HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 84 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 4, 2008 Directing the Virginia Housing Commission to study methods to procure affordable housing units for public employees working in areas where the median cost of a home exceeds $300,000. Report. ---------- Patron-- Rust ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

WHEREAS, the cost of housing, both rental and for sale, continues to increase substantially and fewer people can afford to purchase or pay for reasonably safe and decent housing; and

WHEREAS, employees of many state and local government bodies are unable to live close to their centers of employment due to the high cost of housing in many urban and suburban areas; and

WHEREAS, this problem is more acute in areas where the median cost of a home exceeds $300,000; and

WHEREAS, the lack of affordable housing has a detrimental impact on the ability of state and local government entities to attract potential qualified public employees; and

WHEREAS, the lack of affordable housing in many of the state's urban and close-in suburban communities has also encouraged many people with entry-level and middle- and low-income government positions to seek housing in the outer suburbs and rural areas, increasing commute times to jobs and wasting resources and productivity; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to examine methods for procuring affordable housing for public employees particularly in areas where the median home sales exceed $300,000; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia Housing Commission be directed to study methods for procuring affordable housing for public employees particularly in areas where the median cost of a home exceeds $300,000.

In conducting its study, the Virginia Housing Commission shall examine state incentives and programs for developments that locate affordable housing near identified employment centers and high-density districts.  All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Virginia Housing Commission for this study, upon request.

The Virginia Housing Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and the Chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Virginia Housing Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.