Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR)
VCHR supports localities and organizations through data-driven analysis to help improve affordability.
VCHR educates policymakers and the greater public of the Commonwealth through new research findings.
VCHR collaborates with industry leaders to model new technologies and their implications for the economy.
VCHR has a mission to serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource on housing for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Accordingly, VCHR provides housing-related research for localities and the Commonwealth, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses.
VCHR's recent focus is on innovative technology that transforms the production cycle and high-performance housing in addition to data-driven research that impacts housing affordability. VCHR has published numerous reports on topics such as housing markets and affordability; preservation of federally-assisted, low-income housing; regulatory impacts on affordable housing; public-private housing partnerships; and diffusion of innovative housing technologies in residential construction.
Leadership
The Center's director is Dr. Andrew P. McCoy, Beliveau Professor of Building Construction and Associate Director of the Myers Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech. Melisa (Mel) Jones is co-director and oversees VCHR operations. Dr. Philip Agee is assistant director. Dr. Agee is an assistant professor in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Address
430 Bishop-Favrao Hall
1345 Perry St, Blacksburg, VA 24061
Contact
Email: Mel.Jones@VT.edu
Phone: 540-231-3993
Housing Camp
Enhance your housing knowledge through our individualized professional development classes for you or your company.
Projects
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The Housing Virginia Affordability Sourcebook , articleThe Virginia Center for Housing Research continues to provide quarterly updates for Housing Virginia’s Housing Affordability Sourcebook, an online tool for determining housing affordability. The Housing Affordability Sourcebook is available at www.housingvirginia.org. A variety of housing affordability measures, including a series of housing affordability indices based on median housing cost and median income, are available for the state, metropolitan statistical areas, and Virginia localities.
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The Housing Virginia Playbook , articleThe Virginia Center for Housing Research developed and updates an online searchable tool of affordable housing policies and programs in Virginia. This thorough inventory documents the policies and programs in place for Virginia’s 134 counties and independent cities. Users may search by either the locality or by 19 broad policy categories. The project is supported by the nonprofit organization Housing Virginia.
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Regional + Local Nrv Housing Study , articleThe Virginia Center for Housing Research was part of a diverse team of regional and local stakeholders to develop the Regional + Local NRV Housing Study. This study began in 2018 with the goal of addressing housing questions from localities across the New River Valley. The Regional Commission partnered with the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, Housing Forward Virginia, and czb, LLC to provide housing market data collection, analysis training, and strategy development.
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The Housing Policy Advisory Council Report (2018) , articleIn October 2014, Governor McAuliffe issued Executive Order (EO) 32, “Advancing Virginia’s Housing Policy,” to “identify and implement actions to enable quality, affordable housing, which will strengthen families and communities and foster economic growth.” The Housing Policy Advisory Council (HPAC) was thus established under the leadership of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to help guide the development and implementation of Virginia’s housing policy.
Publications
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Article ItemTenant Organizations In Public Housing Projects: A Report On Senate Resolution No. 347 , article
Tenant management was initiated as a response to the virtual breakdown of housing authority management in Boston and St. Louis two decades ago. The first resident management corporation was created in 1971 from frustration with poor management and maintenance at the Bromley-Heath public housing development in Boston. In St. Louis, frustrated tenants organized the nation’s first public housing rent strike in 1969.
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Article ItemUrban Redevelopment, Displacement And The Future Of The American City , article
This paper examines the record of urban redevelopment during the last half of the 20th century. The post World War II history of redevelopment is traced through five periods: slum clearance; clearance for public housing; national promotion of social change; redevelopment of central business districts; and, the federal retreat from cities.
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Article ItemHousing Conditions of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers , article
Migrant, seasonal workers are a critical labor force for planting and harvesting a variety of agricultural products in Virginia. Seasonal surges in demand for such labor are largely met by migrant workers who come from outside the United States in search of temporary employment. Within the agricultural economy, the farmer and the migrant worker have a symbiotic relationship that is structured by several important constraints.
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Article ItemPartner in Housing: Virginia's Nonprofit Housing Sector , article
Nonprofit housing organizations primarily exist to address the housing needs of low-income Virginians, those whose housing needs are not sufficiently met by the forprofit sector or by government. NHOs are private corporations with a board of directors who volunteer their time and services, and most have paid staff. Nonprofit housing organizations are very similar to for-profit housing corporations in their size, productivity and commitment to the “bottom line.”
News
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WFXR: Roanoke EDA gives $225k to support local affordable housing efforts , articleA 2021 study by Virginia Tech’s Institute for Policy and Governance, and the Virginia Center for Housing Research showed Roanoke lacked 4,500 housing units.
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Roanoke EDA commits funds to support affordable housing efforts , articleA 2021 study by Virginia Tech’s Institute for Policy and Governance and the Virginia Center for Housing research showed not only a lack of 4,500 housing units in Roanoke but also revealed that over half of the city’s renters are cost-burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
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March CECE advisory board meeting focuses on state-wide and multi-state projects, strategic planning , articlePhillip Agee Agee spoke to the board about a project focused on addressing the affordable housing crisis and promoting innovative and sustainable construction practices in seven states in Central Appalachia.