2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Virginia
Best Practice: Charlottesville Apprenticeship
and Training Program
On-the-Job Building Maintenance Training
Program Provides Variety of Benefits
Charlottesville. When the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority
was faced with 40 housing units needing asbestos abatement, it sought and
received permission from HUD to expand the workforce through the on-the-job
Charlottesville Apprenticeship and Training Program. Bringing in public
housing residents would meet national self-sufficiency program goals while
meeting a local goal of reducing vacancies through a comprehensive job-training
program. Charlottesvilles Apprenticeship and Training Program combines
practical on-site training with more formal evening classes on topics ranging
from carpentry and plumbing to electricity and communications. In 1995,
the Commonwealth of Virginia approved the Housing Authoritys four-year
program as a registered Training Apprenticeship program. Since its inception,
12 individuals have participated in the Building Maintenance Training program.
A 1997 graduate of the program worked his way up to lead foreman, and the
Housing Authority also employs six others. By giving residents an opportunity
to acquire and use marketable skills, the Building Maintenance program empowers
participants through employment, and simultaneously benefits the residents
whose units are maintained in good working order by the apprentices.
Contact: Del Price-Harvey, Phone: (804) 970-3258
Tracking Number: 1823
Winning Category: Program (Public and Indian Housing)
Best Practice: Hilliard House
Facility Provides Services and Support
for Homeless Women to Become Self-Sufficient
Henrico County. After studies revealed a need for emergency and transitional
housing for homeless women and children in Henrico County, VA, the Henrico
Community Housing Corporation made it a priority to establish Hilliard House
as a shelter for them. Hilliard House, in eastern Henrico County, an urban
county near Richmond, VA, is the physical incarnation of the countys
plan to provide transitional housing for 30 homeless women and women with
children making the journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Slated
to open this summer, the 17,000 square-foot facility consists of two rehabilitated
and four new buildings which are connected by an interior courtyard. Hilliard
House will also provide classes in parenting, anger management, personal
finance and nutrition. Other support services, such as job training and
mental health counseling, will be provided by allied agencies. By sharing
responsibility for caring for the homeless in the community, participating
organizations (i.e., the Henrico Community Housing Corporation, nonprofit
organizations, faith-based groups, foundations, local businesses and county
government), provide a safe, nurturing environment to local families.
Contact: Elizabeth Palen, Phone: (804) 261-0818
Tracking Number: 1899
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Neighborhood Assistance
Partnerships Provide a Variety of Supportive
Services to Public Housing Residents
Norfolk.
The Diggs Town Tenant Management Corporation (DTTMC) provides supportive
services to public housing residents by building partnerships to empower
the residents, their families and the community. As a nonprofit organization,
the corporation is tax exempt, enabling it to solicit and accept tangible
contributions such as furniture, food, and clothing to satisfy the basic
needs of low-income residents. DTTMC has been instrumental in encouraging
local furniture stores to donate slightly damaged furniture to first-time
renters and residents moving into the neighborhood from shelters. As a food
bank and distributor of government commodities, DTTMC delivers food to the
elderly and disabled in the community. DTTMC representatives also provide
housekeeping services to elderly and disabled individuals, helping them
maintain their homes. When necessary, DTTMC brings representatives from
other social service agencies to the homes of residents to provide additional
services.
Contact: Hattie Anderson, Phone: (757) 543-0316
Tracking Number: 1508
Winning Category: Program (Public and Indian Housing)
Best Practice: South Adams Street Townhouses and
Bunker Hill Community Revitalization
Financial Layering Technique Helps Fund
Revitalization Projects
Petersburg. The
Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) in Petersburg, VA,
created the South Adams Street Townhouses and the Bunker Hill Community
Revitalization Projects to tackle the issue of urban blight by creating
new and affordable homeownership opportunities. South Adams Street Townhouses,
a PRHA public housing development since the 1980s, is undergoing revitalization
using a unique funding process in which funding is earmarked for specific
aspects of the project. While HUDs Public Housing Development Funds
will be used to administer and plan the project, PRHA devoted 203K mortgage
funds for rehabilitation and Virginia State Lead Abatement funds for lead
abatement. The unusual financial layering was needed for PRHA to revitalize
this troubled neighborhood while devoting other scarce resources to housing
in other parts of the city. The project involves substantial rehabilitation
of nine townhouses and demolition of two others to create a courtyard. The
targeted houses have become a source of blight for the city in recent years,
with general neglect and asbestos and lead paint complicating abandonment.
PRHA purchased several condemned buildings and overgrown vacant lots adjacent
to the townhouses where it plans to build seven new homes to improve the
aesthetics of the community. These seven new homes bring together Bunker
Hill Community Revitalization and South Adams Street Townhouses and are
expected to generate excitement and interest in this aging neighborhood.
These activities will increase Petersburgs affordable homeownership
opportunities by 16 units.
Contact: Patrick Alphonso, Phone: (804) 733-2200
Tracking Number: 2131
Winning Category: Program (Single Family Housing)
Best Practice: HOME - Putting a multi-million dollar
fair housing settlement to work for the community
Fair Housing Settlement Fights Insurance
Firm Bias, Supports Needed Programs
Richmond.
In April 2000, HOME settled its redlining lawsuit against Nationwide Insurance
for $17.5 million and a commitment from the company to change its business
practices and actively serve urban markets throughout the country. The money,
the largest single unrestricted award to date in a fair housing case, is
to be used to further HOMEs mission of ensuring equal access to housing.
This settlement, added to a 1999 settlement of $4.25 million from a lawsuit
against Liberty Mutual Insurance, will support a wide range of programs,
including low-interest loans and grants to help low-income homeowners make
essential home repairs. Nationwide Insurance has agreed to raise its profile
in urban markets and add more policyholders, particularly in African American,
Latino and other minority communities. In addition, Nationwide Insurance
has revamped its underwriting guidelines to end blanket rejection of homes
in older neighborhoods. This settlement is a milestone in the continuing
battle against bias by insurance firms. With Nationwide now in the fold,
HOME and National Fair Housing Alliance are focusing on their bias complaints
against Travelers and Prudential insurance companies.
Contact: Connie Chamberlin, Phone: (804) 354-0641
Tracking Number: 349
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
Best Practice: Chesapeake Affordable Homeownership
Partnership
Homeownership Partnership Provides Houses
and Jobs for Chesapeake Community
Chesapeake. The
Chesapeake Affordable Homeownership Partnership is a public-private nonprofit
partnership of the Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Habitat
for Humanity and the Tidewater Builders Association. The partnership provides
quality, affordable housing for low-income residents in Chesapeake, VA.
In the early 1990s, the Housing Authority and the builders group began
working together to build affordable homes in Chesapeake. When the builders
group constructed energy-efficient three-bedroom homes off-site as part
of its apprentice training, the Housing Authority agreed to purchase these
homes and locate them on prepared lots in a neighborhood targeted for revitalization.
Another partnership with Habitat for Humanity consisted of donations of
lots for single-family homes. In 1996, the authority broadened both partnerships
by developing the Chesapeake Affordable Homeownership Partnership. The partnership
moved eight apprentice-built homes to Habitat-built foundations on lots
prepared by the Housing Authority. Habitat added front porches to the homes,
which help homeowners become more aware of their neighborhood. The partnership
between the Housing Authority and the builder group also provides educational
and employment benefits to at least 270 economically-disadvantaged students
who participate in the apprenticeship program.
Contact: Brenda Willis, Phone: (757) 523-0401
Tracking Number: 699
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: New Road Community Development Group
of Exmore
Determination in Struggle for Indoor Plumbing
Results in New Housing and Amenities
Exmore.
The New Road Community Development Group of Exmorea community-based
nonprofit organization located on the Virginia eastern shore peninsulawas
established in 1992 to fight for a new sewer and water system that would
provide services to 90 substandard housing units in the New Road community.
The housing development, owned by two absentee landlords, is home to approximately
300 low-income African-American residents, but had no indoor plumbing. None
of the 15 board members, who are also residents of the community, had any
prior experience in community organizing and development, but they all shared
the determination to create a sustainable and affordable living environment
for their families. After developing a $10 million comprehensive revitalization
plan, the group leveraged $1.75 million in CDBG funds to finance the water
and sewer infrastructure and secured a low-interest loan to purchase the
30-acre property and 54 substandard units. The units will be razed and replaced
with new houses. The group also renovated space for offices, meeting space
for the community, and a youth center.
Contact: Ruth Wise, Phone: (757) 442-3797
Tracking Number: 367
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
Best Practice: Uniform Building Codes for Compliance
with Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines
Review of Model Building Codes Ensures
Consistency and Facilitates Compliance
Richmond. HUD
reviewed the nations four model building codes to assess the extent
to which they were consistent with the requirements for accessibility outlined
in national fair housing legislation. By reviewing the codes and identifying
inconsistencies, HUD is helping code organizations develop language to assure
compliance. State and local governments use model codes as a starting point
for adopting their own building codes and standards, and builders rely on
their state and local building codes to ensure they are meeting all applicable
requirements. Because the Fair Housing Act is a civil rights law, rather
than a building regulation, it is not a "required" component of
building codes. However, the Act encourages state and local jurisdictions
to review their permitting processes and adopt building codes that comply
with the Act. HUDs final report detailing the review of the four model
building codesthe International Building Code, BOCA National Building
Code, Uniform Building Code, and the Standard Building Codeidentifies
areas of inconsistency and recommends revisions.
Contact: Judy Keeler, Phone: (804) 278-4500
Ext. 3250
Tracking Number: 553
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)