Workforce / Affordable Housing

Our region depends on employees of all income levels and there are few or no housing options available to those in the mid to lower income ranges. A 2007 George Mason University study highlights the fact that Northern Virginia is not meeting the housing needs of our expanding workforce.  While Virginia housing costs are the sixth highest nationwide, we are one of only 11 states without a housing trust fund to help meet these challenges.

GRCC asks the Virginia General Assembly/Virginia Housing Commission to:
  • Create a housing trust fund for Virginia with a dedicated source of funding to support local affordable housing development;
  • Give priority in distribution of state affordable housing funds to localities that can leverage local preservation and development funds;
  • Prioritize the distribution of affordable housing funds to urban areas, including increasing funding for the Virginia Community Capital Bank;
  • Provide more flexibility to localities to preserve and develop affordable housing and establish workforce and magnet housing through incentives such as tax credits and other programs.

GRCC asks Fairfax County to:

  • Adopt recommendations of the High-Rise Affordability Panel of the Fairfax County Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Task Force to maximize the production of affordable housing in the County’s high-density development centers, consistent with the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
  • Dedicate two cents to the Fairfax County Housing Trust Fund to provide a stable, flexible source of local funds to leverage funds for preservation and new development of workforce/affordable housing.  Provide development flexibility and incentives for projects, including increased density where appropriate to meet local affordable housing challenges, provided such developments are consistent with and promote the goals and policies set forth in the Chamber’s legislative agenda.
Print