Posted by Jill Norcross on June 29, 2010 at 08:50:26:
Virginia Housing Coalition Honors Affordable Housing Leaders
Bob Sledd Delivers Keynote Address
Richmond, VA – The Virginia Housing Coalition held its annual awards dinner to celebrate the
achievements of some of the leaders of Virginia’s affordable housing community at the Omni
Richmond Hotel on June 17th. The keynote address was delivered by Bob Sledd, Senior Economic
Advisor to Governor McDonnell. Sledd’s address focused on Executive Order Number 10, the
Housing Policy Framework of the Commonwealth of Virginia, issued by Governor McDonnell at the
end of April.
Four individuals and one organization received Housing Leadership Awards at the event:
• Blue Ridge Home Builders Association
• Acquanetta Ellis, City of Norfolk
• Jill Norcross, Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers
• The Honorable Chris Peace, Virginia House of Delegates
• Fronce` Wardlaw, Project FAITH
The Seventh Annual Virginia S. Peters Housing Award was presented to Andy Kegley, Executive
Director of Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence (HOPE) Inc., in Wytheville. The award recognizes
vision, courage, tenacity, justice and compassion in the fight to provide more affordable housing
opportunities.
Two individuals were also inducted into the Coalition’s Affordable Housing Hall of Fame:
• Paul Berge, Accomac-Northampton Regional Housing Authority (retired)
• Bill Miles, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (retired)
Major sponsors of the event included the Virginia Housing Development Authority, the Virginia
Department of Housing and Community Development, and Virginia Community Capital.
This year for the first time the Coalition offered training on a variety of affordable housing issues
preceding the dinner. The First-Ever Summer Symposium featured a variety of topics for participants
to select from, including sessions on Easy Living Homes, how to create an Energy Alliance, and an
update on Federal Housing policies.
The Virginia Housing Coalition supports organizations and individuals working to provide affordable
housing options in Virginia by influencing and developing public policy, recognizing exemplary
achievement, and providing education, training and services that will make its members more effective
in attaining their goals.
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