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Public Meeting on Homeless Campus Proposal on Dec. 5
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We need your input regarding a homeless services campus for Virginia Beach. Join us on Monday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., to discuss and help design the planning process for developing the homeless campus proposal. The meeting will be held at Beach Fellowship Church, 1817 General Booth Blvd. To attend, contact Natalie Anderson at (757) 385-5814.
A homeless services campus would consolidate complementary services in one location. Potential services could include emergency shelter, long-term housing, city offices, vocational training and educational programs.
To learn more about the campus model, view our presentation, "Our City, Our Homeless, Our Shared Responsibility - Moving Our Community Forward to Address Homelessness."
Read More
Meeting Agenda
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Welcome New Rental Housing Administrator
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Housing & Neighborhood Preservation is excited to welcome Art Waller as the new administrator of our Rental Housing Division. Art recently joined the department from DeSoto, Tx. with more than 20 years of experience in housing management and the Housing Choice Voucher program in local governments.
Art was previously a housing manager with the City of Lancaster, Tx. and with the City of Inglewood, Ca., where he developed a first-time homebuyer program and implemented the Section 8 Homeownership Program.
Rental Housing Programs
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| Code Enforcement Tip: What are Red Tags? |  During this time of year, our Code Enforcement Division sees an increase in the number of red tag violations it addresses. Red Tags are issued by Virginia Natural Gas for unsafe gas appliances and the Fire Marshal's Office for unsafe gas appliances or electrical systems -- hazards that have the potential to be life-threatening. Common reasons why red tags are issued include gas leaks or carbon monoxide leaks at water heaters, furnaces, stoves or gas logs; electrical shorts at water heaters, furnaces, stoves, panel boxes, and outlets; and overloaded circuits.
Code Enforcement's job is to ensure that these violations are corrected to help keep residents safe. Below are tips to help protect your family and home:
- Contact Virginia Natural Gas at 1-877-572-3342 or the Virginia Beach Fire Department at (757) 385-4228 if you smell gas
- Have your HVAC system checked regularly by a professional licensed contractor
- Use carbon monoxide detectors in your home if you have gas appliances
- Use exterior grade extension cords for outdoor lighting
- Do not overload extension cords
- Do not overload electrical circuits - circuit breakers are installed according to load requirements (the number of outlets, lights, or appliances on a circuit)
- Test and properly label all circuit breakers or fuses
For more information, contact Code Enforcement at 385-4421.
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2012 Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Population Jan. 25-26, Volunteers Needed
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 The city will be conducting the Point-in-Time Count of the homeless population beginning the evening of Jan. 25-26. During the 24-hour period, teams of volunteers will canvas locations throughout the city where people who are without shelter are staying and survey those who are living in emergency shelter and transitional housing. The count also includes the Project Connect event. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that the city conduct the Point-in-Time Count to receive federal funds through the Continuum of Care. Each year, more than $1 million is granted through the Continuum of Care to Virginia Beach agencies that provide emergency housing and services to the homeless. If you would like to volunteer for the street count, contact John Boylan at (757) 385-5761 for more information.
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Volunteers Needed for Project Connect Jan. 26
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 The Virginia Beach Homeless Advocacy and Resource Partnership (VBHARP) is looking for volunteers to assist the homeless at Project Connect on Jan. 26. During the event, homeless individuals and families will be able to access a variety of needed services and resources, including medical checks, Social Security assistance, legal services, haircuts, mental health and substance abuse information, and more. Volunteers are needed to help as greeters, guides and food servers, and with set-up/clean-up. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Flexible schedules are available. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Bill Dore' at (757) 385-5736.
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General Contractors Encouraged to Apply for Our Active Contractors Registry
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 Housing & Neighborhood Preservation invites general contractors specializing in home rehabilitation to apply to be on our active contractors registry. Applicants must be licensed Class A or B contractors registered in Virginia. Housing & Neighborhood Preservation offers programs that provide grants and loans to eligible homeowners to help make necessary home repair and modifications more affordable. Examples of repairs and modifications include window replacements, insulation upgrades, accessibility modifications, HVAC system replacements and correcting electrical, gas and plumbing hazards. Only approved contractors on the registry are eligible to bid on projects administered by the department. For more information, contact Olin Walden at (757) 385-5760.
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City, BEACH Renew Commitment to Ending Homelessness
|  On Nov. 4, Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. addressed more than 150 enthusiastic people at the BEACH meeting at Church of the Holy Family as the city renewed its commitment to ending homelessness. Representatives from the faith community, city agencies and non-profit organizations attended to hear the city's progress in ending homelessness and future projects. Attendees also learned about recent city activities and engaged in small group discussions about how to continue working as a community to end homelessness.
BEACH, which stands for Bringing an End to All City Homelessness, is a community partnership between citizens and faith, business, nonprofit and city organizations. The partnership seeks to better address homelessness through enhanced cooperation and communication, coordinated service delivery, resource development and new strategies.
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Director Joins New Public-Private Partnership to Reduce Homelessness for State's Children
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 The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has partnered with the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness and the National Alliance to End Homelessness in a new initiative to increase rapid re-housing in communities and self-sufficiency for Virginia's families. The initiative, sponsored by the Freddie Mac Foundation, is aimed at meeting the Commonwealth's goal of reducing homelessness by 15 percent for children and their families in urban, suburban, and rural communities across Virginia by 2013. Andrew M. Friedman, director of Housing & Neighborhood Preservation, was recently invited to serve on an advisory committee for the new initiative. "I am excited about the opportunity to provide input on this important project and collaborate with other localities to increase affordable housing opportunities for children and their families," said Friedman. Rapid re-housing is a proven solution to homelessness for children and their families. It permanently ends homelessness and is often more cost-efficient than current programs.
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