The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities PARKnership program announces a community partnership with RunningBrooke and Rebuilding Together Alexandria to improve Taney Avenue Neighborhood Park. The combined funds and resources from the two Alexandria organizations will be used towards building new preschool-age play spaces, nature paths, native tree plantings, and new site furnishings

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that 18 initiatives led by local financial institutions and non-profits in Virginia will receive $6.6 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHL-Bank Atlanta)’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) to support affordable housing development in Virginia.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has approved an agreement with the City of Richmond, Virginia, settling 14 complaints of housing discrimination filed against the City by Hispanic residents. The complaints alleged that the City of Richmond selectively enforced its code requirements against residents of the City’s mobile home parks, who are predominantly Hispanic.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) to make a loan of up to $5.65 million to Christian Relief Services of Virginia (CRSVA) for the acquisition of a 113-unit apartment complex, Huntington Gardens, in the Lee District.

The Virginia residential real estate market continued year-over-year and long term improvement according to the Second Quarter 2016 Home Sales Report released by the Virginia Association of REALTORS® (VAR). Both the total number of sales and the value of transactions rose from the same period last year, to 34,688 units and $11.720 billion, respectively. Volume - the sum of all transactions for April, May, and June of 2016 - was 8.6 percent higher than the same period last year, and more than 20 percent higher than the second quarter of 2014.

The Virginia residential real estate market continued year-over-year and long term improvement according to the Second Quarter 2016 Home Sales Report released by the Virginia Association of REALTORS® (VAR). Both the total number of sales and the value of transactions rose from the same period last year, to 34,688 units and $11.720 billion, respectively. Volume - the sum of all transactions for April, May, and June of 2016 - was 8.6 percent higher than the same period last year, and more than 20 percent higher than the second quarter of 2014

Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that overall homelessness in the Commonwealth declined 10.5 percent in 2016 versus 2015, with a 17 percent decrease in family homelessness in the same period. In addition, more than $14.7 million was recently awarded in Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP) grants to combat homelessness in Virginia. The new preliminary numbers originate from annual point in time data collected by local Continuum of Care groups across Virginia in January each year and compiled by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced that the Senate unanimously passed the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, bipartisan housing legislation that would enact broadly supported federal housing reforms. The bill includes provisions from the Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act, a bill Kaine introduced late last year to prevent youth homelessness, keep children and families together and meet the needs of youth transitioning out of foster care.

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), members of the Senate Banking Committee, were joined by Senate colleagues Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in authoring a bipartisan letter to the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The letter encouraged Director Mel Watt to avoid taking steps that may facilitate the release of government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of conservatorship without comprehensive reform.

As we head into Independence Day weekend, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (V-A) will award $166,336 to the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) to help homeless veterans find affordable and stable housing.