Dear  Friends  in Housing,

In April of this year, to the cheers of many who work daily to advance the cause of housing affordability, Governor Bob McDonnell announced his intention to create a statewide housing policy framework.  In Executive Order #10, Governor McDonnell noted:  "housing helps define communities and is a major component in determining the quality of life for individuals, families, and the Commonwealth's general prosperity."  I couldn't agree more.

 

To help him and his administration craft this statewide housing policy, Governor McDonnell has appointed a small work group of twenty-two individuals from across Virginia who have a broad variety of experience in housing policy and production.  Along with fellow Housing Virginia Board members, Susan Dewey, Connie Chamberlain and Orlando Artze, I'm honored to serve on this workgroup. 

 

As we deliberate, I will try to keep a number of different--yet complimentary--perspectives in mind:  one, the perspective of REALTORS whose livelihood depends on a healthy housing market; two, the perspective of the tenants of the Better Housing Coalition who need quality rental housing to meet their needs; three, the perspective of the first-time home owners who have invested hundreds of hours of their own sweat equity and now, thanks to Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, can call a house their own home.  And finally, the statewide, broader perspective of Housing Virginia, an organization that seeks to communicate a vitally important message:  the creation and maintenance of a variety of affordable housing options throughout the state is essential for sustainable economic prosperity and an excellent quality of life.