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City to Hold Workshops on Applying for Workforce Housing Program
Riverlake is City's First Approved Development under Program |
 Housing & Neighborhood Preservation will soon be accepting applications for the opportunity to purchase a workforce housing unit. Interested households are encouraged to attend one of the department's workshops on June 13, 23 or 29. Each will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd. Attendees will learn how the Workforce Housing Program works, as well as how to apply. To attend, register with Cheryl Smith at (757) 385-5742 or csmith@vbgov.com. Space is limited.
Eligible applicants will be placed on a waiting list. To be eligible, households must live or work full-time in Virginia Beach, cannot own other real estate, and meet income and asset restrictions. Households must also be able to pre-qualify for a first mortgage in the low $200,000 range.
The department anticipates accepting applications in early June. Sign up to be notified when the application process is open.
On March 8, the City Council approved a rezoning application submitted by Geo Development Corporation for Riverlake, the city's first development under the Workforce Housing Ordinance. Once completed, the development will consist of 42 single-family homes, seven of which will be sold to eligible buyers through the Workforce Housing Program. The workforce housing units will be nearly indistinguishable from the other units and will be evenly distributed throughout the development.
For more information about the Workforce Housing Program and the eligibility requirements for homebuyers, contact Cheryl Smith at (757) 385-5742 or click here.
About the Riverlake Development |
Assistance Available for Families and Individuals Experiencing a Housing Crisis
Homeless Emergency Program Offers Grants for Rental, Mortgage and Utility Assistance |
Housing & Neighborhood Preservation's Homeless Emergency Program (HEP) can help prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless by providing grants to avoid eviction and return them to permanent housing. Financial assistance can be given to eligible Virginia Beach residents for rental, mortgage and utility assistance. Applicants must be experiencing a temporary and unavoidable crisis. Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) clients and other Housing & Neighborhood Preservation program participants are not eligible for HEP assistance. Residents receiving other rental or financial assistance may or may not be eligible. Click here to view a summary of the program and additional eligibility criteria. To see if you qualify, contact Connection Point of Virginia Beach at (757) 227-5932, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Walk-ins and screenings can also be taken at Samaritan House, 2620 Southern Blvd. in Virginia Beach, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Beat the Heat with Our Emergency Home Repair Program |
 Summer is here. For households without air conditioning, high temperatures are uncomfortable and possibly dangerous. This is especially true for residents most at-risk of heat-related illnesses, such as those with heart conditions, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We can help provide air conditioning to homeowners during the season through our Emergency Home Repair Program. The program provides a one-time only grant for physical modifications, which are not of a cosmetic nature and are required to remove health and safety hazards. Now through Sept. 30, eligible households with a written statement from a licensed physician stating that air conditioning is medically required for a household member, may have defective air conditioning equipment replaced under the program. The program applies to equipment that is part of an existing central heating and/or air conditioning system. Other eligible activities include:
- Replacing defective heating equipment (that is part of an existing central heating and/or air conditioning system) in the winter
- Correcting electrical, gas and plumbing hazards
- Correcting defective roof/ceiling assemblies in life-threatening situations
- Making accessibility and usability modifications
The program is not intended for making routine maintenance repairs to systems or equipment. Eligibility requirements and conditions apply. Assistance is provided based on the availability of funding. For more information, contact Olin Walden at (757) 385-5760 or click here. |
| Commercial Vehicle/Major Recreational Equipment Enforcement Transitioning to Code Enforcement Effective July 1 |
 Code Enforcement will begin enforcing the parking and storage of commercial vehicles and major recreational equipment, such as boats and trailers, on private property. These code violations are currently being addressed by Zoning.
Beginning July 1, the public should contact Code Enforcement to register a complaint regarding this issue at 385-4421 or by completing the "Register a Complaint" form online. |
| Hotel Motel Inspection Task Force Receives 2011 National Tourism Week Award |
 The Convention and Visitors Bureau and the hospitality industry recently recognized the city's Hotel Motel Inspection Task Force with a National Tourism Week Award during their 22nd National Tourism Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on May 6. The award was presented to the task force and other recipients who go "above and beyond" to make Virginia Beach a place people want to visit year after year.
The Hotel Motel Inspection Task Force is comprised of inspectors from Code Enforcement, the Fire Marshal's Office and the Health Department. Each year, task force members coordinate the inspection of every hotel and motel throughout the city in an effort to ensure that safe, decent, and sanitary accommodations are provided to the guests. Last year, the task force inspected 121 hotels and motels and 1,142 rooms. |
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Housing & Neighborhood Preservation Wins 1st Place in Employee Food Drive
Collects More than 1,700 Pounds of Food for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia |
 Every year in May, public employees at all levels of government are honored for their services and dedication during Public Service Recognition Week. For the third year in a row, City of Virginia Beach employees celebrated the week by giving back to the community we serve and held a food drive for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.
Housing & Neighborhood Preservation once again took the top honor as food drive champions, collecting 1,720 pounds of food -- more than any other city department -- which will provide more than 1,300 meals for those in need.
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