RRHA: Building Vibrant Communities

Presented by Maxine CholmondeleyInterim CEO, General Counsel

Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority

January 4, 2012

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 1

RRHA History

In 1935, the federal government embarked on what was then a visionary program to build homes for many people who were

suffering economically from the Great Depression.

The goal was to provide housing for as many as 1/3 of the nation who lived in substandard housing and to infuse the depressed economy with a much-needed stimulus. Out of

that federal effort, locally-directed housing authorities were born. RRHA was one of these authorities and was formed by

City Council in 1940.

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 2

RRHA History: Construction of Gilpin community, RRHA’s first public housing

community, circa 1940

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 3

RRHA History: Celebration of the completion of Gilpin community

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 4

RRHA Today

Today, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority:

• Locally administered, federally funded housing authority • Political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia• Governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners which are appointed

by Richmond City Council.• Provides real estate development; rental and home-ownership assistance;

property management and family services to city residents.• Largest housing authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving nearly

20,000 community members through our Low-Income Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs.

• Manages approximately 4,100 public housing rental units • Authorized to issue approximately 3,100 vouchers• Impacts approximately 10% of the City of Richmond’s population.

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 5

Mission: To be the catalyst for quality affordable housing

and community revitalization.

Vision: Building vibrant communities.

RRHA offers educational, employment, health, family, and self-sufficiency opportunities and services to RRHA

community members

About RRHA

Locations of RRHA Communities

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 7

- RRHA communities throughout the City of Richmond. Major Current Community Revitalization Initiative: Dove Street Redevelopment in Richmond’s Northside

RRHA’s Goal is to Transform Public

Housing into Communities of Hope

and Promise

Choice Neighborhoods Grant

3 Key Areas of Impact:

Housing: Transforming distressed public housing into energy efficient, attractive, mixed income housing

People: Supporting positive outcomes in health, education, safety, employment for residents of public and privately-owned housing

Neighborhoods: Converting poverty areas into mixed income, healthy communities with viable schools, services, and access to jobs.

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 8

RRHA Downtown Richmond Redevelopment Initiatives

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 9

Former Miller & Rhoads building redeveloped into Hilton Garden Inn

Former Thalhimers building into CenterStage

Income Challenges

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 10

Household Demographics

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 11

RRHA Funding Sources

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 12

RRHA CHALLENGES

Public Housing •CHALLENGES

Economic stability of community membersFunding Sources

Decades-old, adverse public perception of Public Housing communities and

community membersHistoric cycle of crime in communities

Housing Choice Voucher

•CHALLENGES

Economic stability of community membersFunding Sources

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 13

RRHA’s Strategic Programs of Promise

Public Housing/HCVP •Workforce Development Partnership•Family Self Sufficiency Programs•Home Ownership Assistance•Educational, Sports, Tomorrow’s Promise Scholarship, and other Family Programs •RRHA Police Department work with Faith Leadership Initiative•GED and computer classes•Health Resource Centers in partnership with the Richmond City Health District and Bon Secours Health System•Bank of America Financial Literacy Program•Interventios services for RRHA community members•RRHA Lunch Buddy Mentoring Program

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 14

RRHA and the Faith Community, Building a Unified Front

How can the Faith Community Help RRHA?

• Provide services to targeted populations:* Youth* Elderly* Disabled* Mentally ill or mentally impaired or disabled* Ex-offenders trying to re-enter the workplace* Persons without transportation

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 15

RRHA and the Faith Community, Building a Unified Front

• Provide pre-leasing counseling

• Serve as support system for persons facing eviction

• Engage community members in RRHA initiatives

• Work closely with Tenant Councils

• Care for families during unexpected crises

• Encourage participation in RRHA programs and services

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 16

RRHA and the Faith Community, Building a Unified Front

How can RRHA help the Faith Community?

• Assist with volunteer, community service opportunities and programs

• Collaborate to provide a network of resources to RRHA families

• Continue to engage in open dialogue to generate creative solutions

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 17

2011 RRHA Tomorrow’s Promise College Scholarship Recipients

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 18

THANK YOU

For further information please contact Valena Dixon, VP for Family Services and Community Relations @ 804-780-4167 or

Maxine Cholmondeley, Interim CEO at 804-780-4346.

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority 19