From the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH):
Governor Northam Awards Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing $700,000 for American Legion Post 139 Affordable Housing Project
Development will provide 160 affordable apartments and programming for veterans and their families
Arlington, VA (June 4, 2019) – Governor Ralph Northam announced today a $700,000 award to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The award will provide a long-term no interest loan to support the construction of a new mixed-use complex at the site of American Legion Post 139 in Arlington, Virginia. The new development will include 160 affordable apartments, 80 of which will have veteran’s preference, as well as a new 6,000 SF home for the American Legion Post.
Governor Northam announced $11 million in awards for 17 projects at an event at the American Legion Post 139 site. Speaking at the event, Governor Northam praised the decision of the Post to partner with APAH, noting that “American Legion has been instrumental in the care of our service members. It continues that tradition of service and leadership that this project will make sure that veterans in need have access to the affordable housing that they have certainly earned.”
Thanking the Governor for his support, Chair Christian Dorsey noted that the County Board is ”thrilled” to anticipate this groundbreaking. “We welcome the opportunity to make sure that low-income veterans can live in Arlington and take advantages of the opportunities for work and for education in our community. We are especially excited to bring affordable housing to this fantastic location on the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, just two blocks from metro.”
APAH expands its campaign to deepen rent affordability and support programs for veterans
The Virginia Housing Trust Fund award will help support the construction of the $75 million project at the American Legion site. APAH’s Uniting to Serve campaign is raising philanthropic support from individuals, corporations and foundations to provide further support to the innovative project which will break ground in early 2020.
Nina Janopaul, APAH’s President and CEO stated “we are so honored that the state, Arlington County and the philanthropic community have joined us to provide the resources to make this project happen. Because of this generosity, we are setting our sights even higher and now plan to raise additional philanthropic funds to enable APAH to lower rents to a deeper level of affordability and provide long-term support for the programs and services that will transform the lives of the veterans and families who will live here.”
About the APAH/American Legion Project
APAH and American Legion Post 139 are collaborating to create an innovative, replicable model that will provide 160 units of affordable housing with a preference for veterans, community spaces both in the APAH apartments and the American Legion Post for programs and services, and a new facility for the Post. Nearly two-thirds of the apartment homes will have two or three bedrooms to meet the needs of families. Nearly one-third of the 236,000 vets living in the DC metro area are housing cost burdened; and, 30% of Virginia’s veterans have service-related disabilities. Dan Donahue, a member of American Legion Post’s executive committee, shared the long history of the Post, noting “we are proud that the American Legion’s service will continue in its partnership with APAH. We look forward to having our new Post facility in the building where we will host programs for veterans particularly focused on assistance for those with PTSD and for suicide prevention. We are grateful to APAH and to everyone for all their good work on this project.”
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About APAH: APAH’s mission is to develop, preserve, and own quality, affordable places to live; to promote stability and opportunity for our residents; and to advocate with the people and communities we serve. Founded in 1989, APAH now helps nearly 1,600 households live in stable, secure and affordable rental homes. APAH has more than 900 additional affordable homes in its development pipeline in Arlington and beyond and is a key partner helping Arlington County achieve the goal of its Affordable Housing Master Plan. Its newest project, Columbia Hills Apartments was recognized for its innovation with the 2019 ULI Trends Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing. APAH is celebrating its 30th anniversary throughout 2019.
About the Virginia Housing Trust Fund: The Virginia Housing Trust Fund was created to promote affordable housing and homelessness prevention across the Commonwealth. In all, Governor Northam announced $11 million in grants and loans at the event on June 4, 2019. More information about the Trust’s Competitive Loan Pool and other projects receiving an award can be found in the Governor’s Press Release on Affordable Housing.
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