RD100 - Annual Report of the Virginia Housing Commission


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Housing Commission evolved from the Virginia Housing Study Commission that was created by the 1970 General Assembly. Its mandate, "to study the ways and means best designed to utilize existing resources and develop facilities that will provide the Commonwealth's growing population with adequate housing" is still in effect. The 2004 General Assembly Session (HB 1231) called for the Commission to be a permanent legislative commission charged with studying and providing recommendations for legislation that will ensure all Virginians have safe, sound and affordable housing. Additionally, the Commission serves as a forum for new ideas relating to housing and community development and allows for the development of statutory, regulatory and non-governmental initiatives.

The Commission is comprised of I I members: five members of the House of Delegates, three members of the Virginia Senate and three citizen members appointed by the Governor. During the 2006 interim, Delegate Suit served as Commission Chair, Senator John Watkins as Vice Chair, and Delegate Melanie Rapp, Senator Mary Margaret Whipple and Senator Watkins served as work group chairs for the various work groups. The Commission is staffed by the Division of Legislative Services and is funded through special fund appropriations.

The Commission's activities in the 2006 interim focused primarily on the study of four housing-related subject areas of interest to the Commonwealth: Building Codes and Accessibility; Common Interest Communities; Mortgages; and Housing Affordability and Real Estate Law. Four work groups corresponding to these subject areas were established so each could center exclusively on a particular area of interest. In addition, a full Commission meeting was devoted to housing policy.

The Commission held three full commission meetings in May, October, and November; and numerous work group meetings. The summaries are listed under the individual workgroup reports. Five pieces of legislation were endorsed by the Commission for the 2006 legislative session; four bills were successful in becoming Virginia law. Accomplishing serious work toward the establishment of a statewide housing policy also took place this interim, and the Commission maintained an up-to-date website ( http://dls.virginia.gov/vhc.htm) available to all housing partners and the general public.