As we look ahead to 2025, our organization is preparing for a significant transition. After a notable career dedicated to advancing affordable housing, our CEO, Robert Newman, has announced his retirement, set for April 2025. While we will deeply miss Bob's leadership and vision, this is also a time to celebrate his incredible legacy and begin the process of selecting a new leader to carry forward our mission. 

September 2024 — After months of planning and anticipation, VCDC proudly hosted the annual NASLEF (National Association of State & Local Equity Funds) Conference in Charlottesville, VA from September 18-20th.

September 2024 - VCDC is honored to announce that we have received Approved Mortgage Broker Status permitting our organization to represent developers seeking loan products from Virginia Housing.  This will enable our team to extend its role in affordable housing development beyond tax credit services into the lending field with utilization of the considerable and wonderful lending opportunities available at Virginia Housing.  

The Mission Elevation program is an extension of VCDC's commitment to ensure communities are vibrant for all residents. Created 5 years ago, Mission Elevation is the newly named iteration of the successful program the Nonprofit Sustainability Challenge.

VCDC's Technical Assistance (TA) Program offers unique benefits to our partners in affordable housing to help them obtain the resources they need to create real change in their communities. Recently, we used TA funds to support training services for over 80 property managers and maintenance staff at our affordable communities across Virginia.

Virginia Housing recently awarded VCDC $19,900 through their FY24 Capacity Planning Grant to support succession management planning. This grant award supports VCDC’s vision to build upon existing groundwork for needed succession planning and ensure our team is well prepared for shifts and growth within our organization as our CEO, Bob Newman, has announced his retirement set for April 2025.

Housing Alexandria, a nonprofit developer based in Northern Virginia, is dedicated to creating homes and community-focused spaces that empower the residents of Alexandria. With over 840 affordable homes delivered and 400 additional rental units currently planned for construction, the organization has significantly impacted the Alexandria region. As Housing Alexandria has grown, CEO Jon Frederick and COO Elisa Mondragon recognized the need for strategic guidance to tackle new, ambitious projects. To address this, they joined Cohort 6 of VCDC’s Mission Elevation program.

The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) is a community-focused organization that provides essential services to low-income and vulnerable residents including an emergency shelter, a veteran transitional housing program, a food pantry, and a day support program. Recently, JCOC reached a major milestone in their mission to empower communities after beginning renovations for a campus that will create 38 new supportive housing homes for people experiencing homelessness in Virginia Beach. As JCOC has expanded, Executive Director Todd Walker and Development Director Kristin Ward recognized the need to enhance their administrative, financial, grant management, and fundraising capacities. To address these needs, they joined VCDC’s Mission Elevation (ME) program.

Our longstanding partnership with People Incorporated of Virginia (People Inc.) has resulted in significant achievements in providing affordable housing in areas across Southwest Virginia and the northern Shenandoah Valley. To date we have provided technical assistance and financing support leading to the development of 23 People Inc. communities that serve historically disinvested neighborhoods throughout the region, with VCDC and affiliates investing in over $52.5 million.  Luray Meadows and Culpepper Crossing are two communities from this partnership that have made a positive impact in Page and Culpepper Counties.  

Holly Court Apartments is a community in Kilmarnock, Virginia with 40 affordable homes dedicated to senior citizens. Holly Court will be renovated to improve individual apartments homes, building facilities, a community room, and more. The community will offer a range of engaging perks for residents, including outdoor picnic areas, a large community space, and routine social and recreational activities such as holiday parties and bingo nights. Holly Court also offers residents skill-building, healthy living, and self-sufficiency programs to support residents. New renovations will prioritize energy efficiency and resident comfort with modern amenities.

We are delighted to announce the six organizations joining Mission Elevation for the 2023-2024 program cycle. The Mission Elevation program has been creating professional growth opportunities for community development nonprofit and quasi-governmental organization leaders since its inception in 2017.

This February, the housing community lost Karl Bren, an instrumental leader who changed the landscape of affordable and sustainable housing across Virginia. Since the 1990’s, Karl was a key player in the creation of several nonprofit organizations and groups focused on affordable housing, homelessness services, and green building.

The Vern Henley Special Initiative Grant gives VCDC partners and potential partners the ability to apply for grants to be used for special initiatives and programs for those residing in affordable housing in our service area.

Allison Bogdanovic is the Executive Director of Virginia Supportive Housing, Virginia’s first and largest nonprofit organization that develops and manages permanent supportive housing for homeless adults. She’s seen a lot of change and growth during her time at the organization, and joining the first cohort of Mission Elevation in 2016 did more than just boost and amplify that growth – it helped her learn how to face uneasy challenges and reframe VSH’s mindset to make a bigger impact in the communities they serve.

“Being a part of initiatives and cohorts such as Mission Elevation allows you to take a step back from our day-to-day innerworkings and be more strategic about the future.”

Jeff Smith is the Executive Director of Rush Homes, a Lynchburg-based nonprofit that creates homes for people with disabilities and low incomes. Mission Elevation gave Jeff the tools to learn how to increase Rush Homes’ capacity in fundraising and property development and help him grow into a skillful, confident leader.

Use this page to find resources in affordable housing and homelessness services not offered by VCDC.

Three years into her position as Executive Director of Housing Families First, Beth Vann-Turnbull knew it was time to make drastic changes the organization's funding model to be able to continue meeting the rising needs of families in Richmond that need a place to call home. To help address this challenge she was encouraged to apply for the second cohort of VCDC’s Mission Elevation program.

Prior to joining Mission Elevation, Hope Cupit, CEO of Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP), realized that her organization needed a major departmental reorganization. She knew that Mission Elevation was a sustainability program and believed it could help SERCAP tackle several performance challenges: getting new loan products, faster automation, faster services, and improving marketing initiatives. We asked Hope to reflect on her experience, where she shared that she achieved more than she could have expected from the program.

The Mission Elevation program is an extension of VCDC's commitment to ensure communities are vibrant for all residents. Created 5 years ago, Mission Elevation is the newly named iteration of the successful program the Nonprofit Sustainability Challenge.