The Metropolitan Washington Regional Fair Housing Plan received an Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo), which recognizes excellence in local government programs.
Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties, and the City of Alexandria, joined forces with their peer jurisdictions in the District of Columbia and Maryland to develop the Metropolitan Washington Regional Fair Housing Plan. It delivers on the promise of the Fair Housing Act and is one of 45 winning award entries being recognized by VACo.
The Regional Fair Housing Plan includes an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice across the region and provides strategies to increase access to safe and affordable housing, increase investment and resources in priority areas, and create more inclusive communities. The plan also highlights the finding that metropolitan Washington has become more segregated by race and income since 1990.
The project team engaged with more than 1,200 agencies, groups, and individuals between July 2021 and March 2022 to ensure issues and concerns throughout the region were addressed in the plan. In September 2023, the plan received full approval by all participating jurisdictions. Since the plan’s creation, Arlington reformed its zoning to allow for missing middle housing and expanded housing protections to include source of funds; Fairfax County enacted zoning reforms to enable Accessory Living Units and created an Affordable Housing Preservation Policy; Loudoun County established a set aside of one-half penny of tax revenue for attainable housing; and Prince William County established an Affordable Housing Office and committed to providing $21 million to promote the construction of affordable housing units.
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