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Housing Virginia Connections
December 2016
Preview of our New Web Tool: MAPBOOK   

Last month, Housing Virginia previewed a new web-based tool at the Governor's Housing Conference. MAPBOOK will use both ArcGIS Story Maps and Tableau data visualizations to tell the story of affordable housing across the state. As a companion to SOURCEBOOK and PLAYBOOK, MAPBOOK will provide a visual way to tell the story of affordable housing in your community.

Housing Virginia began MAPBOOK plans several months ago and expects to launch the product by mid-2017.


HV Releases Rural Housing Report: Moves to Next Step

For the past year, Housing Virginia has been conducting an assessment of the needs and gaps in affordable housing in rural Virginia. Launched with a pre-conference session at the 2015 Governor's Housing Conference, this initiative involved online surveys, regional face-to-face input meetings with housing providers around the state, and an analysis of Census data in each region.


We presented the preliminary iteration of our rural housing needs and gaps assessment at the 2016 Governor's Housing Conference, and we will be releasing the final report in early 2017.


New Trulia Report "There Doesn't Go the Neighborhood" Shows that LIHTC Housing has No Impact on Nearby Home Values
 
A recent study conducted by Trulia showed that in the nation's 20 least affordable housing markets, low-income housing built during a 10-year span shows no effect on nearby home values.


This is big news for affordable housing advocates everywhere, who struggle to promote the benefits of affordable housing development while eliminating the stigma surrounding it.
 
This study specifically looks at housing projects funded through LIHTC and Trulia's own home value data to look at changes in nearby home values before and after a LIHTC project is completed.
 
Here are the research highlights:
2016 GHC Wrap-Up

Housing Virginia congratulates DHCD on another successful Governor's Housing Conference this past November. 

The theme "A Door to Economic Opportunity" cast a focus on the importance of housing as a major industry in our Commonwealth - one that affects every Virginia resident.

The opening plenary focused on a study underway by a coalition of universities selected by the Governor's Housing Policy Advisory Council (HPAC). This study, conducted by faculty from four Virginia universities known as the Coalition of Housing and Economic Development Researchers, examines the linkages between housing and economic opportunity.
 
Housing Virginia hosted a number of sessions throughout the conference, most of which highlighted the connection between housing and other sectors: 

2016 GHC Awards Luncheon Recognized Affordable Housing Leaders in the Commonwealth
 
Housing Virginia would like to congratulate all the awardees of the GHC Annual Awards Luncheon for their excellent contributions to affordable housing in Virginia. Each year, this Awards Luncheon recognizes innovative, effective efforts that address the Commonwealth's housing needs. This year, the following awardees were recognized:
 
Best In My Backyard "IMBY" Project
Award Recipient: Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust
Project: Virginia's first Community Land Trust
 
The Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust (TJCLT) is a nonprofit, community-based organization that began operations four years ago with a mission to create and preserve a permanent supply of affordable homes for households otherwise priced out of the market in the Charlottesville region. 

TJCLT is the first operating Community Land Trust (CLT) in Virginia and offers a new tool for creating greater affordable homeownership opportunities in the region. The CLT is a form of inclusionary housing that insures that affordable homes will be available for purchase in a community in perpetuity. As housing costs escalate, CLT homes stay "in our backyard" and remain affordable. The CLT model is a great expression of the IMBY approach to community building.


Last Chance: VHA's HELP Center's Community Engagement Trainings Around the State Wrap Up in Martinsville Tomorrow

  We all know that community engagement is important, but it can be hard to know where to start and what questions to ask. With the support of BB&T, VHA's HELP Center will offer a training session on Community Engagement in three different locations around the state. 


Only one location remains - so if you're near Martinsville, now is your last chance to register!

This training will demystify community engagement and empower you to implement a robust community engagement strategy. This one-day training will include advice on outreach and recruitment, engagement strategies, meeting design, and facilitation techniques. 
Happy Holidays from Housing Virginia!
 

Housing Virginia wishes all our partners, supporters, friends, and champions of affordable housing in Virginia a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! Thank you for all you do to make sure all Virginians have a safe and warm home for the holidays.
 
We have a lot in store for 2017, and we look forward to working with our community to bring you the best affordable housing data and resources possible.

In This Issue
Calendar
 
VHA's Housing Day
February 2, 2017
Save the date for VHA's annual housing day where affordable housing advocates gather to meet with legislators to discuss affordable housing policy recommendations.

NCRC Annual Conference
March 28-30 in Washington, DC
NCRC's Annual Conference is one of the nation's largest gatherings of community nonprofits, policymakers, government officials, small businesses, banks, and academia, all coming together to create a just economy.

VA Governor's Conference on Aging
May 22-23 in Roanoke, VA
Building on the momentum from 2016, the Virginia GCoA will be held at the Hotel Roanoke this coming May. Stay tuned for more information!