Housing is a key ingredient to ensuring the economic well-being of all communities. Why are people fearful of affordable housing in their areas? How can communities embrace affordable housing projects so their economies can thrive?  

In this episode of the Thriving Voices podcast, Andrew talks with Michelle Krocker, Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA) Executive Director, to discuss why the development of affordable housing is crucial to community and economic sustainability 

Michelle Krocker is a public policy and community development consultant, assisting private sector organizations and local governments in creating diverse, affordable communities through effective housing and land use policies. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance, a regional advocacy coalition working at the intersection of housing education, advocacy, and policies for systems change. Grounding their work in racial and health equity, NVAHA seeks to address the unmet housing needs of Northern Virginia’s low and moderate-income households. 

In this episode, Andrew and Michelle Discuss the following: 

• How the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance serves the community 
• How the housing landscape changed in Northern Virginia  
• Why accomplishing the goals of housing affordability has become so elusive 
• How taxpayer's resistance to affordable housing has affected NVAHA's advocacy efforts 
• Surprising and Disappointing affordable housing developments during Michelle's tenure 
• Why Resident Services regarding outside ecosystems are so important 
• How the affordable housing space incorporates residents into the power structure 
• Why power dynamics should be considered when incorporating residents into the decision-making process 
• How do we expand the concept of affordable housing to include asset generation while including stability and affordable rates 

What Michelle thinks it takes for a community to thrive fully?  

Value the potential of all residents 

How do you help your community to thrive?  

Become more involved in your community.  Attend meetings, talk to elected officials, and find a non-profit organization to contribute to. 

More About Michelle Krocker and Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance 

https://nvaha.org/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekrocker/ 

Prior to joining the Alliance, Michelle was Director of Housing and Community Development for Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith), a human services agency serving low income families in northwestern Fairfax County. In that capacity, she led the department in the acquisition, financing and rehabilitation of scattered-site rental housing for households served by the agency. Michelle has served on multiple citizen advisory boards. She was a member of the Tysons Land Use Task Force (2005 – 2010), charged with planning the redevelopment of 1700 acres of Tysons Corner, and Chair of its Affordable Housing Subcommittee. She also served on the Housing Advisory Board to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, acting as Chairman for two years. Current advisory boards include the Greater Washington Community Development Council for Truist, the Housing Leaders Group of Greater Washington, the Fairfax County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (Chair), and Vice-Chair, Board of Directors for Housing Forward Virginia, a statewide housing education and policy organization. In 2015, Michelle was awarded the inaugural “Game Changer Award” by the Virginia Housing Alliance for her work exemplifying ‘significant and innovative impact on the affordable housing industry.’ Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from George Mason University, and a Master of Arts in Environmental and Urban Planning from the University of Virginia. 

Connect with Andrew Schneider  

Thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org  

To learn more about Arlington Thrive, visit arlingtonthrive.org  

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