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June 2014 - In This Issue:
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Housing Resource Center News: Public Input Received on Proposed Design and Next Steps

Thank you to everyone who visited and participated in our Virtual Town Hall forum on the proposed design for the Housing Resource Center.

A summary of the comments and questions we received from the forum and the May 21 public meeting, in addition to Housing & Neighborhood Preservation's responses, can be found here.


The next steps in the design phase of the Housing Resource Center, which will take place in July and August, are:

  • City leadership completes review and provides final guidance to the architect
  • Architect develops final design concept based on city guidance
  • Hold public meeting to receive any additional comments
  • Architect begins full design work

Citizens will also have the opportunity to participate on a Community Advisory Committee to provide input regarding community expectations for the center. Information about how to become involved will be announced at the time of the public meeting on the final design concept.

 

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Job Opening at Housing & Neighborhood Preservation

Administrative Specialist I
(Open Date: June 30, 2014
Close Date: July 20, 2014)

Duties include: Assist the Housing Program Coordinator - Homeless Programs and Housing Development Administrator in the planning, organizing and execution of activities pertaining to homeless programs towards the achievement and maintenance of a high-performing system that meets the defined goals of the Virginia Beach Strategic Plan to End Homelessness.

The full job posting can be found at www.vbcareers4gov.com

The City of Virginia Beach is an EOE, qualified Section 3 employer. Low- and very-low income residents of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA are encouraged to apply for these positions. 

Beat the Heat with the Virginia Beach Emergency Home Repair Program

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Summer has officially started! 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). Housing & Neighborhood Preservation may be able to provide air conditioning to eligible Virginia Beach homeowners during the season through its Emergency Home Repair Program.

The program provides low- and moderate-income homeowners with affordable loans for home rehabilitations that are not of a cosmetic nature, but 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; and making accessibility and usability modifications. The program is not intended for making routine maintenance repairs to systems or equipment.

Loans are available to Virginia Beach homeowners who meet income and other eligibility requirements. Assistance is provided based on the availability of funding. 

The department's home rehabilitation programs are now operated by nonprofit partner, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation (VBCDC). For more information or to apply for assistance, contact Marc Thornton at VBCDC at 463-9516.

 

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Free Graffiti Removal Service Available to Residents
Virginia Beach residents who are victims of graffiti on their property (which is visible from the public right-of-way) can have it removed for free through Code Enforcement's Graffiti Abatement Program


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To register a complaint of graffiti on your property, complete the "Report a Problem with Graffiti" form online or contact Code Enforcement at (757) 385-4421. 

After confirming the complaint and receiving a signed waiver from the property owner, Code Enforcement will arrange for the Sheriff's Office Community Work Force to remove the graffiti by power washing or painting over the defacement.

The quick removal of graffiti plays an important role in preventing defacements throughout the city and reduces the likelihood of reoccurrences in the same location.

This is the fourth year of the partnership between Code Enforcement and the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office in offering free graffiti abatement services for residents. In 2013, 72 incidences of graffiti on private property were removed.

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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.