SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEGISLATION

Download this Briefing (.doc)

The Problem:
Rapid increases in housing values have contributed to a critical shortage of affordable housing in many of the State’s high growth areas.

There is little incentive for developers to build affordable housing in higher cost areas of the state.

Background:
A study done by the Virginia Housing Development Authority to assess the housing needs in Virginia found nine common statewide issues:
1) A growing gap between income and housing costs for very low-income people
2) A shortage of affordable rental housing
3) Much of the housing available to low-income people is in poor condition
4) Low-income people face limited location choices for affordable housing, which restricts their access to services and employment
5) Disabled, elderly and homeless people have unmet needs for housing linked to services
6) Credit problems and inadequate financial management/life skills are barriers to home purchase and to obtaining adequate rental housing
7) There is a lack of public awareness and support for housing issues- therefore, affordable housing is not a local priority
8) Fiscal pressures on localities have caused housing to be viewed as a “cost”, which have led to numerous local zoning, regulatory, and fee requirements imposed on housing
9) Changes are needed to local, state, and federal programs to better address housing needs

A report by the Alliance for Housing Solutions, which addressed problems particular to Northern Virginia, found that residents in that households in that region with two incomes near the regional median ($62,216), would still need to spend more than 30% of their income to purchase the average home.

The Solution:
Housing advocates are considering several initiatives to address this problem:

1. Establish a “Community Housing Tax Credit” program that offers a state tax credit for developers who build or substantially rehabilitate homes for low-moderate income families.
2. Establish “Housing Rehabilitation Zones” (HRZ) to allow localities and the state to target resources to declining, transitional, or high poverty neighborhoods.
3. Establish “Local Housing Trust Funds” in which the state would allocate an annual maximum amount of funding that would be used to provide matching funds to localities that already have housing trust funds that help finance affordable housing using local revenue sources.

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

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