In a recent Arlington Mercury New article on the proposed housing authority, County Board member Jay Fisette said, “…we (Arlington) have the most successful housing program in Virginia by far..” (Natalie Kornicks, “HUD Funds for Housing Are Availalbe, But Worth It?,” Arlington Mercury.org, Mar. 4, 2013). http://arlingtonmercury.org/

The most successful housing assistance program in Virginia in Arlington? Well, No. If one uses actual economic data and facts to compare jurisdictions on their rental housing affordability, Arlington has the one of the worst housing program in the State of Virginia, and among the worst in the Metro DC area. Arlington today has the least affordable rental housing in the entire state of Virginia and in the Metro DC area (except for the City of Alexanria), far worse than Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William or the City of Falls Church, and far worse than the statewide average.

The Va Tech Center for Housing Research reports an overall index of affordable rental housing for all jurisdictions in Virginia: Arlington’s index for rental housing affordability is 33.2 (the higher the index the more expensive is the housing); the index for Fairfax County is 28.8, City of Falls Church 23.0, and the overall index for the Metro Washington DC statistical area is 31.5. Only the City of Alexandria is more expensive than Arlington at 34.8. Arlington is considerably more expensive than the Virginia average of 26.0.

http://www.housingvirginia.org/tc.aspx?PID=344

Arlington does spend lots of money–$47 million annually ($28 million from local taxes and $19 million in HUD funds). But its housing assistance program is fragmented, disjointed and unsuccessful in meeting goals set to measure its progress. One modest goal was to add 400 subsidized apartments annually to offset the loss of about 1,000 private apartments lost to affordable rents every year. The county housing program has met that goal perhaps once in the past ten years. Arlington current housing program is a failure if one uses the County Board’s own adopted goals that Fisette himself approved.

Why Arlington Needs a Housing Authority

Virginia law provides housing authorities with unique powers to help preserve affordable housing. Unlike Alexandria and Fairfax County, Arlington doesn’t have one. Please sign the petition to place a referendum on the ballot next November asking Arlington voters to approve a housing authority. Here’s why:

1. Preserve Existing Affordable Units
Since 2000 more than two-thirds of Arlington’s affordable rental units have disappeared. The Arlington Housing Authority will reverse this trend by purchasing rental properties and keeping them affordable.

2. Provide Housing for Public Employees
Most Arlington firefighters, police and teachers can’t afford to live here. The Housing Authority will set aside housing for public employees to buy or rent. This will make Arlington a better place to live and work.

3. Leverage Money for Affordable Housing
The Housing Authority will leverage money for affordable housing by issuing long-term tax-exempt bonds to finance low income housing.

4. Act as a Land Trust
The Housing Authority will preserve historic apartment complexes and their surroundings.

5. Operate Subsidized Housing Units
The Housing Authority will receive federal funding to build and operate subsidized housing.

6. Consolidate Low Income Housing Programs
County housing staff are now scattered among a lot of agencies. Under the Housing Authority, staff will report to one voluntary board of directors appointed by County Board. This will assure a unified approach to public housing.

7. Condemn Substandard Housing
The Arlington Housing Authority can condemn, acquire and renovate substandard properties slated for demolition or redevelopment, saving paying tenants from eviction.

8. Qualify for HUD Loans and Grants
The Housing Authority will qualify for federal loans and grants not available to Arlington’s existing non-profit housing providers. HUD provides extensive funds for U.S. housing authorities.house_sketch

9. Provide Economies of Scale
The Housing Authority will either contract directly or negotiate with existing non-profits to purchase and/or renovate properties at the most affordable price.
10. Advocate for Affordable Housing
The Arlington Housing Authority will advocate for affordable housing on a par with schools, recreation centers and libraries.

Arlington Greens at their December and January meetings voted to support a voters referendum to allow a new housing authority to operate in Arlington County, as authorized under Virginia law. In 2008, Greens got a similar referendum on the ballot and about two-thirds of voters approved the housing group, despite vigorous opposition from Democrats and Republicans.

The loss of affordable housing has reached epic proportions. The Arlington County Board acknowledges that roughly two-thirds of the affordable rental units in the county have been lost to gentrification and redevelopment over the past ten years, and that the county has failed to meet its own adopted goals.

It’s been five years since the last referendum, and Arlington Greens have decided to go at it again. The recent acrimonious split among the five current board members over designating a fixed portion of higher tax revenues from the Columbia Pike redevelopment area to affordable housing shows new policy tools are needed. It’s time for Arlington voters to have a say in this matter: that is what democracy is all about.

It is going to be difficult to get the nearly 3,000 signatures required (versus for example fewer than 200 required to run for most local offices). However, we believe that majority of Arlington residents support affordable housing programs and want better outcomes than our current pattern of gentrification, and want a robust debate for better ideas for better programs that a housing authority referendum would bring.