October 30, 2018. NBC29.COM
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Members of the faith community are coming together to discuss the affordable housing crisis with Charlottesville’s city manager and some Albemarle County supervisors.
People from 26 congregations across central Virginia gathered on Tuesday, October 30, as part of the efforts of Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT) to address concerns regarding affordable housing in the community.
“Affordable housing is one of the most serious problems not only in Charlottesville and Albemarle, but across the country,” Vikki Bravo, the treasurer of IMPACT, said.
People of all faiths across Charlottesville are working to combat the housing crisis that faces the area.
“We need follow-through, we need more affordable and accessible housing,” Sarah Kelley of the Faith Hope & Love Church said.
IMPACT held a community meeting to get updates on efforts made to address affordable housing in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
“I believe now is the time,” Mike Murphy, Charlottesville’s interim city manager, said. “The collective and political will exists to devote the resources necessary to realize a vision of safe and affordable housing for all.”
IMPACT met with city and county employees earlier this year, and some members say recommendations made by the group then still haven’t been addressed.
“While some work has been done around affordable housing in the county, no work has been done on our request,” Kelley said. “This is extremely disappointing and frustrating.”
Albemarle County says the issue of affordable housing will take time to address.
“Know
that we are committed to understanding this issue, know that we know
that it is a critical one in the county and that we are taking it
seriously to understand it,” Ned Galloway, an Albemarle County
supervisor, said.
Organizers say that at the end of the day, the group hopes to bring the community together to help solve the issue of affordable housing.
“The way we do it is something that’s needed all over the country,” Bravo said. “We need to bring different people together and when we sit down and work on things, we’re working on problem solving.”
IMPACT organizers say they will continue to work with the city and county to work toward addressing affordable housing issues.
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