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 2024
 

Alexandria City

The City of Alexandria has determined that the Heritage at Old Town Redevelopment Project will have an adverse effect on historic resources. Mitigation measures will include archaeological data recovery, wayfinding signs, and the integration of historical interpretation into open space design. Public comments on the adverse effect and mitigation plans will be accepted until 5pm on December 8. Questions or comments should be addressed to Kim Cadena via email or via postal mail at 421 King St., Suite 215, Alexandria, VA 22314.

 

Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the Alexandria West Small Area Plan (SAP), a land-use strategy aimed at promoting residential development in the city’s northwest over the next two decades. The plan encourages redevelopment of commercial properties and parking lots along Beauregard Street, Seminary Road, and nearby areas to avoid displacing existing residents. Developers can gain increased building heights in exchange for including affordable housing units. The city aims to offset the projected loss of 1,000 market-rate affordable units by 2040 with new committed affordable housing.

 

Alexandria’s West Small Area Plan envisions redeveloping 22 acres of Northern Virginia Community College’s (NVCC) lower campus. The plan proposes market-rate and affordable housing, retail, parks, and a new street network, leveraging proximity to a planned West End Transitway stop. NVCC supports exploring the opportunity, though any development would require a state-level approval process. 

 

Stonebridge plans to convert the vacant Victory Center office building into residential housing, including affordable and workforce units. The project includes 82 units at 50-60% AMI, 190 at 80% AMI, and 106 at 100% AMI, with partial real estate tax abatement for up to 25 years to support affordability goals. The ordinance is set to be considered by the City Council in December, with construction required to begin in 2 years and completed within 4 years of approval.

 

Alexandria’s Office of Housing has launched a Housing 2040 Survey. The survey, open until January 12, 2025, invites residents to share concerns about rent, housing availability, and affordability, with options available in multiple languages. 
 

Arlington County

Tomorrow, Dec. 4th, marks the close of the final feedback opportunity on the Homeownership Study program recommendations. County staff will review the input received, finalize the recommendations, and share them with the County Board, concluding the Homeownership Study in early 2025.

 

The application portal for the RACE to Rebuilding Trust and Community Grants is live. Nonprofits are encouraged to apply for funding - the deadline is December 13th.

 

Melwood redevelopment plans with Wesley Housing will be reviewed at the Dec. 19th SPRC (Site Plan Review Committee) virtual meeting. This is an opportunity to offer public testimony in support of this effort to create 105 new affordable rental units with onsite employment and social supports for adults with developmental disabilities who will make up 30% of the residents.

 

In November, the Arlington County Board voted unanimously to appeal the EHO (Expanded Housing Options) court ruling in the anti-Missing Middle case (Nordgren v. Arlington County Board). The appeals court process is expected to take 1 to 2 years. In the interim, the 45 current permit holders have the option to continue with certain stipulations.  Watch the Board's vote and discussion of the appeal. The County has now created a public EHO Trial and Information Webpage with the full trial transcripts and the County’s evidence. 

 

The Adaptive Reuse Policy was adopted by the County Board in November.  As part of the County’s Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative (CMRI), the new policy is anticipated to spur the repurposing of local commercial real estate buildings into residential and many other new uses, which could pave the way for redevelopment into affordable housing units.

 

The Arlington County Profile 2024 has been released. The annual Profile provides the latest data on the County’s demographics, economic development, housing supply, employment, transportation, and community resources.
 

Fairfax County

A Franconia Community Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the John R. Lewis High School Cafeteria. The Fairfax County’s Planning staff will present an overview of the Comprehensive Plan, existing conditions, and the current Comprehensive Plan recommendations for the Franconia Triangle. Staff will also introduce the proposed Comprehensive Plan changes being considered. For more information, please see the meeting flyer. 

 

Fairfax County is seeking public input on the updated draft Relocation Guidelines designed to ensure a safe and equitable process for tenants displaced by redevelopment or other changes under the Affordable Housing Preservation Policy. The guidelines include enhanced benefits, clearer requirements, and equity considerations aligned with the One Fairfax policy. Comments can be submitted via email.  

 

Fairfax County officials are surveying 1,750 residents of eight manufactured home communities to better understand and address their needs.​ A pilot program at Harmony place in Hybla Valley will fund home repairs, such as roof and plumbing improvements. This initiative builds on the recommendations of the Manufactured Housing Task Force, emphasizing preservation and support for the community. The county also plans a roundtable forum to engage stakeholders in addressing challenges faced by residents.

 

Fairfax County projects a $292.7 million budget deficit for FY 2026, driven by declining nonresidential property values and rising employee compensation costs, including collective bargaining agreements. While residential values are expected to increase by 4.78, the resulting 1.8% General Fund revenue growth is insufficient to close the gap. Budget forecasts focus on essential expenditures, with potential program service cuts under review. NVAHA will continue to monitor budget developments closely to identify key areas for advocacy in the coming budget season. 

Fairfax County marked the opening of One University, featuring 240 affordable housing units for seniors and families earning 60% AMI or less. Officials hailed the project as a major achievement in addressing the county’s affordable housing goals, with a pledge to add 10,000 new units by 2034.
 

City of Falls Church

On November 24, the City Council granted First Reading to proposed amendments to the City's accessory dwelling regulations. The proposed updates were developed using national best practices, input from public meetings and City boards and commissions, data collected at four open house meetings, and analysis of proposed state code regarding accessory dwellings. 
 

Loudoun County

Loudoun County is accepting applications for its FY 2026 Human Services Non Profit Grant. Open to 505(c)3 organizations addressing crisis intervention, long-term support, prevention, self-sufficiency, and improved human service quality. Applications are due by 4pm on January 3, 2025.

 

Loudoun Cares is hiring Resource Specialists to assist with disbursal of the ARPA Rental Assistance Program funds. They are seeking applicants who speak more than one language. There are over 1200 people who have applied for rental assistance and eviction prevention funds, and most are still on the waitlist. Having additional staff capacity will enable Loudoun Cares to move through the waitlist more quickly. 

 

On December 11 at 6:00pm, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing, during which time they will accept public comment on the county’s 2025 Legislative Program. The proposed program includes support for the attainable housing goals in Loudoun’s Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan. The hearing will be held in the Board Room of the Loudoun County Government Center. 

 

Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning held a public meeting on November 20th to share the findings and recommendations of the administrative and legislative land use review assessment study. Key challenges, such as inconsistent application reviews, and technical issues with the LandMARC system, contribute delays and higher costs for developers. Streamlining workflows, improving communication, and enhancing technology and training are among the recommendations that will be presented to the Board of Supervisors at the Dec 3 business meeting. 
 

Prince William County

Prince William County Supervisor Boddye and Supervisor Bailey are hosting town hall on Housing Matters: The Stats and Stories of Living in PWC  on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6:30-8:00 PM (registration opens at 6 PM). Keith Waters, Assistant Director of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, will set the stage with an overview of the region’s housing market. Other speakers will include Northern Virginia Housing Alliance Executive Director, Jill Norcross, and members of the County’s housing and planning offices. This free event will be held in the second-floor dining area of IKEA. Light refreshments will be served; or, come early and take advantage of the Tuesday meal deal -- 50% off for Ikea Family Members. Please register in advance.

 

The Prince William County BOS continued to debate the best path forward at a Work Session (Item 11A) last week on the Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance (AfDU). While most Supervisors acknowledged the need for an AfDU, questions remain about a voluntary or mandatory ordinance, and the required state authority needed to proceed. In addition, the County’s Housing Trust Fund appears to be tied to the passage of an AfDU. The County will take this matter up again in the first quarter of 2025.


Greater Prince William County, including the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, receives more than $3 million each year in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. Residents are surveyed, every five years, about housing and housing-related public services.  The study also seeks to capture information on vulnerable populations within the community, homelessness-related issues and housing solutions for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Residents can participate in the survey online, which takes approximately five minutes to complete.
 

Northern Virginia

Registration is now open for Virginia Housing’s Annual LIHTC Workshops. Topics covered will include 2025 QAP changes, annual credits available per pool, general process updates and more. Northern Virginia participants have two options, one on Monday, December 16, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Bechtel Conference Center, 1801 Alexander Bell Dr, Reston, VA 20191, or on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 10:00 a. m. – 12:00 p. m. (Virtual).

 

We agree with our partners at NAEH that the inability to afford housing is the key driver of increases in homelessness. We also recognize the importance of the life-saving measures that our regional Hypothermia Shelters provide. Here is contact information in case you see someone unsheltered:

 
 

DMV

Join ULI to learn how the DMV is Promoting Affordable Housing on December 5 from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM at ULI HQ, 2001 L ST NW Ste 200, Washington, DC. Absent governmental reforms and policy changes, basic economics suggest that this problem will persist as rents rise and housing supply struggles to keep up. This panel will explore how policy reforms, including adjustments to programs like the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), can support the production and maintenance of long-term affordable housing in the DMV. Similarly, this event will explore other policies that have either succeeded or failed, and what is needed in the current market to encourage more affordable housing options. 

 

Enterprise’s Faith Based Development Initiative Summit will be held via Zoom on December 5, from 12 - 2 pm. This year’s summit focuses on progress made at all levels of government on the public policy front to support faith-based development. Policy makers, practitioners, and faith-leaders from across the country will share their insights and perspectives on the evolution of the movement.
 

Virginia

Register to attend the 15th Annual Virginia Immigrant Advocates Summit on Friday, December 6, from 8:30 am - 5 pm at the Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, in Annandale, VA 22003 to discuss policy shifts, the impact on VA immigrants, and strategies to strengthen our advocacy.

 

Join the Virginia Housing Alliance (VHA) for their virtual Overview of the 2025 State Legislative Agenda on December 9th, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM  Prepare for the upcoming General Assembly with an overview of VHA’s policy priorities and an interactive Q&A session. On December 11 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM, join VHA for their virtual Advocacy 101 Training. This session will equip VHA members with essential skills to be effective housing advocates in Virginia.

 

Learn more about Virginia Housing Workforce Housing Investment Program: Advancing Housing Options for Virginia’s Middle-Income Workers. Virginia Housing will make an investment of $75M over the next 5 years in affordable housing that will open more doors across the Commonwealth. This new program will accelerate the creation of affordable housing for middle-income Virginians. They will hold a webinar on Tuesday, December 17 at 2 pm. For registrations details, please contact [email protected]

 

Congratulations to Wesley Housing who recently merged with the Virginia United Methodist Housing Development Corporation (VUMHDC), a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation that owns and operates affordable housing units for older adults and families across Virginia. Wesley Housing’s President/CEO Kamilah McAfee announced the merger at the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration. The addition of VUMHDC’s 1,919 units across 34 properties will nearly double Wesley’s existing portfolio and make them a statewide affordable housing developer and owner. 
 

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