News from Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH)

November 4, 2011

APAH Celebrates Affordable Housing

Over 250 attend annual celebration

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing welcomed development, financial and business partners, community nonprofit partners, Arlington County staff and elected leaders, and affordable housing supporters and advocates to APAH's Annual Event on October 19 at The Clarendon Ballroom.

Nina Janopaul, APAH, and Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board

APAH Founders Joe and Midge Wholey

Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, Lora and Charlie Rinker

Barbara Favola, Arlington County Board, John Milliken, Alexis Fox,

Crystal City BID

Bill Fogarty, APAH Chair, and Conrad Egan, former CEO,

National Housing Conference

Arlingtonians honored for contributions to affordable housing

Charlie Rinker and John Milliken

"APAH is pleased to honor two great community leaders, John Milliken and Charlie Rinker. They set the standard for our work and continue to inspire us with their commitment and leadership," said APAH President/CEO Nina Janopaul.

L to R: Chris Zimmerman, Arlington County Board, John Milliken, Venable, Mitch Bonanno, Vornado/Charles E. Smith

John Milliken championed a vision of smart growth and preserving affordable housing. As a County Board member from 1980-1990, he helped to solidify the vision to focus growth in Arlington's transit-rich locations while looking for public-private options to preserve affordable housing. In his remarks, John called APAH "a strong local partner for the County in making affordable housing available for young families, recent arrivals and the many and diverse people who want to live and work in a vibrant community like Arlington."

L to R: Bill Fogarty, APAH Board, Charlie Rinker, Riker and Associates, Nina Janopaul, APAH

Charlie Rinker, honored for being a tireless advocate on behalf of hard-working, low income families in Arlington, encouraged the audience to continue to work for economic and cultural diversity. "While we have been successful in some projects and in preserving committed affordable units, the market pressures to gentrify our community are only increasing. In the last 10 years the County has lost 10,000 units of market rate affordable housing," said Rinker.

"Arlington is a very successful community, but the challenge facing us today is to ensure that it will continue to be diverse, with a place for people of all income levels. I am proud that we have committed 15% of our multifamily rental housing stock to be affordable, but there is more work to be done. The County has a long and successful history of partnering with APAH to preserve our affordable housing. I look forward to continuing to work with APAH to fulfill the County's vision of being diverse and inclusive," said Arlington County Board Chair Chris Zimmerman who served as master of ceremonies for the event.

APAH Resident Shares Her Story

Vernadine Hawkins and family

Vernadine Hawkins, single mother of three, moved to APAH's Courthouse Crossings Apartments more than ten years ago. A counselor at Arlington's Detox and Homeless Residential Program Shelter, Vernadine credits her hard work and the web of services available to low income Arlingtonians, for her stable home, successful children and bright future. In June 2011, Vernadine attended three graduations - her oldest daughter graduated from George Mason University. Her middle daughter, who has muscular dystrophy, graduated from Wakefield High School and is a freshman at George Mason. Her son graduated from Kenmore Middle School and received a scholarship to attend Bishop O'Connell High School.

Thank you to Our Generous Contributors

APAH relies on donor support to achieve our mission of developing, preserving and owning quality affordable housing. Affordable housing provides an essential platform for residents to achieve stability. Our growing resident services program links residents in crisis to services and offers programs to develop workplace and parenting skills, improve health and well-being and build community.
View all sponsors here.