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I've been serving on the Better Housing Coalition's External Affairs Committee since January 2024.

In addition to learning about the organization, sharing feedback and ideas, and spreading the word, I've had the opportunity to participate in their annual Gingerbread Challenge fundraiser, and served a Thanksgiving meal provided by The Underground Kitchento a community near me.

In August 2025, I experienced the groundbreaking for the Colbrook Community, once a safe stop for Black travelers during segregation, the historic Colbrook Motel is being transformed into 144 affordable apartments through a $60 million redevelopment led by Better Housing Coalition.

Once home to the Colbrook Motel – featured in The Green Book as a safe place for Black travelers to rest their head in the Jim Crow-era South, BHC is working with the local historians, county staff, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to pay tribute to Colbrook's legacy with a history marker, original signage, and an onsite gallery honoring its role. This community will have 156 apartments for low-income individuals and families of incomes of 40%-60% of the average median income. The community will have a community room, walking trail, and active and passive recreation areas and will continue its legacy as a warm respite from the world.

Here's more on what Better Housing Coalition does and how you can be a part of it

-Christina

What is the Better Housing Coalition?

The Better Housing Coalition (BHC), the Richmond region’s largest non-profit community development corporation, was established in 1988. It’s mission is to change lives and transform communities through high-quality, affordable housing. BHC creates high-quality homes for residents of modest means and empowers them with programs and tools to help them reach their fullest potential, at all stages of life.

The Need For Affordable Housing:

The need for affordable housing in our region is great – an additional 22,000 units are needed by 2030.

What is Affordable Housing:

In Richmond, 25% of our neighbors – or 1 in 4 – live in poverty. This equates to 250,000 people. Affordable housing serves individuals and families with incomes generally between 50% and 60% of the area median income (AMI). In Richmond, this means folks with incomes between $25,350 for a one-person household, up to $39,120 for a household of four.

National standards recommend that a household pays no more than 30% of their gross income on housing, which includes mortgage/rent plus taxes and utilities. It’s especially important for moderate-income families because if they are paying more than 30%, they have considerably fewer resources available to pay for transportation, child care, medical expenses, food, etc.

What BHC Does:

Building Single-Family Homes:

One of BHC’s primary focuses is on building, renovating or restoring high-quality, affordable, well-located properties. BHC has built and sold more than 200 single-family homes for sale to first-time home buyers.

Rental Communities:

BHC also develops sustainable, environmentally friendly communities, well-maintained, professionally managed by our own property management division and service-enhanced to meet the needs of the community. BHC has 17 rental communities, ten of which are for low-wealth seniors, with a total of over 1,500 rental units Jobs of BHC residents that fall within this range: Retail, entry-level healthcare jobs like certified nursing assistants (CNAs), social workers, medical record clerks, teachers, and even entry-level police/sheriff.

A Mixed-Use Approach:

Mixed-use zoning allows a balanced mix of office, commercial, and residential uses in close proximity to increase convenience to residents and reduce the number of shopping and/or commuting trips needed. Mixed-use projects can create new housing opportunities in areas that may have previously allowed only commercial, office, or light industrial uses. They can help to revitalize distressed neighborhoods by creating a sense of community and safety. By making projects mixed-income as well, residents of lower means are able to share the benefits and amenities of the property, especially if it’s located in a desirable area.

Resident Services:

BHC offers a holistic, resident-focused commitment that delivers services to families and individuals that help them succeed and encourage personal potential in real and everyday ways. 100% of BHC’s resident support services are funded through philanthropic gifts. Free and voluntary services for residents include:

  • Promoting Education: At BHC’s community centers, youth participate in after-school activities including programming to improve performance in school, and college tours for teenage residents. BHC also offers services for adults and seniors including financial education, technical and vocational training, and workshops.
  • Socialization for Seniors: Through BHC’s partnership with Senior Connections, residents gather at BHC’s community centers for Friendship Café twice a week from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. They do crafts, help each other solve puzzles, do exercises and learn about good health and nutrition. Before leaving, they share a hot, nourishing lunch, free of charge.
  • Healthy Food Access: Thanks to the GRAIN program through friends at FeedMore, BHC’s Resident Services staff prepares bags of free groceries, including fresh vegetables, for senior residents twice a month. The service allows them to save money, eat healthier, and spend time cooking and sharing meals with loved ones.
  • Building Career Ladders: BHC’s career navigator organizes job fairs at BHC communities where residents are able to connect with local business leaders such as Dominion Power and Amazon who are looking to fill positions.
  • Supporting Wellness: BHC works with Project Yoga, Fitness Warriors, and other organizations to arrange exercise opportunities for families and senior residents at BHC communities. Participating in yoga, Zumba, ballroom dance, swimming lessons and more, helps reduce stress and encourages an active lifestyle while having fun!

 

Community, Business, and Government Partners:

Revitalizing communities takes a group effort. The complexity and scale of revitalizing communities demands ongoing collaboration by many partners – individuals and organizations. Encouraging and managing these partnerships is an important part of BHC’s mission.

 

How to help:

As we work to address the need for affordable housing, you can help create a positive climate for BHC’s work.

 

How you can participate and events to have on your radar:

Bike Tours: Thursday, May 14th from 6-8 PM: Join BHCyp, BHC’s Young Professionals’ Board for a guided, mostly flat bike tour of Richmond’s historic Church Hill neighborhood, and see first-hand how BHC is transforming blighted properties and preserving housing affordability in an area now priced out of reach for many. You will get to see both BHC multi-family and single-family homes on the tour. Stay afterwards for the post-ride happy hour reception at one of BHC’s properties in the neighborhood. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Sign up.

Table Talk Series: This series creates space for neighbors, partners, and community members to learn more about our mission, hear updates on current and upcoming developments, and better understand how our Resident Services position residents for success. As the need for affordable housing continues to grow across our region, conversations like these are more important than ever. Learn more about future Table Talk luncheons.

Non-Event Gala: Now in its 9th year, BHC launched Richmond’s first-ever Non-Event Gala to raise awareness and critical support for affordable housing in our region. Instead of attending a traditional fundraising event, supporters are invited to make a fully tax-deductible gift -no program to sit through, no travel to a venue, no suit to rent or dress to purchase. Just meaningful impact, made simple through your gift.