Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 14:24:30 -0500 From: Virginians For Justice Subject: VJ Action Alert - VHDA Virginians for Justice **** ACTION ALERT VHDA COMMISSIONERS TO MEET ON JAN. 19 As detailed in the Jan-Feb. 1996 VJ newsletter, the Virginia Housing Development Authority has proposed a change in regulations so that only those related by "blood, marriage, or adoption" will qualify for their loan programs. Currently, "households" are now eligible to apply for affordable housing assistance. The vast majority of those effected by this change are unmarried heterosexual cohabitors, so gay and non- gay allies alike need to be vocal in rejecting the new policy. At this juncture, the VHDA has simply recommended the policy change, so the new policy is not yet in effect. On Friday, January 19, at 10:00 a.m., the VHDA will conduct a mandated public hearing on the proposed policy change in their Richmond office. Virginians for Justice manager Shirley Lesser and VJ lobbyists David Perry and Campbell Spencer will give testimony against the proposal. All persons opposed to the change are encouraged to attend. ****REQUESTED ACTION If you are unable to attend and have not yet written to the VHDA, we suggest faxing a statement of opposition to the VHDA and asking that it be entered into the public hearing's record. It is expected that the commissioners will not take their final vote until a subsequent meeting in January -- perhaps as soon as January 23. After the VHDA commissioners voted to recommend the proposal on Dec. 19, VHDA Commissioner David Caprara was reported to have said that the VHDA's mission is to support hard-working families and gay/lesbian and unmarried couples are not families by Virginia's historical definition. Since then, Caprara has resigned from the VHDA and is reportedly considering a challenge to Congressman Herbert Bateman for the 1996 Republican nomination in the First Congressional district. Virginia Housing Development Authority 601 S. Belvidere Street Richmond, VA 23220 Phone (800) 968-7837 Fax: (804) 344-6790 ------------------------ Virginians for Justice PO Box 342 Richmond, VA 23218 804-643-4816 va4justice@aol.com