Our hearts are heavy at the passing of our dear friend John McCann, past Better Housing Coalition Chairman, board member emeritus and passionate supporter of equitable housing for all. John contributed greatly to our RVA community at many levels and was instrumental in making BHC stronger and ready for the challenges of making positive community
Meet Shanté’s New Family
When Shanté moved into BHC’s Lincoln Mews community with her son, she had no idea her family would grow so quickly. Before finding the Better Housing Coalition, Shanté and her 9-year-old son Darelle were homeless. Adding to the stress of not knowing where they would sleep at night, Shanté was unemployed and without a car. Darelle’s
Finding Meaning by Helping Others
May is Older Americans Month, and a perfect time to shine a light on what aging looks like today in BHC’s senior communities. Forget outdated stereotypes: many of our older residents are holding down jobs, taking charge of their health and getting involved in their communities. Danny Gessey is one example of an active BHC
Better Housing Coalition Breaks Ground on The Goodwyn at Union Hill
The Better Housing Coalition (BHC) broke ground on its newest development in the historic East Richmond, VA neighborhood of Union Hill on Friday, May 12, 2017. In so doing, BHC begins the process of converting the former Citadel of Hope, a Colonial Revival-style building built in 1923 by the Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union, into high-quality,
Why We’re Selling Hoodies
Five years ago this March, we heard the name Trayvon Martin for the first time. When he was shot and killed in a suburb of Sanford, Florida, Trayvon was 17 and unarmed. According to the 9-1-1 recording he was “a suspicious guy” wearing “a dark hoodie.” In other words, Trayvon was singled out because of
An Educator Who Never Tires of Teaching
In 1963, Barbara Nealy (that’s Bar-ba-ra with three syllables, as she’ll tell you) was 17 and the historic March on Washington was about to happen. Her civic-minded mother chartered a bus, and took her and her sister plus some neighbors from their Baltimore neighborhood to D.C. to see Dr. Martin Luther King speak. “It was a
Golden Hammer Awards to Transition in 2017
Two Richmond-area nonprofits with interests in historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization will jointly assume the Golden Hammer Awards from the Better Housing Coalition (BHC) next year. Beginning in November 2017, Historic Richmond and Storefront for Community Design will co-present the awards to recognize professionals working in neighborhood revitalization, blight reduction and historic preservation in the
BHC Acquires 3200 West Broad Street
The Better Housing Coalition (BHC) has purchased the property most recently known as the Quality Inn at 3200 W. Broad Street in the rapidly developing neighborhood of Scott’s Addition. The six-story building and accompanying property occupies a full block in a high-profile location along the Broad Street corridor, in close proximity to Interstates 95, 64
BHC Awards Nine Residents Higher-Education Scholarships
The Better Housing Coalition (BHC) announces the inaugural recipients of its Founders’ Scholarships, established in 2015 in honor of BHC co-founders Carter McDowell and the late Mary Tyler McClenahan. A total of $11,000 has been awarded to nine adult residents (ages 17 and older) of BHC rental communities who are seeking higher education (two- or four-year
Meet Julie Hovermale, BHC’s CFO
Among her many talents, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Julie Hovermale steered the Better Housing Coalition through a tough Recession that battered the real estate industry. With the help of BHC’s Board of Directors, she then guided BHC to a much stronger, more sustainable position. In July 2016, Virginia Business Magazine awarded Julie a well-deserved