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VHC News Clips, volume 2010-20 (December 2, 2010)

Virginia Housing Coalition Announces Unified Legislative Agenda
(RECAP: The Virginia Housing Coalition, in cooperation with the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, and Habitat for Humanity Virginia, has announced their 2011 Unified Legislative Housing Agenda. The Agenda covers a range of issues from a Housing Trust Fund to Anti-NIMBY legislation, SAFE Act revisions and more.)

VHC Information Service Holds SAFE Act Information Webinar
(RECAP: Confused about whether the SAFE Act provisions apply to your organization? To help you figure it out, the Virginia Housing Coalition Information Service has scheduled a low-cost webinar on the SAFE Act requirements for Tuesday, December 14th. This is a great way for your entire office to learn about the requirements.)

Incentive could spur affordable housing in Culpeper
Culpeper Star Exponent, December 2, 2010
(RECAP: A group commissioned to study affordable housing will move forward with efforts to apply for federal tax credits that aid those who rent to low-income tenants.)

Spotsy to consider housing proposal: Proposed Keswick project heads to public hearing in Spotsylvania
Fredericksburg Free Lance Star, December 2, 2010
(RECAP: A proposed residential development consisting of apartments, townhouses, single-family homes and a new public park will be before the Spotsylvania County Planning Commission later this month. A public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 regarding the proposed Keswick development, which is at the intersection of Lake Anna Parkway and Old Robert E. Lee Drive, not far from W.J. Vakos & Co.'s Courthouse Village project.)

A full week of giving
The Breeze – JMU, December 2, 2010
(RECAP: "God help me. Knock me down." This phrase stuck in the minds of students who traveled to New Orleans last week. It's been five years, and the Lower Ninth Ward is still deserted. Citizens living in New Orleans are still asking for help.)

The Nation's Housing: PUTTING HUCKSTERS ON NOTICE
Washington Post Writers Group, November 27, 2010
(RECAP: You've probably seen the pitches on TV and the Internet or found them stuffed in your mail: official-looking communications complete with logos and letterheads that look vaguely like those used by the Treasury, IRS and other federal agencies. The promoters have names that resemble federal foreclosure-intervention programs such as Making Home Affordable or Home Affordable Modification. They are instead criminal enterprises posing as do-gooders who promise to get you out of the mortgage jam you're in, whether you're severely delinquent or deeply underwater.)

Routing your refinancing journey
Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 25, 2010
(RECAP: After weeks of hinting and flirting, Ben Bernanke's Fed did all that was expected of it in announcing that it would buy $600 billion in U.S. Treasury securities. The goal, according to Bernanke, is to bring about "easier financial conditions [that] will promote economic growth. For example, lower mortgage rates will make housing more affordable and allow more homeowners to refinance." So is it time for you to pull the trigger? I wrestled with that question myself last week and decided the answer was yes. You should know if refinancing now is the right move for you -- and what kind of loan to look at.)

Learning about Comp Plan is important
Stafford County Sun, November 23, 2010
(RECAP: The Stafford County Planning Commission and the board of supervisors [recently held a public hearing] on the draft 2010 Comprehensive Plan. (Editor's note: Another will be held in December, and the planning commission voted Nov. 17 to recommend the board approve the plan.) Recently, there has been considerable discussion and it is important that Stafford residents fully understand the real facts of the plan. A Comprehensive Plan is the road map that attempts to shape growth for the next 25 years.)

McDonnell task force backs housing trust fund
Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 19, 2010
(RECAP: Virginia will seek to promote sustainable communities, provide a range of housing options and prevent and reduce homelessness in Virginia, said Bob Sledd, Gov. Bob McDonnell's senior economic adviser. To the applause of listeners, Sledd said the task force supports the creation of a state housing trust fund to finance affordable housing communities in Virginia. Creating the fund would need General Assembly approval.)

Extenders Bill Remains Vehicle for Funding NHTF
NLIHC Memo to Members , November 19, 2010
(RECAP: At the close of the first week of the Lame Duck session of the 111th Congress, S. 3793, Job Creation and Tax Cuts Act of 2010, AKA the “extenders bill,” remains the most viable means of getting the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) funded this year. This bill contains the extension of an array of business tax breaks and other miscellaneous provisions, including $1 billion for the NHTF, $65 million for project-based vouchers to be used in NHTF units, and provisions to extend the Low Income Housing Tax Credit exchange program for one year and extend the placed in service deadline for the Gulf Coast's Gulf Opportunity Zone tax credits. This iteration of the extenders bill is 100% offset by cuts elsewhere. Work is also continuing on the proposed regulation to implement the NHTF. Comments on the proposed rule are due December 28. )

FY11 Appropriations Outcome Still Unclear     
NLIHC Memo to Members, November 19, 2010
(RECAP: Several options for providing FY11 funding for federal departments were discussed in Congress during its first week of the Lame Duck session. Congress has not yet passed any FY11 appropriations bills, including Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) legislation. The House and Senate are working against the fast approaching deadline of December 3, when the Continuing Resolution (CR) currently funding the government at FY10 levels, expires. CRs keep federal programs funded absent regular appropriations from Congress.)

Panel says VA needs to address housing issues
CBS 6 – WTVR Richmond, November 18, 2010
(RECAP: Virginia should do more to address foreclosures, reduce homelessness and improve planning to better link housing with transportation and jobs, a committee tasked with reviewing housing in Virginia said in a report issued Thursday. Another recommendation calls for the General Assembly to create a housing trust fund to finance affordable housing developments in Virginia. Gov. Bob McDonnell ordered the review in April so the state could create a framework for addressing housing issues.)

Report Looks at Housing Issues Impacting VA
Harrisonburg, VA, November 18, 2010
(RECAP: On Thursday, Bob Sledd, Senior Economic Adviser to Gov. Bob McDonnell, unveiled the interim report of the Virginia Housing Policy Framework Initiative at the Governor's Housing Conference in Richmond, taking place November 17 though 19. This year's conference provides informational and educational sessions led by experts on housing, finance and community development. The conference is Virginia's largest and most comprehensive affordable housing event of the year.)

Creedon Receives Bozman Award
Arlington Connection, November 18, 2010
Father Gerry Creedon received the Ellen M. Bozman Award for advancing affordable housing in Arlington on Saturday evening at St. Charles Borromeo.

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