Better Housing Coalition

Better Housing Coalition
Name	Better Housing Coalition
Formation	1959
Type	Nonprofit housing developer
Headquarters	Richmond, Virginia
Region served	Richmond metropolitan area
Leader title	President & CEO
Leader name	Kathy J. Myers

Better Housing Coalition

The Better Housing Coalition is a nonprofit housing developer and neighborhood revitalization organization based in Richmond, Virginia. It operates affordable housing projects, resident services, and community development initiatives across the Richmond metropolitan area, partnering with municipal agencies, philanthropic foundations, and faith-based institutions. The organization works at the intersection of preservation, urban design, and social services to address housing affordability and neighborhood stabilization in historically disinvested communities such as Jackson Ward and Church Hill.

History

Founded in 1959 amid postwar urban change, the organization emerged during the era of urban renewal and the civil rights movement, responding to displacement pressures in Richmond neighborhoods adjacent to Virginia Commonwealth University and the James River. Early collaborations included neighborhood improvement programs with the City of Richmond and faith-based partners like St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia). During the 1970s and 1980s it navigated federal housing policy shifts tied to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and tax credit legislation such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. In the 1990s and 2000s the group expanded development capacity through partnerships with national intermediaries including Local Initiatives Support Corporation and regional institutions like the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Recent decades saw engagement with contemporary funders including the Kresge Foundation, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), and state agencies like the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

Mission and Programs

The organization’s mission focuses on producing and preserving affordable homes while providing supportive services that promote neighborhood stability and wealth-building for low- and moderate-income households. Core program areas include affordable rental development, homeownership counseling aligned with NeighborWorks America standards, energy-efficiency retrofits coordinated with the Department of Energy programs, and financial capability services modeled after initiatives by the Urban Institute and Enterprise Community Partners. Workforce development and resident leadership curricula have been developed in collaboration with local colleges such as Virginia Union University and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Housing Development and Property Management

As a developer, it has completed mixed-income and preservation projects using financing sources including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations, tax-exempt bonds issued by the Virginia Housing Development Authority, and grants from the National Housing Trust Fund. Notable projects involve adaptive reuse of historic stock in neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and infill construction near transit corridors serving GRTC Transit System routes. Property management practices follow industry standards from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials and quality benchmarks promoted by the National Leased Housing Association to maintain long-term affordability and code compliance.

Community Services and Resident Support

Resident services offer case management, youth programs, digital literacy classes, and eviction prevention aligned with legal aid providers such as Legal Aid Justice Center and social service networks like United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. Partnerships with healthcare institutions including VCU Health and public health departments support on-site wellness clinics and behavioral health referrals. Tenant organizing and leadership development draw on models from PICO National Network and neighborhood associations like the Jackson Ward Civic League.

Advocacy, Policy, and Partnerships

The organization engages in local and state advocacy on affordable housing policy, contributing to coalitions alongside groups such as Housing Forward Virginia, Virginia Organizing, and the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission. It has testified before the Richmond City Council and worked with the Governor of Virginia’s housing task forces to influence zoning reform, inclusionary housing proposals, and preservation incentives. Research collaborations with universities—University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and College of William & Mary—have produced policy briefs and impact assessments used by municipal planners and housing trusts.

Funding and Financial Structure

Financial operations blend earned revenue from rental operations and developer fees with philanthropic support from entities like the Ford Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation, as well as program-related investments from community development financial institutions such as Virginia Community Capital and Capital One Community Development Banking. Construction and preservation deals frequently layer financing from the Community Development Block Grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, state tax credits, and private equity from mission-driven investors. Governance includes a volunteer board drawn from leaders at institutions including Altria Group, Mosaic Community Services, and regional universities.

Impact and Awards

Over its history the organization has preserved and created hundreds of affordable units, catalyzed block-level revitalization in neighborhoods like Church Hill, and contributed to declining vacancy and blight in targeted areas. Recognition has included municipal awards from the City of Richmond and honors from national bodies such as Enterprise Community Partners and the National Housing Conference. Its programs have been cited in academic studies on neighborhood change published through the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in Virginia Category:Housing organizations in the United States