Housing Opportunities Made Equal Of Virginia Inc

Programs: The center for housing counseling and education expands housing opportunities for individuals and families, helping them to gain the knowledge and financial management skills necessary to access and maintain stable housing. Through this center, individuals and families become successful, long-term homeowners; avoid mortgage default; and become knowledgeable, responsible tenants through our rental mobility program. Home takes a comprehensive approach to promoting housing access and stability through developing financially literate consumers. During fiscal year 2016-2017, the center served over 1,900 families, providing the following services: 430 families received home ownership education; 345 families received home ownership counseling; 80 families received down payment assistance to become first-time home buyers; 262 families received rental education; 223 families received credit and money management education; 205 families received counseling to assist them in avoiding foreclosure; 171 families received rental mobility counseling; 56 families received reverse mortgage counseling; 241 families received landlord tenant referral services and 764 families received an analysis of their credit report to determine their level of readiness for homeownership. Home also received a total of 8,647 website hits regarding foreclosure prevention services or resources, received over 92,700 website visitors, and received 1,882 lifetime likes on facebook and 820 twitter followers.

the center for fair housing protects the housing choices of all people from external barriers and limitations through fair housing education for consumers and industry professionals, the investigation of housing discrimination claims, support for victims of housing discrimination, and counseling to renting families. During the fiscal year 2016-2017, the center provided fair housing services to 222 individuals. The center also conducted numerous fair housing training sessions for various groups ranging from preschool children to lawyers. The program also assisted 26 clients with disabilities in writing reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification letters. Over fy 2016-2017, the center for fair housing filed 14 fair housing complaints with administrative agencies or in court.

home consulting services is dedicated to the production of high quality fair housing and housing related research. Hcs's primary goal is to assess and uncover the extent to which housing discrimination exists in communities across the commonwealth of virginia and in the southeastern region of the united states. Its primary objectives are: to provide high quality, community-based research aimed at uncovering and eliminating housing discrimination in rental, sales, lending, insurance and appraisal transactions; to make policy recommendations to local governments on how to increase equal access to housing for its citizens; and to educate the broader community regarding the importance of housing equality. Home consulting services launched on january 1, 2013. During fiscal year 2016-2017, the center completed the design and exhibition of a map exhibit entitled "excluded communities," which explores the impacts of discriminatory public policy on minority communities across the richmond region. The exhibit was hosted at the valentine museum in richmond, va. The center completed contract work for the denver metro fair housing center. This work examined fair housing issues related to land-use policies and affordable housing development in post disaster areas of northern colorado. The center collaborated with the university of richmond and virginia commonwealth university to produce a report, "confronting school and housing segregation in the richmond region; can we learn and live together? " this report examined the intersection of housing and education policy in the richmond metro area. Center staff participated in the development of a market value assessment in collaboration with a broad consortium of regional stakeholders. This project provides a private market assessment tool to advance equitable development across the richmond region. The center was awarded the contract to update the city of richmond's analysis of impediments to fair housing choice in late spring of 2017. The center was also involved in planning a statewide affirmatively furthering fair housing summit hosted in conjunction with virginia commonwealth university. The center received a contract from suntrust mortgage to conduct neighborhood-level housing assessments for a community investment project they are spearheading. Center staff made numerous presentations to community groups across the state including hampton roads and northern virginia, and several classes at virginia commonwealth university. Staff presented research on the historical segregationist housing policies and the new affirmatively furthering fair housing rule at the 2016 governors housing conference.

the center for housing policy creates change in the housing systems that drive economic, educational, and social opportunities. Through the provision of accurate information and data on housing trends, experiences, and history, the center educates policymakers and the general public on housing issues that create barriers to equal opportunity. During fiscal year 2016-2017, the center continued to work with the center for fair housing on systemic lending and rental investigations, produced research reports, and advocated for ending housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Home worked with several community organizations with similar interests and educated the public and legislators on the importance of fair housing and the need to increase the availability of affordable housing for virginia's residents.