|
DECEMBER 2012
|
|
|
As with many organizations this year, Housing and Neighborhood Preservation continued to be challenged with doing more with less, especially for families and individuals who are also experiencing these tough economic times. We accomplished this through our continued collaboration with our regional partners and streamlining of resources and information through Connection Point of Virginia Beach.
We also continued to promote vibrant, well-maintained neighborhoods through ongoing code enforcement activity and launching a new resource for homeowners for home repair and renovations.
And, as the dust began to settle from the April 6 jet crash at Mayfair Mews, our department stepped in to help displaced residents locate housing and ensure that units were safe to return to.
Highlighted below are some of our accomplishments and activities in 2012.
|
|
|
|
PROMOTING VIBRANT, WELL-MAINTAINED NEIGHBORHOODS |
|
|
|
|
Addressed 27,219 total code violations, including:
- 7,134 overgrown grass and weeds cases
- 6,538 accumulation of trash and junk cases
- 2,799 inoperable vehicle cases
- 135 unsafe structures
- 625 Red Tags (unsafe gas appliances or electrical systems)
- 1,489 recreational equipment storage violations
- 578 commercial vehicle parking violations
|
|
Hotel Motel Inspection Task Force inspected 118 hotels and motels throughout the city (1,183 total rooms). |
|
Continued 2nd year of partnership with Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office to offer free graffiti abatement services for residents. Abated 71 incidences of graffiti on private property and saved city more than $4,300. |
|
Conducted 2,667 rental housing inspections. |
|
EXPANDING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES |
|
Continued to support Connection Point of Virginia Beach (757-227-5932), the centralized referral call center for families and individuals experiencing a housing crisis. Connection Point received 11,370 calls during the year and provided assistance to 2,195 eligible households. |
|
On March 8, approximately 250 service providers, city staff and faith community members attended the South Hampton Roads Regional Conference on Ending Homelessness. The conference provided a forum for sharing national best practices and promoting strategic planning. This was the fourth conference hosted by the South Hampton Roads Regional Task Force to End Homelessness. |
|
Hosted the "Celebration of Fatherhood" event on June 24, in support of the National Fatherhood Initiative, to honor fathers and the important role they play in their children's lives. Approximately 230 citizens attended the celebration at Williams Farm Community Park, where Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., read a proclamation declaring June 2012 as Fatherhood Month in Virginia Beach. |
The Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation and Southeastern Virginia Housing Corporation broke ground on Cedar Grove Apartments in Virginia Beach. The city contributed $450,000 in HUD funding towards the 32-unit complex, which when completed, will be the first permanent supportive rental housing complex in Hampton Roads developed specifically for disabled veterans. The department will also provide housing assistance using 32 Project-Based Housing Choice Vouchers. |
|
|
Conducted 1,838 Certificate of Compliance rental inspections and collected $81,850 in revenue to support the program. |
|
Demolished two blighted properties through the Spot Blight Abatement program. |
Rehabilitated 23 homes to bring them into code compliance, reduce future maintenance costs and improve energy efficiency and accessibility. |
|
Launched the Virginia Beach Pattern Book, a collection of the city's housing styles and homeowners' resource manual for home repair and renovations. |
Merged efforts with the Cities of Norfolk and Chesapeake for a regional Project Homeless Connect on April 18. The event connected more than 600 single homeless adults to services and resources designed to assist them in moving closer to ending their homelessness. |
Helped 2,148 total households to maintain or obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing through various rental housing assistance programs. |
Site work at RiverLake, the city's first workforce housing development, was completed. Construction of homes is expected soon. |
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation approved funding for a study of the housing and homeless crisis response system in Virginia Beach. The goal of the study is to create an enhanced community-based system with a shared vision and set of goals for serving both the homeless and those at risk. |
Opened the Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list Sept. 24-28. Nearly 14,000 households were given the opportunity to apply for assistance. |
|
The "Power of Change" Donation Meter Program generated more than $4,500 to provide direct assistance to homeless individuals at the Oceanfront. The program, now in its second year, has generated more than $11,500 in donations. |
|
|
|
ASSISTANCE TO MAYFAIR MEWS RESIDENTS |
|
|
|
|
 Twenty-seven homes were destroyed by the April 6 jet crash. Our Rental Housing Division worked with NAS Oceana Military Housing to assist residents with locating housing and applying for relocation and financial assistance programs. We located housing for 15 displaced families. Code Enforcement ensured units beyond repair were demolished and that repaired units met all code requirements before residents returned.
|
 Donated 836 pounds of food -- more than any other department for the 3rd consecutive year -- during the city employee food drive for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Together, city employees donated 3,341 pounds of food -- enough to provide 2,784 meals for local families. |
 Virginia Beach Housing and Neighborhood Preservation does business with the federal fair housing law and section 504 program accessibility requirements. The department complies with the fair housing act and provides reasonable accommodations and modifications to persons with disabilities. The department does not discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity in admission or access to its programs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
