Veda Florance-Hawkes is one of two Regional Portfolio Directors at the Better Housing Coalition, overseeing 20 property management and maintenance staff who work across 10 senior and multi-family rental communities totaling 791 units. Being a portfolio director requires the ability to think strategically in managing the performance of both staff and properties, while having an
BHC’s 35th Anniversary Celebration
Inter-Departmental Collaboration Helps BHC Residents Find Employment
BHC Bike Tour – East End RVA
Better Housing Coalition and Virginia Supportive Housing to Merge
Board members of Richmond, Virginia-based housing nonprofits Better Housing Coalition (BHC) and Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) voted to merge the two organizations at their respective meetings on December 14th and 15th, 2021. The combined organization will create a new Virginia-focused nonprofit with combined total net assets of more than $135 million that will serve clients
International Women’s Day Interview with All-Female C-Suite
In celebration of International Women’s Day (May 8), we are honored to highlight Better Housing Coalition’s all female C-Suite: Greta Harris, President & CEO; Julie Hovermale, CFO, and Monique Johnson, COO. These three women head up a $19M community development corporation, successfully lead 75 employees, and are instrumental in shaping the affordable housing and equity
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
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
BHC’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
Join us as we celebrate 30 years of mission-oriented investment in our region and recognize those who have helped us lift the region for all. From left to right: Wes Moore, Maurice Jones, Marietta Rodriguez, Greta Harris Event Details: Dewey Gottwald Center, Science Museum of Virginia When: September 18, 2019 Where: Science Museum of Virginia,
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