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April 2014 - In This Issue:
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Stay even more up-to-date with Housing & Neighborhood Preservation news, events, project updates and photos! 

Landlords & Rental Property Owners: Join Our Registry
Landlords and rental property owners are key partners in the Housing Choice Voucher Program
by making their housing units available to voucher holders. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally-funded program administered by Housing & Neighborhood Preservation that provides housing assistance to eligible persons and families with very low- and extremely low-income. The program currently assists nearly 2,000 Virginia Beach households in obtaining affordable rental housing.
  
Housing & Neighborhood Preservation continually seeks new landlords to work with us in expanding affordable housing opportunities for program participants.
  
Benefits to landlords/property owners include:
  • Occupancy of vacant rental of units
  • Selecting the residents and retaining management
  • Contracting directly with Housing & Neighborhood Preservation for a specified time
  • Having the assurance of receiving the housing assistance payment covering a portion of the rent on a regular basis
If you are interested in making your property available to program participants, please contact the Rental Housing Division at 385-5750 or submit a property listing form.

Housing Resource Center News: Design Planning Underway
Public Briefing Scheduled for May 7
Hear an update on the Housing Resource Center project at a public briefing on Wednesday, May 7, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St.
 
The city's approved 2013-14 budget included funding for the design phase of a proposed Housing Resource Center at 104 N. Witchduck Road. A Housing Resource Center is part of our community plan to do a better job of ending homelessness and to:
  • Meet federal requirements
  • Expand services being offered at the Lighthouse Center to include families
  • Provide a central assessment center with more capability
  • Provide new shelter or housing options that reduce and shorten homelessness
Since mid-March, Housing & Neighborhood Preservation has been working with city agencies, service providers, the faith community and other stakeholders to determine
 the types of facilities to be offered at the Housing Resource Center. The design process and additional opportunities for public input will continue through the end of 2014.
 

May is Building Safety Month!

A Celebration of Building Safety: Maximizing Resilience, Minimizing Risks
Building Safety Month is part of a public safety awareness campaign established by the International Code Council (ICC) to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe, resilient, affordable and energy-efficient homes and buildings.

Housing & Neighborhood Preservation plays an important role in protecting the health, safety and welfare of Virginia Beach residents through our code enforcement efforts. The department's Code Enforcement Division strives to maintain the safety and appearance of the city's existing structures and properties (residential and commercial) and prevent blight and deterioration in Virginia Beach.

The division accomplishes this by ensuring that hazardous and life-threatening building maintenance violations are promptly corrected through the enforcement of the Virginia Maintenance Code. Examples of issues Code Enforcement addresses include overloaded electrical circuits, damaged roofing, trip hazards, and unsafe gas and electric appliances. The division is also responsible for identifying and placarding unsafe properties in the city. During the past five years, Code Enforcement condemned over 400 unsafe structures and addressed over 2,200 cases of unsafe mechanical and electrical equipment.
 
To learn more about Code Enforcement and its role in promoting and ensuring building safety, visit www.vbgov.com/codeenforcement.
 
During Building Safety month, a specific topic is highlighted each week relating to this year's theme, BUILDING SAFETY: Maximizing Resilience, Minimizing Risks. Visit ICC's website for helpful tips and links to resources relating to fire safety, preparing your family and home for natural disasters, backyard safety, and green building and energy efficiency.

Groundbreaking for Crescent Square Apartments in Virginia Beach to Be Held in May

Fifth Regional Development Will Provide 80 Units of Affordable Housing
Rendering of Crescent Square
On May 12, nonprofit developer Virginia Supportive Housing will break ground on Crescent Square, an 80-unit efficiency apartment complex, to be located at 1333 Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach. Crescent Square will provide affordable housing for single adults from Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Construction will begin this summer and is expected to be completed in 2015.

The City Council approved the development of Crescent Square Apartments on Feb. 26, 2013. Crescent Square is a partnership between the Cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Housing & Neighborhood Preservation contributed significant funding to the project and will provide ongoing rental subsidies using federal funds. 
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fair housing logoVIRGINIA BEACH HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION DOES BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE 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. VIRGINIA BEACH HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION 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.