As a strong and vital economy is dependent upon a strong workforce, never before has the need to address the housing challenges of Virginia Beach's local workforce been more apparent than it is now. Affordable housing opportunities for workforce members must be made available to ensure that they are able to live and work in Virginia Beach now and in the future. That message resonated among attendees at a Feb. 12 meeting of The Housing Roundtable, where Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., was joined by a diverse group of local officials, business leaders, military and community members to promote and learn about workforce housing in Virginia Beach.

"Adequate workforce housing must be an important element in the fabric of our future housing stock if we hope to enjoy continuing economic vitality," said Peter W. Schmidt, president of Southern Aggregate, LLC and former City Councilmember, in his closing remarks.

The presentation, "New Visions for Housing and Growth in Virginia Beach," highlighted how workforce communities benefit the city by attracting and retaining quality businesses and employees, enhancing the city's quality of life and promoting the affordability of housing for future generations.

"Workforce housing creates a win-win situation for the city, businesses and the entire community because it contributes to our economic development, promotes diversity, and allows vital members of our community to live and work in Virginia Beach," said Mayor Sessoms. "This meeting was important in helping the community understand that when our local workforce members are able to live where they work, we all benefit."

The meeting kicked off the public awareness campaign of The Housing Roundtable, a partnership of public, private and nonprofit organizations who promote workforce housing opportunities in Virginia Beach and the surrounding area. The presentation also featured examples of successful workforce housing and mixed use/mixed income models in James City County; Alexandria, Va.; and other cities. Workforce housing is high quality, desirable housing affordable to workforce members: teachers, retail salespeople, firefighters, police officers, nurses and military personnel, for example. Workforce housing can also utilize mixed use/mixed income properties, by combining retail, offices, and residences affordable to a variety of households in an integrated development.

Despite a slowing housing market, home prices still have not fallen enough to make it affordable for many of the local workforce to live and work in Virginia Beach. To improve affordable housing opportunities for workforce members, Virginia Beach City Council adopted two ordinances in August 2007 to establish the Workforce Housing Program.

For more information about the Workforce Housing Program, please call Housing Programs Administrator Sharon Prescott at (757) 385-5803 or Workforce Housing Program Coordinator Cheryl Smith at (757) 385-5742.

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