Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 from 6-8 PM: Join BHCyp, BHC’s Young Professionals’ Board for a guided, 3-ish mile, mostly flat bike tour of Richmond’s historic Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, and see first-hand how BHC is transforming blighted properties and preserving housing affordability in an area now priced out of reach for many. In addition
Expert Perspectives: A Deep Dive with Housing Veteran Barry Merchant
Better Housing Coalition Homebuyers Club
Highland Grove Greening Community Event
BHC’s 35th Anniversary Celebration
Join us at The Foundry at Historic Tredegar the morning of Friday, August 11th, 2023 and help us celebrate 35 years of mission-oriented investment across the Greater Richmond region! Event Details: Breakfast and Program When: Friday, August 11th, 2023 Where: The Foundry at Historic Tredegar Time: 8:30 – 10:30 AM (Registration and networking at 8 AM) Tickets: $40 each; $50
Inter-Departmental Collaboration Helps BHC Residents Find Employment
An innovative collaboration between BHC’s Real Estate Development and Resident Services departments is fostering organizational sustainability and resident stability. The partnership was initiated by Maria Tabacchi, Senior Real Estate Development Associate, as she looked for a better way to fulfill the HUD Section 3 requirements that accompany the public sector funds she manages. Section 3
BHC Receives $3 million to Advance Racial Equity
The Better Housing Coalition (BHC) has received a transformative $3 million grant from Altria Group to help address social and racial equity disparities within the Greater Richmond region by accelerating its production of affordable housing. The grant will help underwrite the development and preservation of at least 1,000 units of quality, affordable, and service-enriched
BHCyp Member Opinion Published in Richmond Times Dispatch
In 2020, BHCyp chose to explore their role as housing champions and incorporate more advocacy into their work. In their first effort, BHCyp member, Sarah Brooks, penned a thoughtful Op-Ed published by the Richmond Times Dispatch this month. In it, Brooks urges voters to examine candidates housing policies to ensure Richmond’s housing market doesn’t become
A Real-Time Example of the Affordable Housing Crisis
“Vagrants.” “Squatters.” “Trespassers.” All are names we call people living in places they don’t pay for. Sometimes we forget there are human beings with hopes, dreams and families behind the names. As with most vacant buildings across our city, vagrancy can be a problem and the former Quality Inn Hotel on West Broad Street is no
BHC, Partners Rally to Stabilize Families Impacted by COVID-19
Community Partners’ Quick Response Helps Put Tenants on the Road to Recovery Before any government mandate on eviction moratoriums, the Better Housing Coalition (BHC), owner and manager of 17 affordable apartment communities across Greater Richmond and Petersburg, had already placed a moratorium on evictions and late fees through the end of 2020, thereby helping to
Unity & Resilience: Supporting Senior Residents in Uncertain Times
Beyond building and managing affordable housing, BHC delivers an array of free resident support services, reflecting our longstanding commitment to improving the economic, academic and health outcomes of the families and seniors who call a BHC rental community home. As an example, our seniors benefit from social, health and wellness activities that allow them to
Coronavirus Preparedness at BHC
At the Better Housing Coalition’s home office and across our 16 rental communities in Richmond, Henrico and Petersburg, the welfare of our staff members and residents is our first priority. BHC formed a task force of representatives from across the organization to address concerns and take proactive steps in the interest of keeping our staff
Realizing Dreams at Every Age
Did you know that affordable housing can be a launching pad to achieving dreams? It’s true! Once the worry over not being able to pay the rent every month is removed, residents feel freer to think about their hopes and dreams for the future, and explore how to achieve them. This is the case with
Seniors Cannot Age in Place Without Access to Oral Health Services
Those having dental insurance may take for granted a twice-yearly preventive-care visit to the dentist. But for many seniors on a fixed income—and even more so for seniors on the lower end of the economic spectrum—a routine cleaning is a luxury. Forty-nine percent of seniors 65 and older who have not seen a dentist in a 12-month period cite cost as the No. 1 reason for not visiting the dentist more frequently. That number skyrockets to 69 percent of low-income seniors, according to the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute.
State of Emergency?
The Shutdown Has Real Consequences for RVA’s Residents The government shutdown, now in its fourth week, continues with no end in sight. Whether or not you believe there is a humanitarian crisis along our country’s border with Mexico, a very real one is brewing closer to home. The longer the shutdown continues, the greater its
Affordable Senior Housing Coming to Chesterfield
We’re happy to announce the 2019 development of Market Square IV, a new, affordable 60-unit apartment community for senior residents of modest means. The community will have one- and two-bedroom units, for which rents will range from $600-800/month. Market Square IV will be constructed during the second quarter of 2019, on land BHC already owns
In Appreciation of NeighborWorks America
Advancing Opportunity for 40 Years In 2015, the Better Housing Coalition became a member of the NeighborWorks network, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit leader in affordable housing and community development. 40 years ago, NeighborWorks America was formed by congressional charter. Since then, NeighborWorks has worked diligently to create opportunities for people to live in affordable homes;
JOBS Program Works for Older Adults
Aside from financial insecurity, long-term unemployment can have devastating effects on individuals and their families. Some employers are reluctant to hire the long-term unemployed; and for older applicants, securing a job can be doubly difficult. Re-entry to the workforce after a long absence can be a daunting prospect, without help. David Woolridge had been unemployed
In Memory of John McCann
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
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
BHC Bike Tour & Happy Hour
Richmond’s East End is on the rise. Since BHC began its work in the neighborhood 20 years ago, much has changed. While we’re ecstatic about widespread reinvestment in the area, Church Hill’s new-found popularity comes and unintended consequence: apartment rents and home prices have risen out of reach for many of our neighbors. During this
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