area Families Buy Homes, Washington Post
The Americans Most Threatened by Eviction: Young Children, New York Times
