VIRGINIA HOUSING ALLIANCE

ADVOCACY: VHA HAS AN ACTIVE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT WORKS YEAR-ROUND TO DEVELOP POLICY FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND ADVANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. EACH YEAR, VHA AND ITS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS HOLD A HOUSING DAY AT THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RICHMOND. THE EVENT GATHERS APPROXIMATELY 125 HOUSING ADVOCATES TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRAINING FOLLOWED BY MEETINGS WITH THEIR LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS ITEMS ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. VHA ALSO COORDINATES CAPITOL HILL DAY VISITS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION AND NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS AND CONSTITUENTS FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR ALL VA - FORMERLY THE MULTIFAMILY ENERGY EFFICIENCY COALITION - VHA'S GOAL IS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SERVICES TO THE STATE'S MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK. VHA SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT WILL ACHIEVE AN AVERAGE SAVINGS OF AT LEAST 25% OF ANNUAL ENERGY USE IN THE BUILDINGS BEING IMPROVED. VHA IS WORKING TO HELP VIRGINIA MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES TO 25% OF ITS ELIGIBLE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING UNITS. VHA AIMS TO REACH THIS GOAL OF 25 OF 25 BY 2025. VHA MAINTAINS A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS COALITION AT HTTPS://EEFAVA.ORG/. 5000 FAMILIES - VHA ADMINSTERS A BROAD, CROSS-SECTOR CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH A STATE FUNDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN TO ENSURE HOUSING STABILITY AND IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. HTTPS://5000FAMILIES.COM/

VISTA: AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA (VISTA) - AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS MAKE A YEAR LONG, FULL TIME COMMITMENT TO SERVE AT A NONPROFIT OR PUBLIC AGENCY THAT WORKS TO ERADICATE POVERTY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE VIRGINIA HOUSING ALLIANCE AMERICORPS VISTA PROGRAM PROVIDES THE HUMAN CAPITAL NECESSARY TO DELIVER ON THE GROUND SUPPORT TO AGENCIES DEVELOPING, PROVIDING, OR OTHERWISE SUPPORTING HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. VHA VISTA MEMBERS SERVE ON-SITE AT VIRGINIA COC AND LPG LEAD AGENCIES, AS WELL AS LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF HOUSING. VHA VISTA MEMBERS PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND LEADERSHIP TO VHA'S LOCAL PARTNERS THROUGH: 1. ADVANCING AND INCORPORATING PERMANENT HOUSING FOCUSED SOLUTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES TO END HOMELESSNESS AND/OR TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES; 2. IMPROVING DATA QUALITY AND USE IN DECISION MAKING; 3. ENHANCING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUTREACH IN ORDER TO ADVANCE EFFORTS TO END HOMELESSNESS AND/OR EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES; AND 4. DEVELOPING RESOURCES AND SYSTEMS TO INCREASE DEVELOPMENTAL CAPACITY AND ENHANCE ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND EFFICIENCY.