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Housing Virginia E-News
December, 2010
 

A Letter from Housing Virginia Board Chair Kit Hale

KitHale

Dear Housing Friends, 

Earlier in this decade a group of statewide housing organizations including the Virginia Association of REALTORS, the Homebuilders of Virginia, VHDA, DHCD, the Virginia Housing Coalition, LISC and Habitat Virginia began Housing Virginia. The intention at that time was to find common ground -- supporting the value of affordable housing across several sectors and constituencies - and present a unified message to our communities across the Commonwealth. Today we at Housing Virginia are realizing the value in this effort --- more than ever before.

With tools like our new SOURCEBOOK we now provide accurate, up to date information about housing affordability to varied housing providers, policy makers and advocates. We could not have launched SOURCEBOOK without valuable partnerships - with VAR that provides timely information and Virginia Tech's Center on Housing Research that shapes the information into a user friendly resource. 
 
Getting at the core realities of affordability for homeowners and renters representing varied incomes, SOURCEBOOK takes the local, regional and statewide snapshots. Updated quarterly, SOURCEBOOK is easily accessed and free. Go to www.housingvirginia.org .and make SOURCEBOOK a part of your housing toolbox.

Housing Virginia Spotlights "SOURCEBOOK" at Governor's Housing Conference

SOURCEBOOKHousing Virginia's SOURCEBOOK, a one-stop website for affordable housing information, was a feature at the annual Governor's Housing Conference, November 17 thru 19. SOURCEBOOK is a treasure trove of information on how affordable housing is in your locality, region or Virginia and how affordability has changed over time. 

SOURCEBOOK is the only single source of comprehensive information on housing affordability across the state. A key feature in SOURCEBOOK is the Housing Affordability Index -- a measure of typical housing cost as a percent of typical housing income. This is the first time a housing affordability measure has been available for all localities and regions, taking into account combined rental and ownership costs.

During the conference, over 200 attendees sought out information on their own localities at computer monitors stationed at the Housing Virginia and Virginia Tech booths. One of the attendees from Richmond went home and created a special report that evening to present to his supervisor the next day.  

A breakout session during the conference program on the structure and use of SOURCEBOOK attracted 60 attendees. Dr Ted Koebel, from the Center for Housing Research presented the structure of SOURCEBOOK information and the Housing Affordability Index. 

Read More...

Interim State Housing Policy Report Released
Sledd
Bob Sledd, Senior Economic Advisor to Governor Bob McDonnell, presented the Interim Report of the State Housing Policy Framework to attendees at the Governor's Housing Conference in late November. The report identifies several actions and a series of recommendations. The report organizes these into four sections: 
  • Recognize the role of the housing industry as a vital economic development engine within the Commonwealth
  • Promote sustainable and vibrant communities
  • Ensure the provision of a range of housing operations
  • Prevent and reduce homelessness within the Commonwealth

Two completed actions identified were the formation of the Virginia Foreclosure Task Force and the Homeless Outcomes Advisory Committee. Both of these groups have been meeting during 2010. The Homeless Committee also produced a separate report, some of whose goals were incorporated into the Interim Report - including the reduction of homelessness in the state by 15% over the next three years. The report contains a range of other recommendations 


 
Read More...







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In This Issue
Housing Virginia Spotlights SOURCEBOOK at Governor's Housing Conference
Interim State Housing Policy Report Released
More News

HV Releases Report on Connecting Jobs and Housing

"Connecting Your Message" Recognizes Creativity in Action

The Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH) Releases "The State of Permanent Supportive Housing in the Commonwealth of Virginia"

Give to Housing Virginia

Your generous gift helps Housing Virginia to make the case for increasing the supply of affordable housing options across the Commonwealth.

Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to:
 
Housing Virginia
P. O. Box 4658
Richmond, VA   23220

Or you can make a secure online donation here.

Housing Virginia also participates in the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.  Please use CVC code # 3690.
Calendar

Better Housing Coalition: Groundbreakers 2011, Deadline for Submitting Nominations - January 7th, 2011

Housing Virginia: Connecting Home and Work Regional Symposium; Virginia Beach, VA - January 13, 2011

VAHCDO 2011 Annual Winter Conference - January 30th-February 1st, 2011

Housing Advocacy Day - Richmond, VA - February 2, 2011 -- For more information contact [email protected]

 Richmond Affordable Housing Awareness Week - April 25-30, 2011


VAHCDO 2011 Annual Conference & Scholarship Luncheon - May 11th-13th, 2011

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