President's Message Thank you for visiting our website! I am writing this President’s message with anticipation and great expectation that our economy will soon make the recovery that we all long for.   In our nation and in our State, we hear of countless numbers of stories of foreclosure, joblessness, lagging home sales, tightening credit, and the like.   Make no mistake about it these are real events in the lives of real people.  In light of all the less than desirable news, I am fully persuaded that there is some good news within our industry, amongst the membership of our organization, and within the customer base that we serve.

The good news is that many members are administering programs that will mitigate the unforeseen events mentioned above.  Many members continue to successfully utilize tools and programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher program, Public Housing, HOME program, CDBG, CDBG-R, HPRP, NSP1, and NSP2, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HOPE VI, HCV Homeownership, SPARC, New Market Tax Credits and others  all in effort to increase housing production and to provide housing and economic opportunities for low, moderate, and middle income families in areas like Southwest Virginia, Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Tidewater, and other areas of the Commonwealth.  Many member agencies are managing and maintaining multifamily properties and are doing quite well, in spite of the economic downturn.   The successes of these programs and the impact that they are making in the lives of people need to be publicized and celebrated.  The good news needs to be shared.            
There’s good news in the area of our advocacy.  In the area of advocacy, our membership rallied in opposition to House Bill 264.  This bill as introduced would have granted appeal rights to individuals barred from PHA property.  In addition, the bill required that any and all appeals would be heard by the PHA’s Board chairman instead of the Executive Director.  The good news is HB 264 was “laid on the table”, it failed to make it out of the subcommittee.    The collective efforts of VAHCDO and its Board, NAHRO, individual members, affiliate members, local PHAs, and others were the real difference makers.   That’s good news!  In addition, VAHCDO membership played a vital role in assisting in the formulation of the Southeastern Regional Council of NAHRO’s position paper that was submitted to Congress to this year. 

The good news in the area of training and development is that VAHCDO continues to provide high quality, affordable training for its members.   The next training that is scheduled will focus on the Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) inspection protocol.  This training will take place in Williamsburg, Virginia, in mid-summer.  There’s more.  For those member agencies engaged in Asset Management, VAHCDO is developing a training workshop on the utilization of operating statements for asset and property managers.   Look for this training in late summer or early fall.
There’s more good news!  Last year VAHCDO sponsored its first annual, “What Home Means to Me” poster contest as part of the Housing America campaign.  VAHCDO plans to do the same this year.   Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in each category. The categories are:  K-5th grade, Grade 6-8, and Grade 9-12.    Look for more information on this contest in late spring.  

The VAHCDO Scholarship program continues to assist those students that are performing well.   Eighty percent of all the students selected for a VAHCDO scholarship over the last two years continue to do well.   Students are enrolled at institutions such as Virginia State University, Danville Community College, Norfolk State University, James Madison University, Thomas Nelson Community College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion University.  VAHCDO has invested in these future leaders and they are doing well.   That’s good news!

As previously mentioned, there is good news occurring within our industry, amongst the membership of our organization, and within the customer base that we serve.   I encourage each of you to celebrate your achievements and the achievements of those that you serve.  VAHCDO can assist you in publicizing the good news!  You may submit articles and pictures for inclusion in our award-winning newsletter, the VAHCDO Review or for posting on our website at  www.vahcdo.org.   You may want to volunteer to present your success story as part of a workshop at an upcoming VAHCDO conference.  The choice is yours!  As always, I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming VAHCDO event.  

 
Sincerely,

Dewayne Alford
President, VAHCDO