Making Housing Affordable
Support and Expand Current Initiatives
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Homebuyer Assistance Programs: Continue funding and promoting Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (NRHA) Homebuyer Assistance programs. This initiative supports low- and moderate-income households in purchasing homes through down payment assistance and favorable mortgage terms.
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Mixed-Income Housing Projects: Endorse and expand mixed-income housing projects to increase housing diversity and reduce economic segregation. This includes supporting developments that combine market-rate units with affordable housing options.
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Housing Trust Fund: Advocate for the establishment and sustained funding of a Norfolk Affordable Housing Trust Fund as proposed in the FY25 budget. This fund would provide a flexible and ongoing source of revenue for affordable housing projects.
Innovative Housing Solutions
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Tiny Home Communities: Develop tiny home communities as an affordable and sustainable housing option. These communities can be particularly effective for transitional housing and addressing homelessness.
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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Legalize and promote the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to increase affordable housing options. Reducing barriers such as minimum lot size requirements can encourage homeowners to build ADUs on their properties.
Preservation and Rehabilitation
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Rehabilitation Programs: Expand and publicize rehabilitation programs for existing housing, especially for properties owned by low-income residents. Partner with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to maintain and improve the housing stock.
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Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Implement programs that provide incentives for energy-efficient upgrades in older homes. This can reduce utility costs for low-income households and improve overall housing quality.
Deconcentration of Poverty
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Public Housing Redevelopment: Continue redeveloping public housing projects to include mixed-income units. Ensure these redevelopments are located in high-opportunity areas with access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
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Tenant Mobility Programs: Support tenant mobility programs that assist low-income residents in moving to higher-opportunity neighborhoods. This can involve financial assistance, counseling, and partnerships with local landlords.
Regional Coordination and Capacity Building
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SWAM Developer Training: Expand the Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned (SWAM) developer training program to build local capacity for affordable housing development. This can encourage more local participation in housing projects.
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Regional Housing Consortium: Strengthen support for the Hampton Roads Housing Consortium to coordinate regional planning efforts and share resources across municipalities.
Funding and Advocacy
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Federal and State Grants: Aggressively pursue federal and state grants dedicated to affordable housing and community development. This includes leveraging programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
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Private Sector Partnerships: Develop public-private partnerships with developers, financial institutions, and non-profits to leverage additional resources and expertise for affordable housing projects.
Homelessness Initiatives
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Taskforce on Homelessness: Form a dedicated task force to address homelessness, focusing on immediate relief and long-term solutions. Propose additional funding, such as the $1.5 million in the FY 2026 CIP, to expand homeless shelters and support services.
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Permanent Supportive Housing: Invest in permanent supportive housing solutions that provide stable housing along with essential services such as mental health care, addiction treatment, and job training.