City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: HELEN S. MCILVAINE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF HOUSING
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Receipt of the Regional Housing Equity Plan.
BODY
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ISSUE: Regional Housing Equity Plan ("Plan").
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council receive the Plan.
BACKGROUND: The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) released the Draft Regional Fair Housing Plan (formerly called the Regional Analysis of Impediments (RAI) and now branded the Regional Housing Equity Plan) on January 31, 2023. Eight area jurisdictions including the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Loudoun County, Fairfax County and Prince William County, the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, and the City of Gaithersburg, participated in a multi-year process managed by COG and an expert consultant team selected by the jurisdictions. Technical assistance and guidance were provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Enterprise Social Impact Corporation (Enterprise) based on their experience with other regional planning efforts.
An analysis of impediments to housing is a required component of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan which every jurisdiction that receives federal funding submits to HUD. In 2018 the COG Housing Directors' Advisory Committee opted to undertake a regional analysis which is considered a best practice. This approach reflects other efforts towards greater regional collaboration on issues of mutual interest. While the regional approach has been challenging due to many external factors, the Plan is on track to be submitted to HUD in late summer 2023 after it is reviewed and accepted by the eight participating jurisdictions.
Development of the Plan spanned the pandemic, involving assembly and analysis of informa...
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