About
Our Mission
To increase supply of and equitable access to affordable housing in Northern Virginia through education, advocacy, and community partnership.
Our VIsion
We believe in a future where everyone has access to quality affordable housing in a neighborhood where they can thrive.
Our History
Founded in 2005 by the Metropolitan Washington Bankers Group, our organization champions affordable housing and community development in Northern Virginia. Under the leadership of founding Executive Director Michelle Krocker, who stepped down in 2022 after 17 years of growth and guidance, our organization has become a cornerstone in the fight to increase the supply of and equitable access to affordable housing through education, advocacy, and community partnerships.
In 2023, Jill Norcross became Executive Director, with Hanna Metuda as Director of Policy & Programs, continuing the organization’s growth.
In 2024, NVAHA marked a significant milestone with the formation of the first of many local alliances through the merger with the Alliance for Housing Solutions (AHS).
As a result of this merger, Alice Hogan joined NVAHA as the Director of NVAHA – Arlington. NVAHA also welcomed Amanda Caughran as the Director of NVAHA – Loudoun, and Anika Rahman as the Director of NVAHA – Fairfax, further strengthening our efforts and expanding our reach to become locally responsive and regionally united.
Our Core Beliefs
Housing is about people.
Housing is the foundation for good health and economic stability. All people have a right to safe, affordable housing in the community where they choose to live, and all community members benefit from the prosperity that results from a robust and diverse housing market.
HOUSING IS A RACIAL
EQUITY ISSUE.
Too often majority Black and brown communities suffer from under-resourced schools, reduced economic opportunities and disinvestment in community amenities as a result of current land use patterns and zoning policies that are rooted in the legacy of redlining and segregation.
HOUSING IS A HEALTH EQUITY ISSUE.
Your ZIP code should not determine your life expectancy, but health outcomes are affected by the conditions in the communities where we live, work, learn and play. All communities deserve equitable access to healthy food, parks and recreation, and multi-modal transit, and equal protection from environmental toxins and other health threats.
Housing is economic development.
Housing is a key ingredient to ensuring the economic well-being of our region now and for generations to come. An adequate supply of housing that is affordable helps businesses attract and retain employees, and increases local spending and tax revenue, leading to shared prosperity that benefits us all.
HOUSING SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE.
As a region, we have failed to fully engage all households in our civic decision making. Black and brown residents, renters and low-income households, in particular, frequently do not have their voices heard. As a result, investments in our communities have not been reflective of their hopes, their concerns and their vision for the future. True engagement begins with listening to, lifting up and being guided by community voices.
HOUSING IS ACHIEVED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS.
Our collaboration with nonprofit and for-profit organizations engaged in housing and community development in Northern Virginia, across the greater Washington metro area, and statewide, along with our numerous cross-sector partnerships, acts as a force multiplier, moving us closer to our vision of a more equitable and inclusive Northern
Virginia.
What We Do
Advocate
Advocate
Advocating for public policies and adequate financial investments to develop and preserve housing that’s affordable;
Educate
Educate
Building political will to advance affordable housing through better understanding of the interplay between housing, health, equity, and economic development;
Empower
Empower
Partnering with underserved communities to lift their participation in our civic discourse;
Reform
Reform
Calling for the deconstruction of land use systems and policies that perpetuate inequities, and the allocation of resources to address the disparities created by these systems;
Research
Research
Conducting research and providing technical assistance on housing needs and policies to promote inclusive, equitable communities in Northern Virginia.