Many years ago, through her work with the Chesterfield Community Services Board’s (CSB) Prevention Services program, Maria Brown made a home visit to a 16-year-old mother of two living in a mobile home along the Route 1 corridor.
Even with a toddler and a newborn to care for, the young woman was thinking about her family’s future. She wanted two things: a college education and a house with a white picket fence.
“To her, those things represented stability and opportunity,” Brown recalled Thursday morning during an event celebrating the new Horner Run community, a 49-unit affordable apartment development Better Housing Coalition is building near the intersection of Hull Street and Genito roads.
“Safe housing in a stable community was her dream, and I think for the future residents of Horner Run that’s what we can hope for: a step toward a secure life, better opportunities and a future that looks brighter,” she added.
While Horner Run is Better Housing Coalition’s first project in the Clover Hill District, the nonprofit has been working in Chesterfield since 1997. At the completion of Horner Run, it will have developed 665 units of quality affordable housing and more than 16,000 square feet of commercial space in the county.
“Horner Run will bring new opportunities for families with modest incomes to achieve housing sustainability in a beautiful new home and neighborhood of their choice, while enjoying all of the wonderful amenities Chesterfield has to offer,” said Todd Waldo, chair of Better Housing Coalition’s board of directors. “It’s an honor for us to play a part in expanding the affordable housing supply in the county, and by extension contributing to the enrichment of the community.”
The typical Horner Run household will have an annual income between 30% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), which ranges from $33,090 to $66,180 for a family of four. Rents will range from $500 a month for a one-bedroom unit to $1,453 for three bedrooms.
On-site amenities will include a community room, playground and fitness center. All Horner Run residents will also have access to an array of free and voluntary support services provided by Better Housing Coalition.
“During my time on the board, I have met with many constituents who have expressed a desire for lower housing costs. Horner Run is a shining example of what can be done to move us in that direction right here in the heart of the Clover Hill District,” said Jessica Schneider, who represents Clover Hill on the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors.
“A safe, affordable home is critical to a family’s ability to create a better future for themselves. Greater economic stability, access to quality education and increasing community engagement are just some of the positive outcomes seen when individuals can sustain housing long-term,” Schneider added. “I applaud the Better Housing Coalition for not only transforming individual lives, but also building a stronger Chesterfield.”
County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey described Horner Run as a “win-win-win-win-win” and noted that most of the discretionary federal dollars Chesterfield receives are allocated to Better Housing Coalition and other nonprofits working to tackle the growing challenge of housing affordability.
“We need far more of these types of units than what you see here today, not just in Chesterfield but the entire region,” he said. “There are jobs across the region and I’m a big advocate for getting people close to jobs and opportunities so they can grow in the community as contributing members. All of that starts with projects like this.”
According to President and CEO Greta Harris, Better Housing Coalition has invested about $300 million in creating safe, high-quality and service-enriched affordable housing across the Richmond region – and is currently working on $250 million worth of additional developments.
“It’s a drop in the bucket compared to the need we have in the community, but we are grateful for the success of this project and all of the projects we’ve been so proud to create. The only way we could achieve such success is through collaborative partnerships,” she said.
Brown and her sister-in-law, Katherine Horner Rhodes, donated the 3.5-acre site on which Better Housing Coalition is constructing Horner Run. The donation was facilitated by Tom Jacobson with Chesterfield Alternatives Inc., a nonprofit that works with the county’s Department of Mental Health Support Services to promote independent, supportive housing opportunities for citizens with mental and developmental challenges.
As part of a groundbreaking new partnership with the Chesterfield CSB, Better Housing Coalition is reserving in perpetuity eight units at Horner Run for individuals with certain mental or behavioral impairments. These people will be provided critical support services by the CSB.
“Good quality, affordable and safe housing is a vital component for individuals living with mental illness,” said Kelly Fried, executive director of the Chesterfield CSB. “Studies show that finding stable, safe and affordable housing prevents hospitalizations, homelessness and involvement in the criminal justice system. Housing that enables individuals to live in fully integrated settings in their home communities is the cornerstone for successful recovery.”
The $17.1 million project is expected to be completed in early 2025.
View original article here.
