Cornerstones Housing Corporation

TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS BY CONSTRUCTING AND/OR ACQUIRING HOUSING UNITS, MANAGING THE HOUSING PORTFOLIO, AND ADVOCATING FOR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND INTEGRATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE FAIRFAX-FALLS CHURCH COMMUNITY.

SERVICE-ENRICHED AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING: CORNERSTONES HOUSING CORPORATION (CHC) CURRENTLY OWNS AND OPERATES 106 AFFORDABLE SCATTERED-SITE RENTAL HOMES AND APARTMENTS DEDICATED TO SERVING EXTREMELY LOW AND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND THOSE LEAVING HOMELESSNESS. THE SCATTERED-SITE RENTAL PROGRAM INCLUDES 58 TOWNHOMES AND CONDOMINIUMS IN RESTON, HERNDON, AND CENTREVILLE RENTED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR A HOUSING SUBSIDY, OR WHOSE RENT IS DISCOUNTED BY CORNERSTONES/CHC TO ENABLE THEM TO SUSTAIN AN AFFORDABLE HOME. THE APARTMENTS AT NORTH POINT IS AN ATTRACTIVE 48-UNIT TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT IN RESTON, VIRGINIA, WITH RENTS AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS BETWEEN 30-60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME - THROUGH RIHC PARTNERS, LP. MANY RESIDENTS IN OUR UNITS WERE FORMERLY HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, AND HAVE FEW OPTIONS, IF ANY, FOR SECURING HOUSING IN THIS HIGH-COST REGION. IN FY22, 335 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED, REPRESENTING 109 HOUSEHOLDS. SIXTY-NINE HOUSEHOLDS, LIVING IN OUR TOWNHOMES/CONDOMINIUMS/OR APARTMENTS, RECEIVED CARE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AND SERVICES. EVEN WITH ONGOING PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS, SEVEN FAMILIES GRADUATED SUCCESSFULLY FROM THE PROGRAM. NOTABLY, CHC PAID OFF TWO VIRGINIA HOUSING LOANS IN 2022. DESPITE RESTRICTIONS ON IN-PERSON GATHERINGS, CORNERSTONES' CASE MANAGERS AND CHC STAFF REMAINED IN TOUCH WITH STRUGGLING FAMILIES HELPING THEM MAINTAIN THEIR RESILIENCY AND HOUSING STABILITY. EFFORTS INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT TEAM SUPPORT TO ADDRESS OUR RESIDENTS' URGENT SAFETY-NET NEEDS FROM DELIVERING FRESH PRODUCE, FOOD PANTRY STAPLES, AND TOILETRIES TO SENIORS WHO FEARED CONTRACTING COVID BY GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE TO WAIVING LATE FEES AND ASSISTING WITH RENTAL PAYMENTS FOR FAMILIES WHO LOST JOBS, BECAME ILL, OR HAD TO REDUCE THEIR WORK HOURS TO MANAGE AT-HOME SCHOOLING FOR CHILDREN. DESPITE NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S ONGOING COMMUNITY-WIDE ECONOMIC AND HEALTH CHALLENGES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, SEVEN FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED FROM THE CHC PROGRAM AND TRANSITIONED INTO THEIR OWN HOMES. NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: WITH NORTHERN VIRGINIA LEADING THE WAY AS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSING MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES, ADDRESSING UNMET AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS HAS BEEN PART OF CORNERSTONES' MISSION-DRIVEN WORK SINCE 1970. IN FY22, CORNERSTONES HOUSING CORPORATION AND CORNERSTONES ALSO MADE PROGRESS ON SECURING STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING AND TAX CREDITS, COUNTY PERMITS AND EASEMENTS, AND CONSTRUCTION PLANNING FOR TWO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN FAIRFAX, VA (WEST OX 34 AFFORDABLE UNITS) AND LEESBURG, VA (TUSCARORA CROSSING- 180 AFFORDABLE UNITS; DEVELOPED IN JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLINGTON DEVELOPMENT, LP). OUR ICM STRATEGY AT EACH PROPERTY WILL ENSURE EVERY RESIDENT HAS ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED TO FLOURISH AND FEEL CONNECTED IN THE NEW COMMUNITIES. BOTH PROJECTS ARE SET TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN 2023-24. WITH CORNERSTONES, CHC ALSO ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE STARK LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE DC REGION. CORNERSTONES' CEO CO-CHAIRS THE FAIRFAX COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OVERSEEING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COUNTY-WIDE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN. IN ADDITION, CHC'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT COLLABORATES WITH PEER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LEADERS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING-RELATED COMMITTEES, TASK FORCES, AND WORKING GROUPS ACROSS NORTHERN VIRGINIA.