Slide presentation on livable communities presented by the Honorable Cynthia Newbille at TransformRVA, the Better Housing Coalition's 25th Anniversary Event on May 21, 2015 at the Omni Richmond Hotel.

1. Home is More than a House:
Livable Communities

12. Federal Housing Administration
• Insured Loans made by banks
• Encourage Homeownership
• Economic Growth
•Home Owners Loan Corporation
National Housing Act of 1934

13. Home Owners Loan Corporation
A = areas were “hot spots…where good mortgage
lenders...are willing to make their maximum loans.”
B = areas were not as desirable but “still good.”
C = areas had reached “the transition period” where they
were in decline due to factors such as age, obsolescence,
and change of style and infiltration of a lower
grade population. Any threat of infiltration of foreign-born, negro
or lower grade population? If so, indicate these by nationality and rate of infiltration
like this: "Negro-rapid“
D = areas had fully declined and were "characterized by
detrimental influence in a pronounced degree.“

14. Richmond and HOLC

15. Wagner-Steagall Act, 1937
• Established a permanent public housing program in the
United States
• Built largely at the most undesirable locations, and
frequently at very high densities
• Income requirements ensured that only low-income
residents would guarantee the concentration of poverty

16. Windsor Farms:
Population Density: 936
Gilpin Court:
Population Density: 10,287
Concentrated Poverty

17. 94 sq. miles
5,710 sq.
miles
Of the 138,136 people living in poverty,
60,559 (43%) live in just 1.6% of the
region’s land.
Concentrated Poverty
77,577
60,559

18. RRHA Housing Demographics
www.rrha.com
• 98% African American
• $7,976 is the average yearly income
• 59% of all RRHA households
are single females with children

20. 5.5 MILES AWAY, 20 YEARS APART
Life expectancy differs by 20 years in the 5.5 miles it takes to drive between
Westover Hills and Gilpin and by 14 years in the 2.8 miles that separate Westover
Hills and Swansboro.
The VCU study suggests that this life expectancy gap is rarely due to a single
cause, but rather several factors, including:
-opportunities for education and jobs
-safe and affordable housing
-availability of nutritious food and places for physical activity
-clean air
-and access to health care
-child care and social services.
“The health differences shown in these maps aren’t unique to one area. We see
them in big cities, small towns and rural areas across America,” said Derek
Chapman, Ph.D., associate director for research, VCU Center on Society and
Health.

21. Home Is More than a House:
Livable Communities
How do we get there?

22. Creighton Court Public Housing Community
COMMUNITY SIZE BUILT AVG.INCOME AVG.OCCUPANCY
Creighton Court (map) 504 units 1952 $9,460 8.8 years

23. Broadcreek, Norfolk, VA

24. New Orleans, Lousiana

25. Atlanta, Georgia

26. Church Hill North/Creighton Court Revitalization

27. Opening May 10th, 2010
Units: 447
Population: 1,287
Home Is More than A House: Livable Communities
Asset Based Community Transformation/Revitalization

28. People First !
• Authentic Resident & Community Engagement
• Resident Capacity Building/Empowerment
• Services/Self-Sufficiency
– Social Services
– Health & Healthcare
– Child care
– Education & Training
– Employment etc.

29. Neighborhood/Community &
Economic Development
– Education-Schools, early childhood/Libraries
– Parks, Bike Paths etc.
– Businesses
– Public Safety, Safe Streets
– Accessible public transportation
– Food Access
– Built Environment
– Environmental Conditions
– Mixed Use

30. HOUSING
• Quality Affordable Housing
• Mixed Income
• 1 for 1 Replacement

31. Home Is More than a House:
Livable Communities
How do we get there?
Together!
Collectively!
Residents/Community/Public/
Private/CBOs/Businesses/Philanthropy
Elected Officials/Government etc!