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Members of the Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials take pride in helping families find decent and affordable places to live. Our membership represents agencies, localities, and housing professionals that work for the development, construction, maintenance and preservation of housing.
UPDATED: July 7, 2004
YOU ARE VISITOR NUMBER
Greetings VAHCDO Members:
During the past decade, VAHCDO membership has provided me with the training and networking opportunities which have greatly contributed to my advancement as a housing and community development professional. Accordingly, it was most gratifying to be elected in May 2003 to serve as your President for 2003-2005.
As illustrated by my personal experience, the services provided to our membership represent a critical part of our organizational mission. The two annual workshops and the legal seminar sponsored by VAHCDO provide an outstanding opportunity for the staff of our member agencies to receive and exchange information on a variety of issues currently impacting our profession. Such staff capacity building efforts are further enhanced by the ongoing partnership between VAHCDO and Nan McKay Associates which during the last several years has provided training on a variety of topics addressing rental housing management, program administration, and maintenance issues. Additional information about VAHCDO sponsored training is available on this website. In the current challenging budget environment and the expectations generated by PHAS and SEMAP, your agency cannot afford to miss these quality training opportunities offered in your State and sponsored by your state organization.
VAHCDO plays an important role in the formulation of housing and redevelopment policy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Such policy influence results from the strength and support of our member agencies and the effective leadership of our Board of Directors. Most recently, our organization has continued a positive dialogue with VHDA to preserve the public housing pool as part of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Tax credits increasingly represent a critical resource when combined with Capital Funds to revitalize our public housing communities. Likewise, VAHCDO continues to maintain a positive relationship with the HUD Virginia Office and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to further identify opportunities to support our member agencies’ activities in their communities.
VAHCDO's accomplishments in the realm of policy formulation and staff capacity building would be the envy of many professional trade organizations but our organization goes beyond such activities to provide assistance which directly impacts the future of youth in our residential communities. Each year VAHCDO sponsors several scholarships for high-achieving high school graduates to assist in their college education. For me, the inspiring acceptance speeches delivered by these scholarship recipients are the highlight of our annual conference.
Given the wide array of activities supported by our organization and the positive impact on our industry, I greatly look forward to working with all VAHCDO members and our organization’s partners during my term to further promote affordable housing opportunities and revitalized communities in our Commonwealth.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Hawkins, AICP
President