News from Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH)

August 9, 2011

APAH Announces Annual Fundraiser --

October 19 at the Clarendon Ballroom

John Milliken and Charlie Rinker named APAH Affordable Housing Honorees

APAH will honor John Milliken, former Arlington County Board Member and

Charlie Rinker, affordable housing advocate, at the 2011 APAH Annual Fundraiser on Wednesday, October 19, from 5:00-8:00 pm, at the

John Milliken

Clarendon Ballroom.

John, a past member and chair of the Arlington County Board, helped to solidify Arlington's smart growth vision, while preserving affordable housing among Arlington's housing stock.

Charlie Rinker

Charlie, a housing and community activist, has been instrumental in forming numerous organizations to advance affordable housing and renter's rights.

"APAH's Annual Fundraiser is a once-a-year opportunity for corporate and individual affordable housing contributors to support APAH, celebrate affordable housing and recognize the contributions of John and Charlie, APAH's Affordable Housing Honorees," said APAH President/CEO Nina Janopaul.

Links to: News release, Individual invitation, Sponsorship information

Greenbrier Learning Center Brings Parent Connection to APAH Families

Columbia Grove parents learn tips for reading children's report cards

Greenbrier Learning Center staff and AmeriCorps Volunteers helpedColumbia Grove parents learn how to better interpret the information contained in their children's report cards. Greenbrier provides afterschool tutoring and enrichment programs to 60 elementary school students each day in South Arlington and provides additional outreach to parents and families. APAH houses Greenbrier's AmeriCorps volunteers and Greenbrier provides parent and children's programs at Columbia Grove.

New Faces at APAH

Meet APAH staff Liz McElwee, Laura Moody, Carmen Romero and Shanette Yao

APAH recently bid good-by to James Barolo, Office Manager, and Kerry Lutz, Resident Services Coordinator at Columbia Grove. Both are returning to college to pursue advanced degrees.

L to R: Laura Moody, Liz McElwee, Shanette Yao and Carmen Romero

Joining APAH are new resident services coordinators, Liz McElwee and Shanette Yao. Liz comes to APAH after serving two years as a community health educator in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. Liz, a sociology graduate from Villanova University and fluent in Spanish, will take over Kerry Lutz's responsibilities as Resident Services Coordinator at Columbia Grove and APAH's South Arlington properties.

Shanette Yao is the Resident Services Coordinator for APAH's North Arlington properties. She was formerly a research associate at the National Academy of Public Administration and brings strong organizational, analytical and event planning skills to the job. Shanette is fluent in Spanish and received a dual Master of Arts degree in Development Management and Public Policy through a Georgetown University program at the Universidad Nacional de San Martin in Argentina.

Carmen Romero is the newest addition to APAH's development staff and is currently working on a plan for the renovation of several historic properties in APAH's portfolio. Prior to coming to APAH, Carmen worked as a Director at Edgemoor Real Estate Services, a real estate development and public-private partnership group within Clark Construction. She has an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School of Business and is also a native Spanish speaker.

Laura Moody, often the first voice you hear when you contact APAH, is APAH's Administrative Assistant. She brings strong organizational skills from her previous experience in the world of special events and most recently worked for the religious nonprofit Temple Etz Hayim.

Regional Housing Report Calls for Preservation of Affordable Rental Housing

Report analyzes critical need for affordable housing along three commercial corridors in North Arlington

The Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA) study, Charting a Way Forward , calls for aggressive planning to preserve the more than 11,500 privately-owned market-rate affordable units (referred to as MARKS) in Arlington along Columbia Pike, in Alexandria along Beauregard Street and in the Bailey's Crossroads area of Fairfax County. The report makes clear that local jurisdictions must make preservation of MARKS and enhancement of affordable housing a top priority, otherwise these homes will be lost.

The 11,500 MARKS (apartments that are affordable to low and moderate income households without using any government subsidy) represent 46% of all rental units in these three close-in suburbs and 82% of the affordable housing. With all three jurisdictions focusing on redevelopment of these areas, MARKS will be under significant market pressure to renovate or redevelop to attract higher income households.

Meet New APAH Board Member Kevin YAM

Real Estate Development Committee member joins APAH Board