Cornerstones Housing Corporation

TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS BY CONSTRUCTING AND/OR ACQUIRING HOUSING UNITS, MANAGING THE HOUSING PORTFOLIO, AND ADVOCATING FOR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND INTEGRATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE FAIRFAX-FALLS CHURCH COMMUNITY.

SERVICE-ENRICHED AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING: CORNERSTONES HOUSING CORPORATION (CHC) CURRENTLY OWNS AND OPERATES 106 AFFORDABLE SCATTERED-SITE RENTAL HOMES AND APARTMENTS DEDICATED TO SERVING EXTREMELY LOW AND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND THOSE LEAVING HOMELESSNESS. THE SCATTERED-SITE RENTAL PROGRAM INCLUDES 58 TOWNHOMES AND CONDOMINIUMS IN RESTON, HERNDON, AND CENTREVILLE RENTED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR A HOUSING SUBSIDY, OR WHOSE RENT IS DISCOUNTED BY CORNERSTONES/CHC TO ENABLE THEM TO SUSTAIN AN AFFORDABLE HOME. THE APARTMENTS AT NORTH POINT IS AN ATTRACTIVE 48-UNIT TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT IN RESTON, VIRGINIA, WITH RENTS AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS BETWEEN 30-60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME - THROUGH RIHC PARTNERS, LP. MANY RESIDENTS IN OUR UNITS WERE FORMERLY HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, AND HAVE FEW OPTIONS, IF ANY, FOR SECURING HOUSING IN THIS HIGH-COST REGION. DURING FY21, WE PROVIDED AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 314 INDIVIDUALS. THE MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE ARE HEADED BY A SINGLE PARENT IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18. MORE THAN 25% ARE ELDERLY OR DISABLED. FOUR HOUSEHOLDS TRANSITIONED FROM THE EMBRY RUCKER COMMUNITY SHELTER, AND TWO FAMILIES LIVING IN CHC UNITS GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM ENTIRELY. DURING HIGH PERIODS OF CV-19 EXPOSURE AND HOSPITALIZATION IN THE REGION, CORNERSTONES' CASE MANAGERS AND CHC STAFF REMAINED ON THE FRONT LINES TO HELP STRUGGLING FAMILIES MAINTAIN THEIR RESILIENCY AND HOUSING STABILITY. EFFORTS INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT TEAM SUPPORT TO ADDRESS OUR RESIDENTS' URGENT SAFETY-NET NEEDS FROM DELIVERING FRESH PRODUCE, FOOD PANTRY STAPLES, AND TOILETRIES TO SENIORS WHO FEARED CONTRACTING COVID BY GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE TO WAIVING LATE FEES AND ASSISTING WITH RENTAL PAYMENTS FOR FAMILIES WHO LOST JOBS, BECAME ILL, OR HAD TO REDUCE THEIR WORK HOURS TO MANAGE AT-HOME SCHOOLING FOR CHILDREN. DESPITE NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S COMMUNITY-WIDE ECONOMIC AND HEALTH CHALLENGES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, TWO FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED FROM THE CHC PROGRAM AND TRANSITIONED INTO THEIR OWN HOMES. NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: ADDRESSING THE UNMET HOUSING NEEDS OF ALL MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY REQUIRES A SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE AND DEVELOP NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOMETHING CHC AND CORNERSTONES HAVE DONE SINCE ITS FOUNDING. DURING FY20, CORNERSTONES AND CHC ENTERED A JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLINGTON DEVELOPMENT, LP TO DELIVER 180 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, FOR PEOPLE WITH INCOMES AT AND BELOW 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THIS AMENITY-RICH APARTMENT COMPLEX WILL ALSO OFFER 18 HOMES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE PROJECT HAS SECURED STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING AND TAX CREDITS, AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON 2022. CORNERSTONES WILL COLLABORATE WITH RESIDENTS TO DEVELOP ON-SITE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, CORNERSTONES WAS SELECTED FOR A PROJECT TO USE FAIRFAX COUNTY-OWNED LAND TO DEVELOP UP-TO 34 HOMES IN FAIRFAX, VA PROVIDING PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WITH CORNERSTONES, CHC ALSO ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE STARK LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE DC REGION. CORNERSTONES' CEO CO-CHAIRS THE FAIRFAX COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OVERSEEING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COUNTY-WIDE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN. IN ADDITION, CHC'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT COLLABORATES WITH PEER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LEADERS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING-RELATED COMMITTEES, TASK FORCES, AND WORKING GROUPS ACROSS NORTHERN VIRGINIA.