• “There are 70,000 new vouchers throughout the country … and there is $5 billion in new HOME Funds. House America is a challenge to localities across the country that we are going to get these resources out there in a way that is outcome-focused in an urgent fashion.”
  - Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
   
• “Between fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the county has approved almost $100 million in one year dedicated to making affordable housing happen in Fairfax County… It is time now to raise our goal from 5,000 to 10,000 new units of affordable housing by 2034.” 
  - Chairman Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
   
• “Housing is absolutely integral to Virginia’s economy. The location, the availability, and the cost of a home all impact the ability of our workers to save, to build wealth, and to contribute to overall economic growth in their community.”
  - John Knopf, HousingForward Virginia
   
• “What can we do to help increase the supply of affordable housing? We need to think differently in terms of financing, construction, land use, and what we can do to reduce the property tax burden. The list goes on and on.”
  - Susan Dewey, CEO, Virginia Housing

During the opening session of the 2022 Fairfax County Housing Symposium, local and national leaders, along with several affordable housing partners, reaffirmed the significant role that affordable housing has in the economic development and growth of individuals and communities in Fairfax County, across the region, and throughout the nation. The session also spotlighted many achievements, ongoing investments, and an infusion of resources that are becoming available to further advance the preservation and development of affordable housing in Fairfax County.

Amid the discussion of ‘ways and means’ Jeff McKay, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, pointed to the rapid advancement Fairfax County has made in developing a pipeline of more than 2,000 units of affordable housing in just two years since establishing a goal of creating a minimum of 5,000 units of affordable housing by the year 2034. With the county well on its way to eclipse the initial goal, the Chairman indicated his intention for the board to raise the minimum goal from 5,000 to 10,000 units by 2034.

In addition to the successes, leaders also addressed several challenges that still remain at the local and state levels, including equity, a shrinking supply of starter homes, the need for more rental subsidies, and “NIMBY-ism.” This opening session launched discussions that would be addressed by panelists throughout the day.

“At the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the mission is to preserve, to protect, and to produce housing, and I am so proud of the work that we are doing to take care of all of the residents we are serving,” said FCRHA Chairman Melissa McKenna. “Housing is and always will be more than ‘sticks and bricks’ it is the foundation of so many things, and today we look forward to exploring how housing intersects with economic recovery, with growth and with bringing opportunity to people.”