Better Housing Coalition

??We invite you to join with us and the National Low Income Housing Coalition on Monday, March 10th in a national day of action to protect HUD from staff layoffs and funding cuts! Click to find your Congressional reps and contact info here: https://ow.ly/C1rV50VcOMi ?HUD is a key federal agency dedicated to addressing our most pressing housing, community development and homelessness challenges; and serves millions of renters, homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness. Proposed funding cuts and potential layoffs of half of the department's staff would be detrimental to the housing stability of millions of families and senior residents, as well as to the construction and preservation of affordable housing. ????????Among the crucial housing efforts that HUD supports: rental assistance via the Housing Choice Voucher program. This?program is the country’s largest rental assistance program, helping households with low incomes afford a modest home of their choice. About 540 BHC households utilize housing vouchers to help pay their monthly rent, at a value of about $4 million. Proposed cuts to HUD would almost certainly threaten the housing stability of voucher holders who would no longer be able to afford a decent place to live without them. As GRETA HARRIS, BHC's President & CEO says, the proposed staffing cuts and budget bill that would cut or eliminate rental subsidies for hundreds of thousand Americans is "Pennywise and pound foolish. It is so much more economical to safely house an individual than to support them after becoming homeless...more than a 1:5 financial differential. Beyond losing the ability to assist extremely low-income seniors and lower income families with children to maintain their housing, rental subsidy reductions would equate to increased food, healthcare, emergency response and educational spending as households spiral into the abyss of homelessness." Please urge your Congresspeople to preserve or increase HUD funding and oppose layoffs. #ProtectHUD #HousingAdvocacy #AffordableHousing #HousingStability #HandsOffHUD .

Yesterday we kicked off a new initiative, BHC Table Talks, where community members can come learn more about BHC's history, mission, current work, and future endeavors while enjoying lunch. This Table Talk was held at our Market Woods senior community and attendees got to hear from Resident Services, Real Estate Development, our CEO, Greta Harris followed by a tour of the community from Property Management. Each Table Talk will be held at a different property with a focus on a topic specific to BHC and/or affordable housing- sign up for our newsletter here, bit.ly/3XuH1Bg, to receive information on how you can join us for the next one! Pictured here presenting to attendees, from the first photo to the last: Kamala Allen, Director of Resident Services, Lee Alford, VP of Real Estate Development, Greta Harris, President and CEO, and Stacie Birchett, VP of External Affairs.

Last Friday marked a significant milestone for BHC and this family as they received the keys to their new apartment at Horner Run in Midlothian. Pictured are Property Manager Candace Adams (center in gray sweater) and Assistant Property Manager Sara Lewis (left) with our new residents. Horner Run, located at the intersection of Genito Rd. and Hull St., is BHC's newest affordable multi-family rental community in Chesterfield County. In addition to the five families who moved in last week, we look forward to welcoming seven more this week. The community is situated in an excellent school district and is conveniently located near shopping and various amenities. Each unit features attractive balconies or patios, and residents have access to a community room and fitness center. We invite you to view some of the photos taken in January by our partners at J2H.

BHC is recruiting a Vice President of Property Operations to join our leadership team. This is a new position, with oversight of the performance and strength of our affordable rental community portfolio while ensuring consistent delivery of a quality experience to BHC residents. Steven Douglas is assisting us in this search. Do you know someone with the passion, experience and skills required to excel in this role? Please share! Listing on LinkedIn here: https://ow.ly/m7nx50V9QIG

Thursday afternoon we said goodbye to our new friend for life, Keandra Davis. Keandra was assigned to BHC last year as a participant in the Virginia Housing Loaned Fellows Grant Program. In her nine months with BHC, Keandra tackled several projects we’ve long been wanting to do but lacked the resources to carry out, throughout our organization. As examples: tax credit analysis strategies; tactics to retain residents and avoid eviction; creating a resource handbook for residents; and performing a small business/minority vendor analysis of our business partners. Her recommendations and the results of these studies will benefit us for years to come. Keandra heads back to Virginia Housing next week and will be working to finish her Ph.D. at VCU. After that, the stars are the limit! Best wishes, Keandra – we know you’ll do great things! From left: BHC President & CEO Greta Harris; Keandra Davis; Interim VP of Resident Services Kamala Allen; VP of Real Estate Development Lee Alford; and Compliance Manager Tamara Steele.

Thank you, Mike Gray for highlighting these organizations doing the work of affordable housing in the great Commonwealth of Virginia!

WHO are the 2025 Women Who Drive Richmond honorees? We know one very well: she's been driving sustainability at BHC and positive change in the RVA community for years! Big congrats to BHC's President and CEO GRETA HARRIS and all of the remarkable leaders honored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Richmond Raceway. We look forward to celebrating you all at the Torque Club on March 7th! Image made with AI.

Join us in congratulating our board member, Rev. Dr. Robert A. Diggs, Sr., on receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award! This recognition celebrates his lifelong commitment to public service, leadership at Tabernacle Baptist Church, and profound impact on his community. His dedication has fostered hope and positive change through numerous outreach programs. We are incredibly proud to have him on our Board of Directors and celebrate this well-deserved achievement!

A senior community flourishes when its residents feel supported, valued, and truly at home. Candace does more than manage a property—she creates a place where everyone feels heard, seen, and cared for. She listens to their stories, advocates for their needs, and fosters a sense of belonging that transforms housing into home. At the heart of every thriving community is someone who truly cares. ?? #CommunityMatters #SeniorLiving #BetterHousing

Honoring History, Building the Future: The Legacy of Colbrook?? This Black History Month, we honor the legacy of the Colbrook Motel, a once-vital sanctuary for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. Located on Route 1 in Chester, VA, the Colbrook Motel was listed in The Green Book—a guide that helped African Americans find safe lodging, restaurants, and businesses in a time of segregation and discrimination. Founded by William E. Brooks and Courtland Colson, the Colbrook Motel and gas station provided a much-needed rest stop where Black travelers could find safety, dignity, and community. It was more than a motel; it was a beacon of resilience and economic empowerment. Today, BHC is proud to carry that legacy forward. In 2020, we purchased the land where the Colbrook once stood, and later this year, we will break ground on Colbrook Apartments, a 147-unit affordable rental community. This development is a direct continuation of the Colbrook Motel’s mission: to provide a safe, stable place to rest one’s head. Image credit: Earl Brooks #BlackHistoryMonth #ColbrookMotel #BHC #AffordableHousing #BuildingTheFuture