Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

Fairfax County Awards Funds to Local Non-Profits for Affordable Housing

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority has awarded more than $1.7 million to seven non-profit partners for the acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.  The funding is part of a larger allocation of $2,076,070 made available to non-profits through a Request for Proposals (RFP) and includes funds from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Community Development Block Grant-Recovery (CDBG-R) Program, and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.  The remaining funds are still available and will be awarded to non-profits on a first-come, first serve basis until all funds are expended.

“In these difficult economic times, the importance of affordable housing for the residents of Fairfax County becomes even more critical.  Through this funding, the county and our non-profit partners are able to address housing problems ranging from foreclosure to affordability,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova.

Project proposals were solicited from eligible non-profits to acquire and/or rehabilitate existing and foreclosed units to be used for affordable housing. The funding can also be used to assist non-profits to make needed improvements to properties they own such as:  accessibility, energy efficiencies or other capital needs that have been previously deferred due to lack of adequate funding.

Under the RFP, preference was given to projects serving persons with disabilities, very low income households, Housing First and projects involving acquisition and/or rehabilitation of foreclosed units. Priority was given to projects that can be completed by the non-profit within a three to twelve month timeframe upon receipt of funding award.  Funds were awarded to:

Pathway Homes, Inc., $600,000 for the acquisition and rehabilitation of five foreclosed, 3-bedroom, condominiums to serve as group homes for 15 very low-income (50% or less of AMI) adults with serious and persistent mental disabilities.

Reston Interfaith, Inc. (RIHC), $337,725 for the acquisition of one foreclosed single family unit and perform necessary rehabilitation on 30 units currently owned by RIHC. The acquired unit will serve 4 to 6 very low-income (50% or less of AMI) individuals;

Homestretch, Inc., $270,000 for the acquisition of three foreclosed units for three extremely low-income (30% or less of AMI) homeless families;

The Brain Foundation (TBF), $239,000 for the acquisition of one townhouse to serve 4 very low-income (50% or less of AMI) individuals;

Community Havens, Inc., $102,000 to perform necessary rehabilitation on a newly acquired, large single family home that will serve eight extremely low income (30% of AMI) residents with severe intellectual or physical disabilities.

Marian Homes, Inc., $100,000 to acquire and rehabilitate one unit to serve five low-income (50% or less of AMI) individuals with intellectual disabilities;

Christian Relief Services of Virginia (CRSVA), $100,000 to perform necessary rehabilitation on its portfolio of 60 scattered site units that currently serve 148 extremely low and very low-income (30% and 50% or less of AMI) individuals with disabilities as tenants.