The Virginia Housing Commission had a very productive interim with three full Commission meetings and ten Workgroup meetings.

The Commission has endorsed four pieces of legislation each of which will be carried by both a Senator and Delegate during this year’s General Assembly Session. They include: 1.) a bill concerning the foreclosure requirements for Common Interest Communities, 2.) a bill to extend the court pilot program for those persons risking eviction, 3.) the registration of derelict structures (permissive to all localities), and 4.) the expansion of the Commonwealth’s authorization for localities to establish a Community Revitalization Fund.

Workgroup members discussed seventeen pieces of legislation that had been referred to the Commission during the 2022 General Assembly Session (see bill matrix). These range from zoning to the registration of derelict structures as well as workforce and affordable housing needs.

Additionally, the Commission both as a full Commission, and in workgroups, heard about housing facts from many pertinent and informative speakers including developers, local governments, non-profit entities and economists. Workgroup membership (both housing stakeholders and legislators) and the material they discussed is available under the Members and Staff tab on the Commission’s website.

New initiatives such as a newsletter and a presence on social media were implemented during 2023. The newsletters are archived on the Commission’s website.

The Chair position was held by Delegate Danny Marshall and Senator Mamie Locke served as Vice-chair of the Commission. New highly talented staff was hired by the Commission to assist the director, Elizabeth Palen.

The director spoke at several conferences throughout the interim and the staff attended topical educational seminars.

The final report on the Eviction Diversion Court Pilot Program was submitted to the Virginia General Assembly in November, 2023. A slight increase in the usage of the program was noted since the interim report submitted the previous year; subsequently, a bill to continue the program an additional year has been recommended by the Commission.

Several presentations were given by the Commission staff including a well-received presentation on creative bond financing methods for housing development. It provided insights into what other States are exploring to fill financing gaps in development and also outlined different types of bond financing options.

Commission staff conducted a literature review and studied other statewide policies to assess the impact of local zoning preemption and development incentives on local housing construction. The Commission will continue to monitor this topic as the impact of reforms become more apparent.

The Commission will continue to monitor and study housing needs in the Commonwealth in the up-coming year. The website contains the Commission’s reports as well as those of partner agencies. Please access the website for meeting times and dates.

Topics studied next year may be in response to a fall in mortgage interest rates and an expansion of the residential housing market, a continued interest in local zoning and the inclusion of ADUs. The Virginia Housing Commission will offer opportunities to discuss and hear experts on many of these issues. The Commission anticipates the first meeting of 2024 to take place the week of the reconvene session.

/s/ Elizabeth A. Palen
Director
Virginia Housing Commission