Housing News
October 2019: Healthy Places Index – Measuring Opportunity in Northern Virginia
The Healthy Places Index (HPI), developed by the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, is a measure that sizes up the health of each census tract in Northern Virginia. The score ranges from 0-100, higher scores reflecting areas with more resources for health and longer life expectancies. The Index helps identify neighborhoods where many factors limit the opportunity of residents to lead healthy lives.
To explore the Healthy Places Index, select the HPI indicator on this interactive map.
November 6, 2019: Big Tech, New Housing Lender
Four of the world’s richest companies are pouring a collective $5 billion into housing on the West Coast, raising an expectation that companies will serve as part financier, part philanthropist as tech hubs try to add more supply to incredibly tight housing markets.
Driving the news: Apple pledged $2.5 billion to housing initiatives in Silicon Valley, where even high-paid tech workers — let alone teachers, nurses and police officers — are struggling to find houses they can afford.
The big picture: Other tech companies have announced efforts over the past year to alleviate the housing crisis around their headquarters.
- Facebook committed $1 billion to help create mixed-income housing units, housing for homeless and housing for teachers and “essential workers.”
- Google has also committed $1 billion, including repurposing $750 million of Google-owned land for housing, and a $250 million investment fund to incentivize developers to build at least 5,000 affordable housing units.
- Microsoft committed $500 million toward loans and grants to accelerate construction of affordable housing in the Seattle region, as well as grants to address homelessness.
Local leaders praised the investments, and housing experts say corporate investments and philanthropy will play a bigger role in addressing the housing crunch going forward.
Read the full article.
November 27, 2019: How to Adapt The Built Environment to the Aging Population
By 2030, all baby boomers will be over the age of 65 and the US population will be made up of more older people than children for the first time in history. It is now crucial that developers, healthcare providers, and communities as a whole think about how to best build, develop, and innovate to prepare for an aging population that desires to stay in their homes.
Read the full article.
Upcoming Events
January 11, 2020: City of Alexandria Hosts 2020 Housing Summit
The Alexandria Office of Housing is pleased to announce the 2020 Housing Summit on Saturday, January 11, 2020; 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Lee Center (1108 Jefferson Street). This full-day event will examine the progress of the 2013 Housing Master Plan and explore bold new ideas to address the City’s affordable housing challenges and opportunities in 2020 and beyond. Registration is now open.
The summit will feature:
- Bus tours
- Exhibits
- An opening plenary
- Breakout sessions
- An engaging closing plenary
Registration for this event is FREE but required. Free on-site childcare and language interpretation services will be provided upon advance request; please request with registration.
To learn more information about this event and to register, please visit the event webpage. For assistance with registration, please contact Kim Cadena at housing@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4990. To receive updates, follow the Office of Housing on Twitter @housingalexva and on Facebook.
