Whose Backyard Is It Anyway? Overcoming NIMBY Presentation by Pamela L. Michell

1. Whose Backyard Is It Anyway? Overcoming NIMBY Presentation by Pamela L. Michell Executive Director, New Hope Housing, Inc. Alexandria, VA July 11, 2007

3. Washington, D.C. Region Metropolitan Region population in 2005: 4,978,700 Population of Fairfax County, Virginia: 1,041,200 2005 median household income: Washington D.C. MSA: $74,708 Fairfax County, Virginia: $94,610 Population data and map from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Growth Trends to 2030: Cooperative Forecasting in the Washington Region, Fall 2006. Income data: 2005 American Community Survey.

4. Homelessness in the Fairfax and Falls Church communities 1,813 homeless persons on January 25, 2007 • 730 single individuals • 1,083 persons in families (307 families with 674 children under 18)

5. 82% of single individuals 54% of homeless families Housing costs are high while incomes are low Most homeless have incomes below poverty Only 4.4% of county population is below poverty

6. Housing costs are high while incomes are low • The average 1-bedroom rent is $1,093/month • Income needed is $43,720/year • 90% of singles have income below $15,000 • The average 2-bedroom rent is $1,306/month • Income needed is $52,240/year • 82% of families have income below $30,000

7. Fairfax County: a suburban/urban county • 395 square miles, with 1,041,200 people • No downtown; several commercial areas • Lack of old hotels, warehouses, etc. • SF neighborhoods, condo, townhouse communities, and garden apartments • Increasing density • Limited undeveloped land

8. Fairfax County Politics 10 Member Board of Supervisors 9 magisterial districts, each with 1 supervisor At large chairman of the Board Magisterial “veto” Dillon Rule state

9. Three Stories • Siting a shelter • Siting a safe haven • Siting affordable housing

10. Task force recommendation in 2000 County Project: Support and involvement of senior staff Support and involvement of elected officials County land County funds Siting a Shelter

11. Siting a Shelter • Neighborhood concerns – the usual • Response: • Hold public meetings and private conversations • Have a consistent message • Listen and respond to concerns

12. Hanley Shelter Neighbors

13. Hanley Shelter

14. Hanley Shelter Neighbors

15. Siting a Shelter When local government puts its weight behind something, it will happen. It may be slow but it will happen. Moral:

16. Siting a Safe Haven • Hot potato project of the Continuum of Care in 1995 • Site identification • Meeting with local elected supervisor • Open community meeting

17. Siting a Safe Haven • Use by right • Fair housing • Consistent message • Listen and respond to concerns

18. Max’s Place – a safe haven

19. Max’s Place Neighbor

20. Siting a Safe Haven Stick to your vision and the law Buy a flack jacket In the end, it will be okay Moral:

21. Siting Affordable Housing • 33 acres owned Fairfax County, purchased with CDBG funds • Vacant/passive parkland • 5 acres zoned commercial • 18 acres zoned R-2 • 11 acres zoned R-MHP, 6 units/acre

22. North Hill

23. Siting Affordable Housing • Hypothermia and the faith community, then and now • Efforts of local faith coalition on affordable housing/SROs • Local supervisor moves from no how/no way to over-riding his own advisory committee

24. Siting Affordable Housing • Elected officials want political cover • Mobilized and motivated individual citizens can provide it Moral:

25. Next: Siting a Samaritan Initiative • Use by right • Want county funds for match • Need supervisor letter of support

26. Contact Information Pamela L. Michell Executive Director New Hope Housing, Inc. 8407-E Richmond Highway Alexandria, VA 22309 703-799-2293 ext.17 pmichell@newhopehousing.org www.newhopehousing.org www.fairfaxcounty.gov\homeless