Press Release
Contact:
Becky Clay Christensen
Housing Virginia
www.housingvirginia.org
[email protected]
804-677-4508
(Richmond, June 6, 2011) Housing Virginia, a nonprofit organization focused on expanding affordable housing opportunities throughout the state, has been awarded a $225,000 grant from the Surdna Foundation. The grant will support Housing Virginia's affordable housing research, community forums and technical assistance programs. The Surdna Foundation is based in New York City, and provides funding for projects that promote sustainable communities with healthy environments, strong economies and thriving cultures.
The purpose of the three-year grant is to provide funding for Housing Virginia's efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing across the state and to demonstrate the linkages between housing and transportation, economic growth, sustainable development and other key community issues. Housing Virginia's Research and Community Forum Series explores these connections in research reports and shares its findings at regional forums that include discussions with local experts who focus on local implications.
Also included in the grant will be funding for the expansion of Housing Virginia's partner assistance program, which provides local and regional affordable housing nonprofits with the information and expertise that they need to advocate for greater access to high quality, affordable housing in suitable across the state.
Kit Hale, Housing Virginia's Board Chair and General Manager of MKB REALTORS� in Roanoke, noted " Housing Virginia welcomes the partnership with Surdna as an important development for all Virginians who see that affordable housing is a fundamental element of our communities' success."
Housing Virginia represents a diverse collaboration of housing organizations in Virginia, including realtors, lenders, homebuilders, developers, nonprofit organizations and state and local governments who share the desire to help educate Virginians about the benefits of affordable communities. The Surdna Foundation is a family foundation that was started by John Andrus in 1917. Today, the Foundation seeks to build sustainable communities across the country that are guided by the principles of social justice, and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies and thriving cultures.
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