Central Nova News

The City of Alexandria has long been dedicated to providing affordable housing options for its residents and workers. Utilizing resources such as the City's Housing Trust, Housing Opportunity Funds, and federal grants like the Community Development Block Grant and Housing Investment Partnership (HOME) Programs, Alexandria aims to ensure that low- to moderate-income homeowners spend no more than a third of their gross income on housing costs.

These efforts have led to recognition from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). On May 20, HUD's Region III Administrator Matthew Heckels, along with the Washington D.C. Field Office team, visited Alexandria to tour several federally assisted properties in the Braddock Metro area.

Representatives from various organizations including the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), community services departments, and nonprofit housing developers joined the tour. Stops included Old Town Commons, Pendleton Rooming House, The Bloom/Carpenter’s Shelter, Samuel Madden, and The Lineage. "We were able to show HUD our Braddock neighborhood where we have affordable housing," said Helen Mcllvaine, Director of the Office of Housing.

Following the tour, ARHA and Mayor Justin Wilson presented on Alexandria's affordable housing initiatives. Martin Lucero of ARHA emphasized collaboration: “Collaboration between ARHA, residents, the City, and HUD is key.”

Heckels remarked on the importance of ensuring everyone has a place to live that supports their needs: “It’s important that we make sure people have a place to live." He praised Alexandria for creating mixed-income communities: “What’s really neat about Alexandria is that you have units in the same building that are affordable... but also people who have jobs that pay them a lot of money.”

The city plans to continue working with partners and HUD on future affordable housing projects.