January 26, 2007
Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority Approves Award of Federal HOME Funds for Affordable Housing Preservation
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority has awarded federal HOME program Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) funds in the amount of $1,085,938 to three Fairfax County non-profit developers for the purpose of acquiring and preserving affordable housing in the county. The units to be preserved will include housing for very low-income renters with special needs.

The FCRHA has awarded $660,000 to Good Shepherd Housing, an agency whose mission it is to reduce homelessness, increase community support and promote the potential for self-sufficiency among the working poor, the disabled and low-income elderly. Good Shepherd will use these funds to purchase up to five 2-to-4 bedroom condominiums that will be used as transitional rental housing for very low-income/near-homeless households.

The FCRHA also awarded $312,610 in funds to Robert Pierre Johnson Housing Development Corporation (RPJ), an Arlington-based non-profit affordable developer and $113,328 to Reston Interfaith, a non-profit organization serving the Northern Virginia area that promotes self-sufficiency through support and advocacy for those will a variety of needs from food and childcare to affordable housing. RPJ will use the HOME funds to purchase a property that will be used as single-room occupancy group home for person suffering from mental illness. Reston Interfaith will apply the awarded funds to the acquisition of up to two townhouse units that will be leased to two households currently on the Fairfax County Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists that earn 50% of Area Median Income or below.