A CURATED LIST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTERS
December 2023
Alexandria
Last week, the City Council approved the Zoning for Housing/Housing for All series of proposals ending single-family-only zoning, but more importantly, permitting additional affordable housing in all areas of the City. For more information and a thoughtful review of the history, process, and outcomes of ZfH/HfA actions, please read Mayor Justin Wilson’s December 2023 Council Connection.
*TONIGHT* The Alexandria Office of Housing is hosting a virtual community meeting to solicit input for a study that is examining how a Local Rental Subsidy Program could be designed, structured, and operated in the city. The meeting will be held tonight, Monday, December 4, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., via Zoom, with Spanish, Amharic, and Arabic interpretation. Please register here to participate in the meeting.
Arlington
On November 11, the Arlington County Board adopted the Plan Langston Boulevard Area Plan after a multi-year study and community engagement process. With regard to housing, the Plan projects to increase overall housing supply to 19,600-26,300 units by 2075, projects to increase affordable housing to 3,200-3,800 units by 2075 to enable more equitable housing options, and validates the goal of realizing 2,500 affordable housing units by 2040, to align with the projections in the Affordable Housing Master Plan.
Arlington County is set to go to court next summer over the Missing Middle Zoning Ordinances, but continues to approve new Expanded Housing Option (EHO) projects. A judge ruled in October that the 10 residents who brought the suit had standing. Arlington County will attempt to appeal the judge’s standing decision in a hearing on Jan. 11. Twenty-One EHO projects have been approved to date.
Lend support for the virtual/in-person Site Plan Review Committee meeting for the Goodwill Site, a mixed-use affordable housing project by Goodwill Industries and AHC Inc., on December 14 at 7:00 pm at the Bozman Center Cherry Room on the second floor, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, and via MS Teams.
Arlington County will hold a series of public meetings this month on Barcroft Apartments’ Master Financing and Development Plan, starting with the Housing Commission on December 7, the Tenant-Landlord Commission on Dec. 13 and the County Board on Dec. 16.
Fairfax
As of December 1, Fairfax County announced new and increased payment standards for Housing Choice Vouchers. Payments are based on RealMarket payment standards, and grouped into three zones, with each Fairfax County zip code assigned to a zone. These new payment standards open up housing choice and access to neighborhoods of opportunity for voucher holders.
Fairfax County is soliciting proposals to establish a contract or contracts through a competitive negotiation for the provision of Homeless Assistance Projects and Programs. The closing date and time for the solicitation is February 9, 2024 at 2:00 pm through the Bonfire portal at https://fairfaxcounty.bonfirehub.com. An optional pre-proposal conference will be held online via Microsoft Teams conferencing on December 7, 2023, at 10:00 am.
Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Program is now open through March 31, 2024. Shelters are available for individuals and adults with children at several locations across the county. If you see someone who is unsheltered and you think is at risk of hypothermia, call 703-691-2131.
Lend your support at the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (
FCRHA) public hearing on
December 14, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Government Center, Rooms 9 & 10, on the proposed
Franconia Governmental Center Redevelopment Project Interim Agreement with SCG Development Partner, Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services and NFP Affordable Housing Corp. for the development of the 3.26-acre property at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria.
Loudoun
Loudoun County’s Final Draft Zoning Ordinance is now published for review and a public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for December 13 at 6:00 pm. Sign up to speak in support of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, and specifically for Chapter 9: Attainable Housing, which provides regulations for three attainable housing programs: Affordable Dwelling Units, Unmet Housing Needs Units and Affordable Housing Units; and also specifies how many of which type of attainable housing units a developer must provide as part of a development project. Call 703-777-0200 to sign up to speak in advance.
Beginning November 20, 2023, eligible Loudoun County residents may apply for emergency eviction assistance by submitting an online pre-screening application through the nonprofit Loudoun Cares. Loudoun has allocated $500,000 for this one-time, emergency assistance program using available American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The online application is available in English and Spanish. Eligible residents should visit loudouncares.org/eviction to submit the online application prior to Jan. 31, 2024.
Loudoun County is seeking Requests for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) from affordable housing developers to build attainable housing on two-tracts of county-owned land consisting of 4.86 acres in the former Ashburn North Park and Ride lot. The process to submit RFEIs has opened with the release of the 2023 RFEI Development of County-Owned Land for Attainable Housing (PDF). The deadline for applicants to submit a response to the RFEI has been extended to 4:00 pm, December 15, 2023.
Loudoun County’s annual grant application process for community nonprofit organizations is now open with the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025)
Human Services Nonprofit Grant Application available at
loudoun.gov/nonprofitgrants. Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m., December 21, 2023.
Prince William
On November 28, Prince William County Supervisors approved the controversial Devlin Technology Park Data Center rezoning. In response to the vote, Supervisor Boddye, commented, "From data centers where neighborhoods and commerce should be to the skyrocketing cost of living, we are all living with the realities of decades of anti-housing land use policy. However, we can and must make better choices moving forward. It is time to start building a new legacy."
State
NVAHA partners with our statewide advocacy partner, Virginia Housing Alliance, on state policy initiatives. Check out their recently released, 2024 Legislative Agenda, and stay tuned for more information on advocacy opportunities in this upcoming Legislative Session.
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will hold an in-person public input session on the Annual Action Planning Process for anticipated federal housing and community resources including goals and objectives for housing and community development, the projected use of funding, and the method of distribution. The Northern Virginia session will be held on December 6, from 1 - 2:30 pm at 1 County Complex Ct, Woodbridge, VA 22192. Register here to attend.
Want to see who won in each of the November 7, 2023, Virginia Elections? Check this guide from the Virginia Elections Department.
Articles of Interest
This is the least affordable housing market since 1984. It’s getting worse., CNN
How It’s Working: Laws That Help Tenants and Nonprofits Buy Buildings, ShelterForce
In Some Northern Virginia Neighborhoods, Poverty Has Worsened Even As Region Prospers, DCist
Helping Tenants with Mental Health Challenges Who Are at Risk of Eviction, ShelterForce
Affordable Housing Taxes Sweep the Ballots in Three US Cities, Bloomberg
Can Residents Get More Out of Tax Credit Housing?, ShelterForce
Workforce Housing Exempt From Fannie, Freddie Lending Limits In 2024, Bisnow
Challenges and Policy Responses to the Affordable Single-Family Housing Supply Problem, Urban Institute
