AHS Urges County: Invest $25 Million in AHIF

In the last twenty years Arlington has lost 16,000 market-rate affordable rental units, including a total of 1,270 in 2019 alone. The County, in partnership with affordable housing developers, has been working to replace that loss with committed affordable units—but so far has only added 8,377 units, or about half of what has been lost. Plus, rent continues to rise while wages remain stagnant. In Fiscal Year 2019, the average apartment rent in Arlington increased 4.3 percent over the previous year.

What does that mean for our neighbors? For about 28,000 of them it means being vulnerable to displacement as they try to make ends meet on 30 percent of Area Median Income (AMI)—about $36,000 for a family of four.

The Affordable Housing Investment Fund is a revolving, low-interest loan fund that has served as Arlington’s main financing program for affordable housing and renovation since its inception in 1988.

These people are vital to Arlington’s economic and social success. We know that sufficient housing for all income levels supports the economic, cultural, and demographic diversity our community values.

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That’s why the Alliance for Housing Solutions is urging Arlington County to invest $25 million in the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) in Fiscal Year 2021.

The AHIF is a revolving, low-interest loan fund that has served as Arlington’s main financing program for affordable housing development and renovation since its inception in 1988. The loans help fill a gap in a project’s development budget to make their affordability feasible. As developers pay back their loans the money is re-invested in future affordable developments. The County Board allocated $16 million to AHIF in Fiscal Year 2020 (about 1% of the budget), but this will help meet less than one-third of the County’s annual goal for 600 new, committed affordable units.

The County’s AHIF allocation is supplemented by developer funds such as the $20 million contribution Amazon will make as part of the approval of HQ2. These developer contributions help make the AHIF a public-private joint effort toward increasing our affordable housing supply.

Given the significant need for more committed affordable housing in Arlington as well as a positive long-term budget outlook (thanks to Amazon’s HQ2), a boost in spending for AHIF is warranted.

Join us in asking Arlington County to invest in our future by allocating $25 million to AHIF.

Take Action:

  • Sign the AHS petition asking Arlington County to increase AHIF funding to $25 million and dedicate additional funds to our lowest-income households.

  • Attend Open Door Mondays where Arlington County residents can speak one-on-one or in small groups with a County Board Member in an informal setting. Board Members take turns hosting Open Door Mondays throughout the year in locations across the County.

  • Speak at a County Board meeting on March 21, and especially at the March 31 budget hearing. Share your concerns in a 2-5 minute slot during the public comment period.

  • Write to County Board Members to tell them you support allocating $25 million for AHIF in fiscal year 2021. Download our letter template, customize, and mail it; or send an email to all five County Board Members.

  • Share with your neighbors so they can join us in advocating for members of our community who are most vulnerable to displacement. Download our flyer, or share our information via social media.

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