In the past two decades, NVAHA has made progress building awareness of the community benefits of developing and preserving affordable housing. Our local governments in Northern Virginia have responded with more robust housing policies and programs, and elected officials have increased local funding resources for development. We will spend time this year celebrating the organization’s past success under Michelle Krocker’s leadership, while elevating the importance of expanding our work.
While the need for housing and specifically, affordable housing, is finally a recognized priority for our region, we need to continue to educate the broader community about the benefits of inclusive, equitable and affordable housing. NVAHA will continue to share best practices and policies to locate affordable housing near transit, employment hubs, activity centers and community amenities. There is a strong need for NVAHA to engage in housing policy and advocacy work in two of our region’s fastest growing counties, Loudoun and Prince William, as well as their nearby cities and towns, while continuing our strong presence in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, City of Fairfax and Falls Church.
We recognize these best practices we advocate for result in land use changes and zoning reform which may be opposed by the community. However we will work to educate residents about the benefits, while addressing legitimate concerns and ways to ameliorate impacts. Our monthly Lunch & Learn series will return in 2023, as we strive to inform community members interested in affordable housing policy, finance and development.
NVAHA is also working to educate ourselves and the community about how our housing policies and practices of the past have contributed to systemic racial inequities today. Northern Virginia is a diverse community, and we need to ensure there are sustainable, equitable and affordable housing options for all who live here and who contribute to our region’s vibrancy, culture and success.
Northern Virginia is growing, we have a regional population of 2.5M people and Northern Virginia accounts for 41.4% of Virginia’s GDP. Our partners at Northern Virginia Regional Commission share fascinating demographic and economic data about our region, which shows we are positioned for success, with our diverse, educated, compensated workforce, yet where we fall short is the sustainable, equitable and affordable housing supply to allow our residents to thrive.
Another area of focus this year will be our Rising Housing Leaders Network, which invites early to mid-career housing and community development professionals to join their peers for in-person networking and learning opportunities. During the pandemic, many of our newer housing leaders felt the absence of a NoVA-centered network and have expressed a desire to connect around shared interest in affordable housing advocacy and policy. Our network is still accepting members, so I encourage anyone interested to reach out to me to be added to the group.
Finally, we will be working on NVAHA’s communication strategy. We know the importance of providing clear, concise, regional information about local government programs, policies and funding opportunities. Many of NVAHA’s members have grown from working in one locality and now work in multiple jurisdictions. We want to be a resource for our members and partners to obtain all of the relevant information needed to help you accomplish your mission and goals.
While I have shared some ideas for growth of the organization, my initial goal is to ensure NVAHA continues to be a trusted resource and partner for our network. In order to do that, I will be embarking on a listening tour over the next 3 months by scheduling individual meetings with our Board and Leadership Council, aligned partners, and other key stakeholders. I also invite you to share your thoughts about what will be important for NVAHA to prioritize to remain effective and relevant in the future.
I look forward to keeping you informed about our progress and plans. Please reach out to me at jill.norcross@nvaha.org. I welcome your feedback and would like you to be a part of NVAHA’s continued success.