Charlottesville meeting goals on affordable housing investment, but needs more homes for families with lowest incomes

Charlottesville is meeting or exceeding many of the goals for affordable housing it set for itself in 2021, but city leaders feel some areas still need improvement, according to an annual update presented to City Council on Monday.

Antoine Williams, housing program manager in the Office of Community Solutions, told City Council on April 21 that the city is “making real progress” toward its goal to invest $100 million of local taxpayer money into affordable housing over a 10-year period.

Charlottesville could exceed its 10-year commitment to affordable housing

As Erin O’Hare reports, a housing needs assessment conducted in 2018 painted a dire picture for Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. With rent and housing prices climbing, many residents earning 60% or less of Area Median Income had to “live in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, move outside the city to find less expensive housing, or face homelessness.”

In 2021, City Council adopted the Affordable Housing Plan. The plan calls for the city to contribute $10 million per year for 10 years toward affordable housing.

Four years later, the city is nearly 60% of the way toward its goal. Between direct investments in housing projects, tax relief programs, and administrative costs associated with both, the city has spent $58.77 million on affordable housing efforts since 2022, according to Williams’ presentation.

He added that if current projections hold, the city could exceed the 10-year goal by about $20 million.

However, Williams noted that some areas still need improvement. For example, the Affordable Housing Plan recommends that at least half of all city-supported housing units should help families making 30% or less of Area Median Income (AMI). 

As Erin explains, AMI is calculated by the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development annually, so it is a changing number. In 2025, a family of four at 30% AMI in the Charlottesville area earns $37,750.

Currently, 35% of city-supported housing units support those families making 30% AMI or less, short of the target of 50%.

From The Daily Progress: Trump administration revokes 2 UVa alumni visas

The University of Virginia said that two “recent” alumni on the Optional Practical Training immigration program had their visas cancelled.

The Optional Practical Training immigration program allows students to remain in the U.S. and work in their field of study for up to 12 months during school or after they graduate. The program also has a potential extension for those working in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Only students holding academic or “F-1” visas are eligible.  

Earlier this month a current UVA student had their visa cancelled. The Daily Progress reported that at least 22 other visiting students at Virginia colleges have had their visas revoked (subscribers can read more here). Nationwide, that number is over 1,200, according to Documented, an independent nonprofit news organization based in New York.

It’s unclear why the U.S. State Department revoked the former UVA students’ visas, the Progress reported. As the Trump administration has cancelled student visas and detained students in recent weeks, NBC news reported that there is mass confusion over the reasons for the revocations. In the case of student arrests, the Trump administration has cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, NBC News said. The act allows the secretary of state to deport noncitizens if the secretary believes their presence would result in “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”

UVA has compiled some additional information and resources for international students that you can view here.

Charlottesville’s police oversight board wants your input

The Charlottesville Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) is hosting a community town hall on Apr. 29 to hear questions, concerns and suggestions on ways to improve relationships between the police and the community. Read more about the town hall here.

Hampton University’s journalism school to host ‘an urgent conversation at a critical time’

Also, our CEO and Editor-in-Chief Angilee Shah will discuss media and democracy with other industry leaders at The Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications’ “State of the Media,” a public forum, tomorrow, April 23 at 4:30 p.m. in Hampton, Virginia.

The panel, which will also include former President of MSNBC Rashida Jones, is free and open to the public. Find out more and register here to attend here.

Stay safe and take care of each other, 
Akash Sinha, Managing Editor

P.S. Charlottesville Tomorrow is hiring a full-time reporter! Read more about the role and find a link to apply here.