Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

Governor to address attendees at Creative Economies conference
According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, five of the 15 localities with the greatest increase in tourism expenditures from 2005 to 2006 were in Southwest Virginia along the Crooked Road. Tazewell, Smyth, Russell, Dickenson and the City of Norton posted an 8.9 percent increase in tourism, over the state’s 7.2 percent change.  What happened?  The economy changed.  A new “creative economy” is replacing the manufacturing economy in Southwest Virginia, capitalizing on synergies between music, crafts, agriculture, the arts, and downtown revitalization.

Press release >> PDF

Virginia named finalist in MacArthur Foundation Housing Initiative
 The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today selected Virginia to compete for up to $5 million in new funding to support state and local rental housing preservation efforts.  The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), who is the applicant for Virginia, would use the funding to support a comprehensive affordable rental housing preservation initiative. The proposal calls for a partnership between DHCD, Virginia Community Capital (VCC), a statewide nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority, which administers Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Press release >> PDF

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Grant Opportunity for Nonprofit Organizations and Local Governments
On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development released the Housing Opportunities for Person With AIDS (HOPWA) program application for the 2008-2009 program year. Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

(HOPWA) Application >> DOC
(HOPWA) Guidelines >> PDF

For further questions, contact Nicole Poulin at: (804) 371-7113 or nicole.poulin@dhcd.virginia.gov.

Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) Grant Application for Nonprofit Organizations and Local Governments
On Friday, April 11,2008 the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development released the Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) Application grant for homeless prevention and early intervention services for fiscal year 2009. Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2008.

For further questions or to request a Microsoft Word version of the application and a Microsoft Excel version of the budget Attachment A, contact Nicole Poulin at: (804) 371-7113 or nicole.poulin@dhcd.virginia.gov.

(HIP) Application >> PDF
(HIP) Budget Attachment A >> PDF

Communities for Opportunities Program Application online
Qualified applicants for the Communities for Opportunities (CFO) program are now being accepted. The CFO program is designed to help participants achieve a GED and subsequently enter or retain employment, and/or pursue post-secondary education or job specific training.  Eligible applicants include adult education programs, community-based organizations that work in  partnership with an adult education program as a fiscal agent, units of local government, including educational institutions, and employers (as partners).
 
The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on June 13, 2008.  For more information, contact Winfred Brown at (804) 371-7076 or: winfred.brown@dhcd.virginia.gov.
 
CFO program >> URL
CFO application >> PDF

2008 GHC workshop proposals accepted
The program committee for the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference is accepting proposals for workshops to be offered during the 2008 conference in Hampton, VA on November 12 - 14, 2008. Proposals are being sought that address a broad range of housing affordability and policy issues, such as: Economic Development and Affordable Housing; Meeting the Foreclosure Crisis with Successful Strategies; Developing Affordable Housing in Rural Communities, and more.
 
Submit your completed proposal form via email to: ghc@dhcd.virginia.gov by May 16, 2008.
 
Request for proposals info >> PDF
Request for proposals form >> WORD.doc

Agency strategic and service area plans
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has developed agency strategic and service area plans in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Strategic Planning and Performance-Based Budgeting Process. Information on the plan is available below. 

DHCD Strategic Plan >> URL
Appendix A >> URL