The 2014 Governor’s Housing Conference: Creating Healthy Communities was held October 29-31 in Norfolk.  The largest and most comprehensive housing-related event in Virginia, the Governor’s Housing Conference primarily serves to assist public and private sector representatives in developing effective solutions to Virginia’s most pressing housing problems.

Each year, speakers from across the state participate in the conference by conducting workshops and trainings on various housing related topics. Unique to this year’s event was an interactive bus tour, sponsored in part by the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The tour showcased the Grandy Village Learning Center (GVLC), the Elizabeth River Project’s “Learning Barge, and the Salvation Army’s Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.  

For the first time in six years the Governor of Virginia was able to attend the conference. Governor Terry McAuliffe delivered an invigorating speech and promised to attend every conference during his tenure.  Following his remarks, Governor McAuliffe signed and issued Executive Order 32 to further strengthen Virginia’s housing policy.

Each year, as part of the conference, several awards are bestowed to individuals and organizations with innovative and creative efforts to address housing in the Commonwealth. HRPDC member jurisdiction James City County’s – Office of Housing and Community Development received the Best Housing Preservation/Revitalization Effort award for their Forest Heights Neighborhood Improvement Project.

The Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference is made possible in part by sponsorships and donations to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).   The Hampton Roads Housing Consortium (HRHC) has been a supporter for several years and provided two scholarships to local housing professionals to attend the conference.  HRPDC staff attended the conference and assisted in the development of a regional exhibit that showcased affordable housing opportunities and activities in Hampton Roads.

Photo of Governor McAuliffe courtesy of Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Photos of Forest Heights Neighborhood Improvement Project courtesy of James City County’s – Office of Housing and Community Development.