Housing Virginia began its work in 2014 in response to research showing the benefits of addressing housing, schools, and neighborhoods together. For two years it held a symposium with over 200 participants from housing, education, communities, and policy. Its current focus is creating a community process to discuss how strong connections between neighborhoods and schools create a virtuous cycle.

1. Housing Virginia CONNECTS:
Housing & Schools
How Housing Connects with Schools - and Why it Matters
Housing Virginia began its work on policy development related to schools, housing and neighborhoods in 2014
in response to a growing body of research and community efforts that show the benefits when these areas are
addressed simultaneously.
For two years in a row, we held a
housing and schools symposium with
over 200 housers, educators, commu-
nity members and policy makers.
Our focus in 2016 and beyond is to
create and test a community-based
process that will drive a community
conversation about how the connection
between neighborhoods and schools is a
virtuous cycle.
$3,860
The loss in annual wages for
young adults aged 26 who grew
up in poverty in Richmond
City compared to the national
average for their low income
counterparts*
*Source: Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren, “The Impacts of Neighborhoods on Intergenerational Mobility”.
If you are interested in supporting Housing Virginia’s housing and schools programs,
contact lynn.bivens.va@gmail.com for more information.
www.housingvirginia.org
This initiative is brought to you
with the generous support of:
=
*Source: The Century Foundation, “The Benefits of Socioeconomically and
Racially Integrated Schools and Classrooms”.
Benefits of Socioeconomically and
Racially Integrated Schools:
• Higher test scores
• More likely to enroll in college
• Less likely to drop out
• Reduced racial achievement gaps
• Enhance students’ leadership skills
• Return on investment of 3-5 times program
costs
• More equitable access to resources
• Prepare students to succeed in global economy

2. Housing Virginia CONNECTS:
Housing & Health
How Housing Connects with Health - and Why it Matters
20 years
Life expectancy difference
between Richmond neighborhoods
only 5 miles apart
Housing Virginia has begun working with key partners to collect, assimilate and distribute information from
relevant statewide and regional resources that inform stakeholders about their most significant community
health and housing needs.
A growing body of research is making the
connection between health outcomes and
environmental factors like housing and
neighborhoods, opening up opportunities
for the housing and health sectors to work
together to improve outcomes for individu-
als and families.
In a study by the Virginia Commonwealth
University’s Center on Society and Health
and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
the impact of housing and neighborhood
conditions on health is brought into focus.
As depicted by the map (above), the study reveals concentrated
pockets of wealth and poverty and gives us a clear picture of
the stark health disparities between these communities.
www.housingvirginia.org
If you are interested in supporting Housing Virginia’s housing and health programs,
contact lynn.bivens.va@gmail.com for more information.
*Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health
This program is made possible with the
generous support of: