Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

Virginia Neighborhood Stabilization Program
The new Neighborhood Stabilization Program will provide emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities. Funds will be used to purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes and to rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop these homes in order to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of house values of neighboring homes.

For more information >> URL

Rental Housing Development Essentials class offered
Interested in learning the key concepts of the real estate development process?  Sign up for the Rental Housing Development Essentials Class being offered through the Virginia Community Development Fund which will focus on key topics such as how to:
           
•         Generate a project idea;
•         Understand the market;
•         Prepare development and operating budgets;
•         Identify financing sources; and much more.

The cost is $25, including food and materials.  Class size will be limited.  For more information, contact Chris Sterling at (804) 343-1200, ext. 115 or csterling@vadc.org.

Session information >> PDF
Registration >> PDF

Virginia Enterprise Zone Program How-to-Apply Workshops
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development will offer three How-to-Apply Workshops during the month of December. The informational sessions will offer zone Investors and Certified Public Accountants an opportunity to meet their state enterprise zone program contacts, and learn through a step-by-step process how to file grant applications for eligible Real Property Investment Grant and Job Creation Grant projects within Virginia Enterprise Zones.

All application materials will be available for review by Dec. 5, prior to workshop attendance. Please register online no later than Monday, Dec. 1. For additional information or to request special accommodations, e-mail Bethany Miller at: Bethany.Miller@dhcd.virginia.gov or call (804) 371-7121.

Roanoke
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Roanoke Higher Education Center, Claude Moore Building
109 Henry Street, Roanoke, VA 24016
Register online >> URL

Study map online for directions. *Parking in Building three, event in Building one*

Richmond
Monday, Dec. 15, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The Jackson Center
501 North Second Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Register online >> URL

Hampton Roads
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Norfolk SCOPE Arena
215 E. Brambleton Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23510 Location TBA
Register online >> URL

DHCD Community Connection
The Fall, 2008 edition of the DHCD Community Connection newsletter is now online.  In this issue, you will learn about the agency’s new logo, the upcoming Governor’s Housing Conference, and find updates on the Virginia Foreclosure Prevention Task Force and the code change process, as well as information on agency shelter grants and a spotlight on the Southside Outreach Group.
 
Newsletter >> PDF

For more information and to sign-up for more news, visit here.

2008 Governor’s Housing Conference approaching quickly
 The 2008 Governor’s Housing Conference will be held Nov. 12 – 14 at the Hampton Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia. The conference is Virginia’s largest and most comprehensive affordable housing event of the year, and features high-quality educational sessions led by housing, finance and development experts.  
 
Seasoned housing professionals or newcomers to the housing field will find these sessions to be fulfilling and educational.  In addition to stimulating discussion on housing finance options, green building, and energy efficiency, concurrent sessions such as: Preserving Multi-Family Housing Development in Rural Communities, Housing Advocacy 101, Preventing Foreclosure – Preserving Homeownership, will be the backbone of the conference’s development experience.
 
Governor’s Housing Conference >> URL
Register >> URL

Private Activity Bonds
As of July 1, 2008 the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is responsible for that portion of Virginia’s private activity bonds set aside for local housing authorities and for that portion set aside for the state allocation. Before submitting an allocation application, please review the Private Activity Bond Allocation Guidelines. Housing authorities should use form HB. All others should use form IDB. For information, please contact Shea Hollifield at: (804) 371-7031 orshea.hollifield@dhcd.virginia.gov.
 
Private Activity Bond Allocation Guidelines – Local Housing Authorities and State Allocation >> Word
Form HB (local housing authority projects) >> Word
Form IDB (all other projects) >> Word
Allocation of 2008 Ceiling for Private Activity Bonds >> Word
House Bill 1073 (made changes to the administration of the PAB allocation) >> PDF
Governor’s Executive Order 68 >> PDF

2006 Virginia Codes now available through ICC  
The 2006 Virginia Codes are now available through the International Code Council (ICC) and are available for purchase in individual volumes or complete sets. To take advantage of the early bird reduced price, orders must be finalized by July 31.

The 2006 Virginia Codes and the related regulations will also be available on the ICC e-Codes Web site. Unlimited electronic access to the 2006 Virginia Codes will be provided at no charge to Virginia’s customers as they are finalized.

The 2006 Virginia Codes incorporate the customized text of the Virginia administrative and technical amendments within the base text of the ICC model codes. Each code discipline will consist of a single volume, inclusive of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) amended language. However, downloadable links to the USBC and the related regulations continue to be available on the DHCD Web site.

ICC Product Store >> URL
ICC fee schedule >> PDF

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