This is our County’s vision statement, and we can report that the FY 2013 budget lives up to it.

AHS united with a variety of human services providers to advocate successfully for adequate funding for important safety net programs. We supported a real estate tax increase of up to 2 cents to pay for these programs. In the end, the Board adopted a 1.3-cent increase. The Board was especially strong in its support of housing programs, including an additional $2.8 million in one-time funding to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF). The Board also added $2.2 million in one-time funding to the Housing Grants Program, a rental subsidy program for older adults, people with disabilities, and working families with children.

For complete FY2013 budget info, link here.

We say “thank you” to the County Board and encourage you to do likewise.

The State of Affordable Housing, 2012

County officials and developers will provide property updates

plus

AHS previews its new, 6-month, public education campaign

Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 6:30-8 pm, Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington (off Walter Reed Drive) 

Light refreshments offered. There is no charge for this event, but please RSVP.

Questions? 703.859.0452 or MaryRAHS (at) gmail.com

]]> http://www.allianceforhousingsolutions.org/soah-2012-invite/feed/ 0 http://www.allianceforhousingsolutions.org/ahs-2013-county-budget/ http://www.allianceforhousingsolutions.org/ahs-2013-county-budget/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:03:32 +0000 katedorrell http://www.allianceforhousingsolutions.org/?p=2320 AHS supports a 2013 tax rate that could cover anticipated shortfalls in important housing programs. ]]> A real estate tax increase of 2 cents/$100 could yield almost $3.4–$6.4 million to help restore lost HOME funding, increase AHIF funding, and address County staff projections of shortfalls in the Housing Grant Program and Homelessness programs. Read more.

• the County Manager’s recommendation to maintain Parcel B Buckingham 3 as affordable apartments and
• AHC’s request for loan funds for acquisition of the Shell site and construction of 83 units of affordable housing.

In her proposed message, County Manager Barbara Donnellan recommends a ½-cent real estate tax increase. The Arlington County Board voted unanimously to advertise a 2-cent property tax rate increase (97.8 cents per $100 of assessed value). The advertised rate is the upper limit of any tax increase.

While increased assessments, especially commercial assessments, bring extra revenue to the table, several housing-related programs, for example, are projected to be underfunded.

The budget is reader-friendly. Some key links—

• Best entry point, the budget webpage
• The proposed FY2013 budget
• The County Manager explains her recommendations and the proposed process for a multi-year housing review
• Information on signing up to speak. Advanced sign-up starts March 13 at 8 a.m. for the budget hearing and March 15 at 8 a.m. for the tax hearing.

County staff has done an excellent job providing timely information. Now it’s our turn to get at it.

Friday, November 9, 2012, 1–5—10^th Annual Leckey Forum

Sunday, December 9, 2012, 6–8:30—Ellen Bozman Affordable Housing Award Celebration

Prior event highlights—

Affordable Housing Challenges in 2012. Interviews with AHS board members and executive director at the 2011 Ellen Bozman Award event.

Bricks and Books: Why Affordable Housing Is Good for Students and Schools. Materials. 2011 Leckey Forum.

Increasing Local Revenues for Affordable Housing. Highlights/materials, 2010 Leckey Forum

• Recognizing the role of the housing industry as a critical economic development engine
• Promoting sustainable and vibrant communities, including mixed use and green technology
• Ensuring a range of housing
• Increasing capacity to address the needs of  the homeless

The latest update report (12/13/2011) identifies progress on a variety of programs and actions consistent with the above four principles. The matrix specifically identifies the need for both a housing trust fund (HTF) and legislation necessary to eliminate local barriers to affordable housing. Unfortunately, however, the trust fund was DBA (dead before arrival) in the Governor’s budget this year. Several bills to create the HTF have been introduced in the Assembly bill, but it will be shocking if they go anywhere.  Further and to my knowledge, there are no bills pending that would give localities any more flexibility to craft affordable housing approaches—meaning that many potential tools would still need authorization in Richmond.

The Governor deserves credit for taking a comprehensive look at housing. But without new financial support and increased local flexibility, the only thing being built higher is the paper pile. And the legislature owns that pile, too.

Follow the housing policy framework process.

Follow key bills affecting housing.

Bricks and Books: Why Affordable Housing Is Good for Students and Schools. Materials. 2011 Leckey Forum.

Increasing Local Revenues for Affordable Housing. Highlights/materials, 2010 Leckey Forum

• What do you rank as the highest priorities facing Arlington County in the near future? Where do you place maintaining/increasing the supply of affordable housing in Arlington in the list of priorities, and why?
• For several years Arlington has had a target of increasing the supply of Committed Affordable Housing Units (CAFs) by 400 annually. However, this target has most often not been met. In your view, why has the County failed to meet its target? What can be done to reach the target, or do you see a need to modify the target?
• What specific actions do you think the County should be taking to help preserve/increase the supply of affordable housing, including both CAFs and market-rate affordable units?