Bring a better Richmond to life in our coloring book of BHC faces and places
Dear friends, Every day, we come into contact with people whose talents enrich our lives. They bake our bread, deliver our mail, and make our cars run again. They teach our children and care for our parents. They ring up our groceries and create foam hearts on our lattes. They perform for us, play for us. Their artwork adorns gallery walls. They contribute significantly to our quality of life. Even so, we seldom think beyond the benefits of these interactions to contemplate the unique human beings behind them. We are all so different, and yet we want the same things: a well-built home on a safe street in a nice neighborhood, with good schools and playgrounds for our children, meaningful work, and access to shopping, transportation and healthy foods. A little money to put away at the end of the month, and a little for fun. A chance to seize opportunity. Beyond bricks and mortar — beyond affordable housing — this is what the Better Housing Coalition (BHC) works to create: a more level playing field for residents. Time travel with me a little, to our past and into the future. Help us reimagine RVA as a place
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What is affordable housing, and who needs it?
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M OUR PRESIDE
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of opportunity for all, regardless of economic background. While learning more about our work and the people we serve, color a community where everyone can thrive, the only obstacle to a better life being the limits of our imagination.
Sincerely,
Greta J. Harris President & CEO
Meet the Faces of Affordable Housing – Look for them inside! *Other than our co-founders, the character profiles represent those of actual Better Housing Coalition residents. Their names have been changed.
Mary Tyler Freeman Carter McDowell Cheek McClenahan (1917-2005) Co-founder, Better Housing Coalition Co-founder, Better Housing Coalition Privileged and humble; eternal optimist and social advocate. Believed that everyone deserved respect and opportunities.
BHC’s first director. Graduate of VCU’s Urban Planning program. Has worked her entire adult life to improve the lives of Richmond-region citizens.
Wayne, 40
Celeste, 29
Power Line Technician, Department of Public Works Single dad. Combats crime by keeping RVA’s street lights in working order. Reward? Skyline views from the bucket. Salary: $35,500/year.
Mr. Cox, 68
Student, Reynolds Community College Retired Security Guard Mother of one. Brilliant birthday Widowed. Knows everything cake artist. Completing a certificate happening on the Beckstoffer’s in Pastry Arts. Works in the deli/ block. Highest earning resident in bakery at Kroger when not studying. Pokeno, played Fridays in Somanath Wants to own her own bakery Senior Apartments’ community one day. Pay: $8.46/hour. room. Income: $15,458/year.
Antoinette, 59
Yvonne, 28
Sheila, 33
Carlton, 24
Sales Associate, Family Dollar Her feet hurt, but she loves her Chihuahua Vinny and walks him everyday when she gets home. Other loves: Her son Gerald and two grandchildren who visit on Sundays. Pay: $7.36/hour.
Ballerina, Richmond Ballet Has been dancing since she was three. Played Clara in The Nutcracker as a little girl. Now dances the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It never gets old. Salary: $33,000.
Pharmacy Technician, Bon Secours Community Hospital Single mom. Handy with a sewing machine. Good at decorating on a budget. Salary: $32,195.
Prep Cook, Jefferson Hotel Promoted from dishwasher last year. Takes his bike with him on the bus to downtown. Gets off work after the buses quit running so rides his bike back home late at night. Looking for a job closer to home. Pay: $9/hour.
Janece, 45 School Crossing Guard Guilty pleasure: NASCAR races. Salary: $24,734.
Marcus, 38
Angela, 37
Crystal, 14
Travis, 12
Fulfillment Associate, Amazon Married with two middle schoolers. First in his family to have health benefits and a retirement plan. Uses his employee discount frequently. Salary: $24,960.
Substitute Teacher Wife of Marcus. Keeps on top of children’s homework. Worries about how they’ll pay for college for two. Pay: $10.44/hour.
8th Grade Student Daughter of Marcus and Angela. Best subject: math. Goal: to design video games.
6th Grade Student Brother of Crystal. Passion: art. Wants to create sculpture at VCU.
THE BEGINNING BHC was founded in 1988 by Mary Tyler McClenahan and Carter McDowell. They were moved by a news report of a Richmond boy in a poor neighborhood whose life was endangered due to deplorable living conditions.
BHC’S FIRST DEVELOPMENT 1994 – 1996: Cary 2000 was BHC’s first multi-family development. Six blighted, crime-ridden blocks on Cary Street in Richmond’s Fan District were turned into 86 beautiful apartments for modest income families. Cary 2000 received the Historic Richmond’s Mary Wingfield Scott Preservation Award in 1998.
HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES Average incomes of residents of BHC’s rental communities (excluding seniors) range from $13,500 - $39,000 per year for a family of three. High-quality construction and energy-efficient techniques mean lower utility costs, healthier environments, and money left at the end of the month for food, clothes, transportation and health care.
HELPING SENIORS AGE IN PLACE 90% of those 65 and older want to remain in their current homes as long as possible. BHC’s senior communities include support services and universal design features to help older residents age in place.
LIVING BETTER, WORKING LONGER The average annual income among BHC’s 750 senior residents is $11,600 per year. Among our eight senior communities, Somanath Senior Apartments has a large number of senior residents who still work.
HEALTHY AGING BEGINS AT HOME Through a partnership with FeedMore, BHC supplements our seniors’ pantries with two bags of fresh produce valued at $40, twice a month. This means a lot for those on limited incomes.
HOME OWNERSHIP FOR WORKING FAMILIES Many BHC homebuyers are the first in their families to own a home. Due to down-payment assistance and other financial incentives, the mortgage payment is often lower than monthly rent on a lesser-quality apartment or house.
BUILDING FAMILY WEALTH One anti-poverty and equity-building measure is home ownership. BHC has built or renovated and sold 200 beautiful, energyefficient single-family homes to first-time homebuyers. The average annual income of a BHC homeowner is $36,500.
STABLE HOMEOWNERS MAKE STABLE COMMUNITIES BHC provides counseling to first-time home buyers, such as credit repair, household budgeting and foreclosure prevention skills to encourage success.
WHERE WE ARE NOW Half of Richmond-area renters pay nearly half of their annual income on rent, often for sub-standard housing. BHC’s 15 rental communities are well-built, attractive and within reach of modest income families. The Citadel of Hope development will become 52 affordable multi-family apartments.
WANTED: A WAY TO GET THERE FROM HERE THE NEED IS CRITICAL Since the 2008 recession, incomes have declined while rents are rising. A recent Partnership for Affordable Housing study finds that in our region alone, 22,000 additional units of affordable housing are needed in the next 20 years to meet the demand. Who will build them?
Between 2000-2012, jobs within 8.7 miles of Richmond’s city center fell by 10%. It’s hard to secure a higher paying job without dependable transportation. For those with cars, longer commutes mean more money spent on transportation.
BHC: A WINNING COMBINATION For those with the determination to succeed, BHC’s combination of affordable homes and resident support services results in better-performing students in grade school, first-time homeowners, college students, and healthier seniors.
ASPIRING TO BRIGHT FUTURES In 2015, BHC established a resident scholarship fund in honor of our co-founders. Adult residents of BHC’s rental communities seeking higher education are eligible to apply. Our applicants range from single parents to former-foster children to recent high school graduates. We are rooting for all of them.
SOWING THE SEEDS OF FUTURE GROWTH Happy side-effects of BHC’s investments in our neighborhoods: reduced blight and crime, private investment including retail and commercial space, better schools and cultural amenities follow. Imagine an RVA where all our neighbors are able to enjoy them!
Imagine, Take Action, Make It Happen! DONATE We welcome your investments in your community. All contributions are tax-deductible and support BHC’s mission of changing lives and transforming communities through high-quality, affordable housing.
TAKE A BHC BUS TOUR Twice a year, we offer fun, informative tours of BHC communities so you can see first-hand how our work has revitalized communities and changed the lives of our neighbors. Bring a friend!
VOLUNTEER Help improve our properties and the lives of BHC residents. Ask about volunteer activities with BHC.
ADVOCATE Help increase and preserve the supply of affordable housing and decentralize poverty in our region. Advocate for policy changes that will allow all residents to enjoy the benefits of revitalized communities. Contact your state representative, city councilperson or county supervisor and advocate for: • An inclusionary zoning ordinance that has a mandatory provision to set aside a number of affordable units in every new development • A ceiling on real estate taxes for long-term, modest income neighborhood residents • A dedicated funding stream to increase the supply of affordable housing via the Richmond and/or Virginia Housing Trust Fund.
LEARN MORE Visit betterhousingcoalition.org to learn more about BHC’s work in our region, and sign up for our newsletter so you can stay up to date on the latest news. Or give us a call at (804) 644-0546.
The Better Housing Coalition changes lives and transforms communities through high-quality, affordable housing. Better Housing Coalition 23 West Broad Street, Suite 100 Richmond, Virginia 23241 1.804.644.0546 www.betterhousingcoalition.org
Design: Erica Babcock, Better Housing Coalition