November 20, 2015
John KownackExecutive DirectorNorfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Challenges in Meeting the Needs of Disadvantaged Families as Assisted Housing Choices Increase
NRHA Vision and MissionRental Assistance in NorfolkPlace-Based Educational Initiatives
Assisted Housing Trends/GoalsChallenges from Housing ChoiceQ & A
Quality housing choices in neighborhoods where you want to live.
Provide quality housing opportunities that foster sustainable mixed-income
communities.
Of Norfolk’s 85,000 households, ◦33,300 have incomes less than 50% AMI
◦19,000 have incomes less than 30% AMI
19,000 households in Norfolk can’t afford affordable housing
Assisted Rental Resources in Norfolk now serve 41% of the 19,000 households with extremely low incomes.
Since 2002, 905 public housing units in Roberts Village, Roberts Village East, Bowling Green and Moton Circle have been vacated and demolished.
Type of Assistance Total Units
Public Housing 3,475
Housing Choice Vouchers 2,737
Project Based Rental Assistance - NRHA 128
Subtotal - NRHA 6,340
Project Based Rental Assistance – Privately Owned 1,500
Totals 7,840
United for Children◦ Pre-K resources and early education◦ Anti-Brain Drain Summer School◦ High School Health Clinic◦ Geographic data monitoring/analysis
Community Core Teams◦ Interagency collaboration
Challenged School Focus◦ High proportion of Free/Reduced Lunch eligibility◦ Low attendance (students and staff)◦ Low test scores/high drop out rate
Type of Assistance 2002 2015 2025
Public Housing 4,480 3,475 675
Housing Choice Vouchers 2,100 2,737 3,937
Project Based Rental Assistance - NRHA 81 128 1,728
Subtotal - NRHA 6,661 6,340 6,340
Project Based Rental Assistance – Privately Owned
1,500 1,500 1,500
Totals 8,161 7,840 7,840
Over 10,000 households in Norfolk with extremely low incomes are not receiving rental assistance.
Year Population School-Aged Children
2000 6,494 2,141
2010 4,959 1,332
2014 4,592 1,192
Decrease Since 2000
1,902 949
Blue: High Poverty
Red: Low Poverty
Citywide performance goals versus focused area objectives
Difficulty tracking households leaving areas of concentrated poverty
Stigmatizing of Section 8 households Confidentiality requirements hinders
collaboration Broader network of interagency cooperation
necessary Lack of stable housing for extremely low
income families not receiving housing assistance
Expansion of United for Children effort beyond specific community focus
New emphasis from School Board and Administration on interagency collaboration
Steadily improving SOL scores in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades
Active before and after-school programs as well as summer camp
New resources put in place to support success of housing choice