AHS 2021 Year in Review

The year 2021 has been filled with action, insights, and meaningful reflection for the Alliance for Housing Solutions (AHS). While the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact the lives of many in our community, AHS worked tirelessly alongside Arlington County, our partners in affordable housing, our dedicated supporters, and fellow residents to increase the supply of affordable housing through public education, policy development, advocacy, and innovation.

As an eventful year draws to a close, we look back on the progress, successes, and noteworthy achievements for AHS and affordable housing in Arlington.

1. Diversifying Our Board of Directors

In January, AHS welcomed three new members to our board of directors: Kellen MacBeth, Kitty Clark Stevenson, and Cicely Whitfield. These esteemed business and community leaders bring knowledge, talent, and a diversity of lived experiences to AHS along with a steadfast commitment to our mission.

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2. Advocating for Missing Middle Housing in Arlington

In partnership with the Langston Boulevard Alliance and with support from Virginia Housing, AHS stepped up advocacy efforts for expanded housing choice in Arlington throughout 2021. In January, we launched MissingMiddleArlington.net, an educational resource and hub for all the latest developments, news, events, and conversations around Missing Middle Housing. In March, we released an animated educational video about the benefits of Missing Middle Housing in the County. And in July, we created a video series featuring insights from local experts on how more housing options will benefit our environment, community diversity, livability, and the County's growing senior population.

AHS believes that while Missing Middle Housing is not the solution to all of Arlington’s affordable housing challenges, it is an essential piece of the larger puzzle to help meet the diverse housing needs of all Arlingtonians.

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3. Reviewing the Affordable Housing Master Plan

This year, Arlington County kicked off a five-year review of its Affordable Housing Master Plan, a policy framework and vision created to meet affordable housing needs through 2040. As part of this effort, Arlington released a comprehensive five-year report highlighting the achievements under the plan’s three overarching goals:

• GOAL 1: Supply
  Arlington County shall have an adequate supply of housing available to meet community needs.

• GOAL 2: Access
  Arlington County shall ensure that all segments of the community have access to housing.

• GOAL 3: Sustainability
  Arlington County shall ensure that its housing efforts contribute to a sustainable community.

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4. Making Space to Age in Place

In March, Arlington residents and community leaders joined AHS for a webinar to explore ways to improve Arlington’s livability for seniors and increase Missing Middle Housing in the County. The conversation was moderated by Maureen Markham (Arlington Neighborhood Village) and featured panelists Danielle Arigoni (Director, AARP Livable Communities) and Erica Wood (Arlington Age-Friendly Task Force). Issues discussed included impending demographic shifts, Arlington’s livability, and universal design.

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5. Increasing Critical Housing Investments During Covid-19

In response to advocacy efforts by AHS and other concerned organizations, the County Board increased housing investments in its final FY 2022 budget following proposed cuts to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) by the County Manager. The County Board responded by accepting many of our requested changes, including :

• Increasing funding for AHIF, bringing the total in the FY 2022 budget to $16.9 million

• Maintaining expanded COVID-related eligibility criteria for existing recipients of Housing Grants using one-time funds

• Reducing Housing Grants client’s contribution towards rent from 40% to 30% of income using ongoing funds

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6. Convening Voices on Missing Middle Housing at the Leckey Forum

In June, Arlington residents and community leaders joined AHS for an educational and inspiring conversation about Missing Middle Housing at the 2021 Leckey Forum. The discussion was framed by opening remarks from Samia Byrd, Arlington’s Chief Race and Equity Officer, who emphasized the need to approach Missing Middle Housing from an equity mindset.

Byrd was followed by Keynote speaker Daniel Parolek, co-founder of Opticos Design and the author of Missing Middle Housing: Thinking Big and Building Small to Respond to Today’s Housing Crisis, who discussed the top five mistakes localities are making when implementing Missing Middle Housing. He was joined by local housing experts Emily Hamilton of the Mercatus Center and Eric Maribojoc of the George Mason University Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship who contributed their insights and experiences during an in-depth discussion. The panel was moderated by Ginger Brown of the Langston Boulevard Alliance.

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7. Investing in Affordable Housing

In July, Amazon announced it will donate $40 million in vacant land on Crystal House parcels, creating more than 550 new affordable homes in the County. The announcement is a part of Amazon’s commitment earlier this year to provide $381.9 million in low-interest rate loans and grants to the Washington Housing Conservancy through its Housing Equity Fund.

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8. Expanding Housing Choice: The Missing Middle Housing Study

After a year-long study, Arlington County released Expanding Housing Choice: The Missing Middle Housing Study Phase 1 Report in September. Highlights include:

• Clarity about the meaning of “Missing Middle”

• Community priorities related to enabling more housing choice and supply

• Concerns related to enabling more housing choice and supply

• Housing types to study in Phase 2

• Scope of analysis in Phase 2

• Schedule for Phase 2

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9. Honoring a Trio of Arlington Housing Leaders

In November, AHS convened Arlington residents, housing advocates and leaders, and elected officials for the 13th annual Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award celebration. Together, we honored Elder Julio Basurto, Nina Janopaul, and the Honorable Mary Margaret Whipple for their leadership in affordable housing.

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10. Transitioning to New AHS Leadership

In November, AHS said goodbye to executive director Michelle Winters after five years of outstanding and thoughtful leadership. As we enter an exciting new chapter, AHS seeks a new part-time executive director who is familiar with affordable housing issues and the political, community life, and processes that drive decision-making in Arlington County, Virginia.

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Thank you for believing in and working toward an Arlington where people from all walks of life are welcome and can afford to live. As AHS continues to build on our success and momentum in 2022, please support our efforts with a year-end gift today.

If donating by mail, please send checks to:

Alliance for Housing Solutions
PO Box 7009
Arlington, VA 22207

Bozman Awards Honor Arlington Affordable Housing Leaders

““Leadership is often defined as the ability to influence others toward the achievement of a goal. Our honorees together exemplify how the components of the affordable housing system must work in partnership.””

— Jenny Denney Lawson

On November 14, 2021, the Alliance for Housing Solutions (AHS) convened Arlington residents, housing advocates and leaders, and elected officials for the 13th annual Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award celebration. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually via Zoom.

AHS Board Chair Jenny Denney Lawson opened the ceremony by recognizing the late Ellen Bozman’s life of service and inviting the audience to share their thoughts, feelings, and messages for the honorees throughout the event using the virtual feedback tool Mentimeter.

Audience members share their feelings at the beginning of the evening via Mentimeter.

Lawson acknowledged that while the Bozman Awards are usually a celebratory affair, this year’s event was tempered by the seriousness of the continuing pandemic as well as by the many challenges and issues facing the community. She began the honoree introductions by recognizing the true heart of affordable housing—its residents.

 “Residents are why we do what we do and why we all care so deeply about the impact that we’re trying to have in the community,” said Lawson.

Board member Kellen MacBeth introduced the first award recipient, Elder Julio Basurto, who was honored for his efforts to build the power and voices of affordable housing tenants in Arlington. As a former resident of the Serrano Apartments, Basurto has dedicated countless hours over the past several years to improving unsafe living conditions in the buildings. After first serving as an interpreter for other residents, Basurto became an advocate to ensure that all Serrano tenants had access to safe, habitable apartments and were treated with the respect and dignity they deserved.

“We forgive the past but are looking closely at the future. There is still work to be done. We need your support for change.”

— Elder Julio Basurto

With the help of many partners—including VOICE, BU-GATA, ASHPA, and the Arlington Chapter of the NAACP—Basurto and fellow tenant advocate Janeth Valenzuela have sparked the organizational and oversight reforms needed to improve conditions at the Serrano and to elevate the voices of residents of affordable housing with property ownership and management and with the County. “We forgive the past but are looking closely at the future. There is still work to be done. We need your support for change,” he said.

Elder Julio Basurto delivers remarks at the Bozman Awards.

The second Bozman Award recipient, Nina Janopaul, was introduced by AHS Board Member Koube Ndaaje. Janopaul was honored as one of Arlington’s most effective voices in support of affordable housing investment. She recently retired as the president and CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), a non-profit, regional, award-winning, affordable housing developer, from 2007 to 2021. Janopaul led the organization with a deep commitment to resident opportunity and social justice. During her tenure, Janopaul established a residents services program and maintained a strong permanent supportive housing program.

““It would be easy to let this community continue to gentrify and to exclude people. Rents are going up, housing prices are going up, and it takes active work to change that trajectory.”

— Nina Janopaul

Nina Janopaul accepts the Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award.

“I want to thank everyone here who's on this call for their passion for creating a diverse and inclusive Arlington,” said Janopaul. “It would be easy to let this community continue to gentrify and to exclude people. Rents are going up, housing prices are going up, and it takes active work to change that trajectory.”

The third award recipient, the Honorable Mary Margaret Whipple, was introduced by AHS board member and daughter of Ellen Bozman, Martha Bozman. Whipple was honored for her work shaping local and statewide policies that support affordable housing.

“If there is anything I’ve learned in my years of working on affordable housing, it has been that we just need every bit of volunteerism and activity and every resource we have at our command to make it possible.”

— Mary Margaret Whipple

Bozman recalled Whipple's long history of service in Arlington, including her roots in education and tenures on the Arlington County School Board and Arlington County Board. She also highlighted Whipple's service in the 31st District in the Virginia State Senate, where she was the first woman ever to hold a leadership position in the Virginia General Assembly, chairing the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Mary Margaret Whipple speaks at the virtual Bozman Awards.

 “There isn't enough housing to go around, so it's expensive, and the economy works against us,” said Whipple. “This is, on the whole, an affluent community, but many are not affluent, and they need the force of community willpower to provide the housing opportunities that they need. If there is anything I've learned in my years of working on affordable housing, it has been that we just need every bit of volunteerism and activity and every resource we have at our command to make it possible.”

“The strength of our will is going to be needed now more than ever.”

— Jenny Denney Lawson

Closing out the ceremony, Lawson recognized two outgoing, long-term, and valued members of the AHS team—board member Anne McCullough and executive director Michelle Winters. Lawson also acknowledged the challenges ahead in the fight to create an Arlington for Everyone. “The strength of our will is going to be needed now more than ever,” she said.  

Attendees watch the 2021 Bozman Awards via Zoom.

From the Audience Notes to the Honorees Via Mentimeter

Notes to Elder Julio Basurto

1. Wonderful job Julio! Thank you for your incredible efforts on behalf of tenants in Arlington.

2. Many thanks, Julio, for your tireless work to build a more beloved community. Many, many others will be inspired and follow in your social justice footsteps

3. Congratulations, Julio!  You have done such important work.

4. Grassroot leaders are the soul of all our work on affordable housing. Thank you for taking on all these hard issues and for your determination.

5. Thank you for speaking truth to power!

6. Thank you, Elder Basurto, for leading our community in taking care of others who need help to be housed.

Notes to Nina Janopaul

1. You have lifted affordable housing to a new standard and priority in Arlington and the region - THANK YOU!!

2. Congratulations, Nina!  So happy for you as the recognition of your extraordinary work continues!

3. Congratulations Nina!! You are inspirational

4. Nina, many thanks for your inspired leadership.  Our region is much more beloved because of your hard efforts. Onward and upward!

5. What an incredible contribution you’ve made to Arlington!  Thanks so much.

6. Congratulations, Nina. Thank you for your lifelong dedication to the cause of affordable housing.

Notes to Mary Margaret Whipple

1. You are a legend, and we are blessed to have you in our county and state!

2. You’ve been a role model for countless women who wanted to make difference. Thanks for your gracious mentorship of so many of us. Your legacy will live on for decades!

3. You are a gentle and mission-driven FORCE.

4. Congratulations, Mary Margaret. You leave an incredible legacy.

5. Many thanks, Mary Margaret. You've transformed a county, region, and the commonwealth.

6. Words cannot express how much I have looked up to Mary Margaret! I have learned so much from her leadership and guidance!
   
   

Making Space to Age in Place

A silver wave is coming to Arlington.

Older adults aged 65 to 69 and 70 to 74 were among the fastest-growing age segments in Arlington from 2010 to 2018. By 2045, the number of 85+ Arlingtonians is forecasted to jump 65.5%, well over double the projected countywide growth of 26.6%. Many of these seniors have seen the County undergo many changes over the past few decades—changes that may ultimately make it harder for them to stay in Arlington. By allowing for the construction of smaller and more age-friendly homes, we can respond to changing demographics and better serve Arlington’s growing population of seniors.

Arlington seniors are more likely than their neighbors to be cost-burdened

Cost-burdened households in Arlington (2019)

As people age, their needs change, and the homes they lived in for years may no longer fit their needs or lifestyle. Kids move out and their bedrooms now sit empty. Mobility challenges make it too hard to climb stairs or maintain a yard. Even if seniors want to swap their larger home for a more modestly sized alternative, Arlington’s current housing supply isn’t meeting their needs. For too many seniors, downsizing means leaving the community they’ve called home for years.

Missing Middle Housing offers a path forward for seniors who want to shrink their home without saying goodbye to the community that makes them feel most at home.

• Missing Middle Housing types’ intentional smaller scale is appealing to a variety of buyers and renters—including downsizing seniors—as their reduced size comes with a reduced workload. This manageable scale is particularly important for seniors with mobility challenges. Sixteen percent of people in the U.S. age 65 and over reported difficulties with mobility (e.g. walking or climbing stairs) in 2018, making it the most commonly reported disability. By increasing the supply of easily manageable housing in existing residential communities, we can better accommodate this growing population.

• Missing Middle Housing helps to create a stronger sense of community through its proximity to neighborhood amenities, neighbors living in closer proximity, and the integration of shared spaces. A strong social life is critical for seniors and is linked to many health benefits, including reduced rates of depression and a longer life span. This has become even more evident during the past year as COVID-19 has caused many seniors to become even more isolated.

• Smaller housing units can mean smaller mortgages and lower rents, which are helpful for people on a fixed income (e.g. retirement benefits). Some Missing Middle Housing types with multiple units can also incorporate opportunities for rental income. This can reduce the financial burden on Arlington’s seniors and help them afford other services and necessities as time goes on.

• To the extent that Missing Middle Housing is newly developed or renovated, the homes can more easily be made accessible for seniors through either fully ADA-compliant features or age-friendly Universal Design practices. For multi-unit structures, this is an ideal option for the unit(s) on the first floor that allow accessible one-level living spaces.

• Missing Middle isn’t just good for seniors: it’s good for families as a whole. Multi-generational families can benefit from Missing Middle Housing where family members can reside together or nearby in the neighborhood. When we create an environment where Arlingtonians of any age can thrive, our community stands to benefit for years to come.

In Case You Missed It: Missing Middle Housing and Arlington’s Seniors Webinar

On March 25, 2021, Arlington residents and community leaders joined us for a webinar on Missing Middle Housing and Arlington’s Seniors. In a conversation moderated by Maureen Markham (Arlington Neighborhood Village), panelists Danielle Arigoni (Director, AARP Livable Communities) and Erica Wood (Arlington Age-Friendly Task Force) explored ways to improve Arlington’s livability for seniors and the potential for Missing Middle Housing in the County. Issues discussed included impending demographic shifts, Arlington’s livability, universal design, and more.

On the issue of affordability, Arigoni said, “It’s a shame that people who have lived in Arlington all their lives and have so much to contribute wouldn’t be able to see a viable path forward to remain in Arlington. That’s a real loss for our community.”

“If we design and reimagine sites differently, we can engineer more interaction among people and across generations that ultimately enrich the lives of everyone who lives there. ”

— Danielle Arigoni

Wood agreed, saying, “I would hate to think that we here in Arlington who aim to be so inclusive are forcing older people out instead of providing the affordable and accessible options that they need.”

The panelists also looked at Missing Middle Housing’s potential to improve quality of life and foster a sense of community. “Another asset of Missing Middle Housing is that it opens the door to unique land use and site designs that currently are not very common in this area,” said Arigoni. “Smaller homes that are designed to be affordable, accessible, and to facilitate connection and common spaces—that’s a real opportunity that is underserved right now. If we design and reimagine sites differently, we can engineer more interaction among people and across generations that ultimately enrich the lives of everyone who lives there. This can’t happen easily with the existing zoning codes, but we know that we can do better and we need to do better.”

Reflecting on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted older Arlingtonians, Wood said, “During the pandemic, we’ve heard about social isolation and how technology is helping to address it. But nobody has said that changes in zoning would help decrease isolation levels. We need to get that on the radar.”

Wood also mentioned the health benefits that can arise when seniors are less isolated. One of the things about growing old in a single-family house is that people won’t know if you have an accident,” she said. “So in addition to helping with the social isolation, community-oriented housing options give people an opportunity to look out for each other.”

View a Replay of the Session

““During the pandemic, we’ve heard about social isolation and how technology is helping to address it. But nobody has said that changes in zoning would help decrease isolation levels. We need to get that on the radar.””

— Erica Wood

Explore Danielle Arigoni’s presentation on the overlap of Missing Middle Housing and AARP’s activities.

Explore Erica Wood’s presentation to learn more about local activities related to aging and housing in Arlington.

Q+A Highlights

Q: Why does AARP think Missing Middle Housing types would be good housing for seniors?

A: One of the reasons Missing Middle Housing fits so nicely into an age-friendly framework is because we can clearly see that there are inadequate options now. When you first mention AARP and housing to people, I can guarantee that their mind goes first to age-restricted housing developments—these large 55+ communities—or nursing homes. All of which are fine, but those are just two of many housing solutions that should be available to help meet the needs of older adults. Three-quarters of older people say they want to age in place, but only 46 percent of them believe they will be able to. Thirteen percent believe they will have to move to another home in their same community, and 25 percent think they will have to move somewhere else. If we’re able to provide options for people to downsize according to their needs or wishes, then we’re better able to give older adults the lives that they want. (Answered by Danielle Arigoni)

Q: How could increasing Missing Middle units other than ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) make Arlington more age-friendly?

A: First, while Missing Middle Housing may not always be affordable for seniors, it is more likely to be, compared to the large single-family homes now being built. Second, ground floor units, for example in courtyard apartments, may be easier to get into, more accessible. And third, Missing Middle housing may offer more community connections than single-family homes, less isolation—at least someone close by in case of emergencies. Certainly, not all Missing Middle Housing will be the best fit for older adults, but the point is to have a range of options that might work. (Answered by Erica Wood)

Q: Do you have a sense of why Arlington is seeing such a large growth in the older adult population, given the current affordability and housing-choice options?

A: Arlington's growth in the older population reflects a sweeping national trend—the greying of America. Federal statistics show that "the older population in 2030 is projected to be more than twice as large as in 2000, growing from 35 million to 73 million and representing 21 percent of the total U.S. population.” Older people who came to Arlington in the 1960s and 1970s are now in their 70s or older. Many have lived their lives in Arlington and don't want to leave the community ties they have built up, yet may find themselves in a bind. (Answered by Erica Wood)

AARP Resources

• AARP Livable Communities Homepage

• Community Challenge Grant Program

• HomeFit Publication and Worksheets (in Multiple Languages)

• Making Room Publication (with National Building Museum)

• Walk Audit Tool Kit and Worksheets (in English/Spanish)

• ABCs of ADUs Publication

• Zoning Guide (with Congress for New Urbanism)

• Sign Up for the AARP Newsletter

• Explore Your Community

• Find Your Livability Score

Arlington Resources

• Arlington’s Age-Friendly Action Plan

• Missing Middle Arlington

• Arlington’s Missing Middle Housing Study

• Arlington Neighborhood Village

• Universal Design: Homes for All Ages (Video)

Missing Middle Housing for a Better Arlington

Rising housing costs are squeezing Arlington’s residents out of the community they call home. As time goes on, everything seems to be getting bigger: bigger homes, bigger price tags, bigger challenges. But Missing Middle Housing offers a path forward.

Missing Middle Housing is not a specific style or a type of government-subsidized housing, but a size of home that falls between a single-detached home and a mid-rise apartment. These are housing types you know well: duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and more. Missing Middle types blend easily into existing neighborhoods, but their efficient scale makes them less costly than the single-detached homes nearby.

Missing Middle Housing alone won’t solve the affordability challenges facing the County, but it is an important step toward an Arlington for everyone.

Together with our partner the Langston Boulevard Alliance, we invite you to explore our new video: “Missing Middle Housing for a Better Arlington.” Learn about the housing supply challenges facing our community, types of Missing Middle Housing, and how Missing Middle Housing could benefit Arlington.

Let’s talk about how Missing Middle Housing can make Arlington a better place. Visit missingmiddlearlington.net to learn how you can support Missing Middle Housing in the County, sign up for updates, or join the Missing Middle Network.

AHS and Lee Highway Alliance would like to thank Virginia Housing for supporting this important work.