The Alliance For Housing Solutions

FY2014 Tax Rate Advertisement

katedorrell — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:21:34 +0000

On February 22, 2013, a coalition of Arlington nonprofits and individuals sent the County Board a letter urging that a 6-cent increase in the existing tax rate be advertised (to $1.03 on $100 of assessed value) to allow greater flexibility in meeting shortfalls for affordable housing and safety net programs, among others. download pdf file here or view in google docs

Save these dates!

katedorrell — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 02:37:41 +0000

May 15 (Wednesday), Annual State of Affordable Housing (SOAH), Walter Reed Community Center. RSVP here.

4-5:30 pm, NEW!! pre-SOAH forum. Inaugural topic: MicroUnits: The Future or Faux Fad?
5:30 pm, refreshments
6-7:30 pm, SOAH program

September 15–21, Affordable Housing Education Week

October 18 (Friday), 10th Annual Leckey Affordable Housing Forum, 1-5 pm @ NRECA Conference Center, Ballston

December 8 (Sunday), Ellen Bozman Affordable Housing Award Celebration, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

More details to come on all events!

Affordable Housing Education Week, 2012

katedorrell — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:41:56 +0000

The first phase of AHS’s public education campaign—Arlington for Everyone: Housing for a Diverse and Sustainable Community—launched in May 2012 and was capped in September with a series of unique public events. Link to the full agenda.

See highlights from the week’s events—

Housing: A Critical Element to Economic Growth, presented by Lisa Sturtevant, George Mason Center for Regional Analysis download pdf file here or view in google docs

Design Matters: Visions for Affordable Housing, presented by architect and planner Michael Foster, FAIA. Read press release (download pdf file here or view in google docs) and view presentation (download pdf file here or view in google docs).

Watch this space

katedorrell — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:33:30 +0000

AHS continues its public education campaign, Housing for a Diverse and Sustainable Community, in 2013. Keep an eye on this website for new events.

Yet we must do more . . .

katedorrell — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:27:32 +0000

We agree with County Board Chair Walter Tejada that “No community in this region has invested more or worked harder to preserve affordable housing than Arlington… And yet we must do more.”

We look forward to working with him, his colleagues on the Board, and our community on making it happen. Read the new Chair’s New Year’s Day remarks and those of other Board members.

Recognizing Faith | Vision | Action

katedorrell — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:52:52 +0000

If you missed AHS’s 4th Annual Ellen Bozman Award Celebration, you can link to the event program and to the Sun Gazette coverage.

Faith | Vision | Action

katedorrell — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:40:47 +0000

On the team to preserve affordable housing

katedorrell — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:02:15 +0000

AHS is getting FIT in the new year: We’re pleased to report that Executive Director Mary Rouleau has been named to the “Housing Advocate” seat on the Financial Implementation Team (FIT) of the Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Plan. The FIT will review and provide input to County staff analysis and recommendations to create the tools to meet the Plan goal to preserve 6,000 affordable units along the Pike. For more information, link here or call Mary.

County purchase→homeless services center

katedorrell — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:44:51 +0000

AHS supports the County purchase of a Courthouse-area building (background here), the most important use of which would be to allow creation of a Comprehensive Homeless Services Center. Such a Center would allow application of current best practice in supporting homeless persons and helping them transition to permanent housing, consistent with the County’s 10-Year Plan To End Homelessness.

Thomas P. Leckey

katedorrell — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:12:27 +0000

AHS’s annual Leckey Forum is named for the late Thomas P. Leckey, a person who saw people in need and acted to help them. A long-time Arlington resident and community leader, Tom believed that regardless of race, belief, and income, individuals and families should have safe and decent housing.

A member of various Arlington County committees and commissions, he was a strong advocate for affordable housing. When he retired as a budget analyst with the Office of Naval Research in 1989, he moved from advocacy to hands-on action. He was among the founders of Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), leading the nonprofit corporation through its formative years as the voluntary president and chief executive officer. From a dream and a commitment, APAH has evolved into a prize-winning, integral, affordable housing provider. Leckey Gardens, an APAH property, is named for Tom.

Tom also acted to help homeless women and men as a volunteer service provider and treasurer of the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN). In recognition of his work on their behalf, A-SPAN created an endowment in his name.

Perhaps most importantly, Tom, a man of quiet but strong religious faith, was a caring, supportive husband and father. In the words of his daughter, “My siblings and I learned a wonderful way of being from my father.”

Again in her words, “The more he did for others, the happier he was. And he was a very happy man.”

The Board of Directors of the Alliance for Housing Solutions is deeply appreciative and greatly honored that the Leckey family has lent Tom’s name and spirit to these forums.