Plus: County to Increase Funding for Affordable Housing
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** November 2019
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* Shared Prosperity Initiative Receives Bozman Award
* Housing and Equity
* Housing and the Environment
* County Board to Increase Funds for Affordable Housing in 2021
* AHS in the News
* Reality for a Middle-Income Earner
* MLK Day of Service Registration Now Open!
* Holiday Giving
** Shared Prosperity Initiative Receives Bozman Award
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Above: John Payne, David Cristeal, Michelle Winters, and Jennifer Owens celebrate at the tenth annual Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award celebration November 17. Photo by Terry Belt
Housing affordability is one of the biggest drivers of involuntary displacement of Arlington’s lowest-income residents. Currently, about 9,000 households (about 12 percent of the county’s population) are trying to make ends meet on 30 percent of our area’s median income—that’s $36,000 or less per year for a family of four.
In addition to housing, many in our community struggle with child care, finding living wage jobs, and health care.
The Shared Prosperity Initiative, which was launched earlier this year, aims to bring together leaders from Arlington’s government, business, and nonprofit sectors to collaborate on finding solutions to these problems that will create shared prosperity in our community.
Read 2019 Bozman Award ([link removed])
** Housing and Equity
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Image by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Like many communities across the country, Arlington has a history of housing segregation along racial lines. Marty Swaim, Co-Founder of local nonprofit Challenging Racism, says disparities still exist—and are in plain sight.
But what is equity, and how can we achieve it? Housing Arlington's November 12 virtual community conversation tackled the topic. Click below to read our recap.
Read Housing and Equity ([link removed])
** Housing and the Environment
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Should we plant trees, or welcome new neighbors? Mitigate the problem of storm water, or alleviate the financial burden of the lowest-income earners in our community?
These issues are often hotly debated at Arlington’s community meetings with people of good will—with equally valid points—taking sides against their neighbors.
But what if a win for affordable housing could also be a win for the environment?
Read Housing and the Environment ([link removed])
** County Board to Increase Funds for Affordable Housing in 2021
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The Arlington County Board has directed the County Manager to increase funding for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (a revolving loan fund that serves as the County's primary vehicle for funding affordable housing).
The Board also asked the Manager for recommendations for how an increment of new AHIF funds or other housing funds could be used to support the housing needs of residents making less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), which is about $36,000 or less per year for a family of four.
The Alliance for Housing Solutions and its partners advocated for these decisions, along with a number of other actions taken by the Board at their November 19 meeting.
Read the Full Press Release ([link removed])
** AHS in the News
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Arlington Committee of 100
November 23, 2019
AHS executive director Michelle Winters spoke about housing affordability and density at the Arlington Committee of 100's November event. Other speakders included Jeannette Chapman, deputy director of the Stephen S. Fuller Institute at George Mason University, and ArlNow columnist Peter Rousselot.
Click below to watch Arlington Independent Media's recording of the event, which includes audience Q&A.
Watch Arlington Committee of 100 ([link removed])
** Reality for a Middle-Income Earner
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I was born on the west side of Chicago and I grew up in Schiller Park, a working-class suburb at the southeast corner of O’Hare airport.
When I was a junior in high school, I was selected to participate in Presidential Classroom. I had never traveled before and I loved my school trip to Washington, D.C.
I could not wait to visit again.
Read Terry's Story ([link removed])
** MLK Day of Service Registration Now Open!
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January 20, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Washington-Liberty High School
Join AHS and our partners AHC, Inc. and APAH to learn more about affordable housing and how you can get involved. We're offering a volunteer training Arlington for Everyone ([link removed]) (a campaign to increase public awareness about the role of housing affordability and options in maintaining a diverse, sustainable and economically vibrant community in Arlington), and our partners will talk about their programs and volunteer opportunities.
Register for MLK Day of Service ([link removed])
** Holiday Giving
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The work we do is only made possible from the generosity of our community—a collective effort of businesses, charitable foundations, and individuals who share in our mission to increase the supply of affordable housing right here in Arlington.
As we look to the end of 2019 and the challenges we plan to tackle in 2020, we hope that you will consider making a year-end gift to support the work of the Alliance for Housing Solutions.
Your gift of any size will make a difference. Thank you!
Give Today ([link removed])
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Copyright © 2019 Alliance for Housing Solutions, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you attended an AHS event or asked to be updated on housing news and happenings in Arlington.
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Alliance for Housing Solutions
3100 Clarendon Blvd.
Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22201
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