FCHC Annual Report 2018

FCHC Community Engagement

Housing Commission FCHC continues to serve as a liaison to the Falls Church Housing Commission. The role has been to provide not-for- profit private sector experience and serve in an advisory role on issues related to housing, urban development, and affordable housing. FCHC recently made an agreement with the City of Falls Church, to volunteer space at Winter Hill for the use of government and commission meetings. This was necessary because of the construction taking place at City Hall, and limited meeting spaces available throughout the city. Once a month, the Falls Church Housing Commission will convene in the Winter Hill board room. City residents can access the building and are welcome to observe and have their voices be heard. These meetings may not be at City Hall, but they still are open to the public, our community, and our neighbors. Affordable Housing Policy Work Group Every five years, the City of Falls Church establishes a Housing Policy Work Group, with the mission to update the affordable housing policy in the city. In 2018, FCHC also hosted and was represented on the Affordable Housing Policy Work Group in Falls Church, championing such policies as an increase in the percentage of set-aside affordable units in every new

development, which represents the only method the City continues to use to increase their affordable housing. However, the Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs) are bound by covenants which dictate how long they are deemed affordable, usually lasting 20 years. We saw this policy as a culprit in the precipitous decline of affordable housing in Falls Church. This led our organization to push for ADUs to remain affordable for the life of the property, so that the City will never lose another affordable unit again. This was well received and has since been adopted by some of the new market-rate development projects.

town hall meetings concerning local housing issues. Alex also created, distributed and analyzed a public survey concerning future housing needs in the City. Out of 202 respondents, over two thirds felt the City should take a more active role in forming policies that will preserve and create affordable housing. Specific actions included saving The Fields of Falls Church and negotiating with developers to get a higher percentage of ADUs. Respondents also wanted to limit the amount of tear downs that turn into million-dollar mansions. CASA For four years now, FCHC has welcomed CASA to administer their services at our Winter Hill offices. CASA is the largest organization of Latino immigrants in the DC Metro region working to organize, advocate for, and expand opportunities for Latino and immigrant people. CASA provides workforce development and training, employment placement, health education, citizenship and legal services, and counseling, and financial and language literacy training to immigrant communities. Because of their location in Winter Hill, our community is now better equipped to serve our senior residents and all immigrant populations residing in Falls Church.

Summer Internship Our fourth year of sponsoring a

Housing intern for the Department of Housing and Human Services (DHHS) built on the successes of past interns. Alex McMillen, a native resident of the City of Falls Church and former student of George Mason High School, displayed a strong work ethic and a unique understanding of housing policy. Alex focused his work on the City’s update to the Housing Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan and gave a presentation to City Council introducing the plan. He also worked on the new 2018 Affordable Living Policy, the ADU program selection process and ADU lotteries, assisted with the groundbreaking of the City’s new group home, the Miller House, and facilitated

Financial Opportunity Program Your contributions have resonated with

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