Empower Hampton Roads (E.H.R.)
an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation

 

E.H.R. 2006 Accomplishments Successful Candidate Forum EHR organized the largest Candidates forum of the 2006 election season in VB. Over two hundred leaders gathered to challenge candidates on housing. 14 of the 18 candidates were present for the event. EHR received significant commitments from the candidates on creating a housing policy for people with income of all ranges. Housing Equity Campaign EHR worked with the City of Virginia Beach and organized a partnership table to focus on workforce housing. The table included representation from Tidewater Builders Association, Habitat for Humanity, local bankers, business people, developers, the City of Virginia Beach Planning Commission and other community organizations. The work of this included a collaborative effort with the planning commission sub-committee on housing. This collaboration has produced a draft of a workforce housing policy that could produce several hundred units of workforce housing a year. The Planning Commission approved it unanimously. Gained support from a local Virginia Beach builder to support inclusionary zoning as a tool to create housing for all income ranges. Based on the successful work we’ve done in Virginia Beach, EHR has expanded the campaign to other cities in the region including Norfolk, Chesapeake and the Peninsula. Public Meeting In October 2006, several hundred people attended EHR’s 3rd Public Meeting. 3 city council members were present and committed to working with EHR on stronger housing policies. Training The money raised from last year’s ad book and banquet sent 16 leaders to various trainings including the Clergy Caucus, National Leadership Weeklong Training, African-American Leadership Commission, and the National Leadership Assembly. Fund Development We awarded a new grant from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation which has enabled us to hire an administrative assistant as of February 1, 2007. We have continued to receive financial support from the CCHD. We are the people we have been waiting for!

Special Guest Landstown Women’s Ensemble

from Virginia Beach
Landstown High School
under the direction of
Mrs. Martha Springstead

Celebrating an interfaith coalition organizing and mobilizing citizens to influence those who make and shape public policy to be responsible and accountable in  creating justice for all people of Hampton Roads.