Better Housing Coalition

Better Housing Coalition assists in the construction multi-family development, like Horner Run Apartments. Photo: Better Housing Coalition Facebook

In 1988, Mary Tyler Cheek McClanahan, a civic leader in Richmond, read an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about a young boy who had died in deplorable living conditions just a few miles from her neighborhood. She was moved to do something and recruited her friend Carter McDowell, who had a master’s degree in urban planning, to help explore the housing issue. Their research confirmed a serious need for affordable housing in the Richmond area.

They formed the Better Housing Coalition (BHC) to raise awareness of this need among civic organizations, social services agencies, city government, and other partners. By 1990, the organization decided that area residents could be served more quickly by building affordable housing. They purchased a neglected block and renovated and built 86 townhomes. 

Since that time, BHC has become the Richmond region’s largest non-profit community development corporation. BHC creates high-quality homes for residents of modest means and empowers them with programs and tools to help them reach their fullest potential. BHC has revitalized several historic communities and developed new ones in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, and Petersburg.  

“We knew it wasn’t enough to give people a high-quality, safe place to live in a good neighborhood. We also wanted them to have better health and economic stability,” says Stacie Birchett, BHC vice president, external affairs. “We started providing wrap-around support services, and that’s what differentiates BHC from market-rate housing developers.” 

Over the years, BHC has invested more than $300 million in Richmond area neighborhoods, serving more than 20,000 low-to-moderate income individuals, families, and senior residents. “We have built and sold more than 250 single family homes to first-time home buyers. And we have paid $1 million in annual real estate taxes,” Stacie says. BHC manages 18 rental communities covering about 1,600 units. Ten of these communities are for low-income seniors. The Planet is an affordable housing rental community located in Jackson Ward in downtown Richmond. It is named after the Richmond Planet, one of the first African American newspapers in the U.S. Photo: Better Housing Coalition Facebook

Recently, BHC hosted a ribbon cutting for the Planet, the newest rental community located in the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood in downtown Richmond. “The Planet is significant because it is located in an area formerly known as the Black Wall Street until it was split in two by the installation of Interstate 95,” Stacie says. “Decades of disinvestment and decay ensued until the neighborhood underwent a revitalization. It is difficult to find affordable housing in Jackson Ward and the Planet is a beautiful, high-quality building. It is named after The Richmond Planet, one of America’s first African American newspapers, published by civil rights advocate John Mitchell, Jr. We were honored to welcome some of his descendants to the ribbon cutting,” adds Stacie.  

TowneBank senior credit officer Richard Dickinson serves as treasurer of the BHC board and chairs its finance committee. Simeon Harris, senior vice president and commercial banker, serves on the BHC real estate development committee. “Richard introduced us to TowneBank, and he is fantastic to work with,” Stacie says. “Towne has always been supportive of our work – sponsoring our events and believing in our mission to create better affordable housing in our communities.”

For more information, visit BetterHousingCoalition.org.