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AP-75 Barriers to affordable housing – 91.220(j)
Introduction:
Actions planned to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers
to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building
codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential
investment
The City of Newport News will resume efforts to address the barriers of affordable housing in Funding
Year 2025-2026 and throughout the five-year period covered by the Consolidated Plan.
The City and NNRHA will continue its efforts to affirmatively further fair-housing by continued
participation in the Hampton Roads Community Housing Resource Board (HRCHRB). The seven
entitlement cities in Hampton Roads have worked collectively and individually over the past several years
to eliminate potential impediments to fair-housing choice and this will continue in the upcoming fiscal
year.
The City will continue its efforts to develop specific actions to eliminate barriers to affordable housing.
These include amendments to long standing zoning ordinances that will allow for development of 25- foot
lots in Neighborhood Conservation Districts, reduction in minimum requirements for Planned Residential
Development and revisions to setback requirements that have a direct impact in encouraging land use
and redevelopment efforts geared towards affordable homeownership.
Financial barriers to purchasing affordable housing remain as a result of the inability to obtain financing
and to meet the down payment required by mortgage lenders. Many low-income families have excessive
debt, deficient credit history, a housing cost burden, and insufficient savings for a down payment. The City
will address this barrier by continuing to provide down payment assistance to eligible purchasers in the
City of Newport News.
Financial barriers exist for homeowners who cannot afford to rehabilitate their homes when they are not
safe or livable environments. Often when these deficiencies are not addressed, the issues compound and
the household cannot maintain ownership of their homes. The city will provide housing repair financing
to homeowners who earn below 80% of the AMI. This assistance is currently provided through grants.
NNRHA is planning to resume the development of additional new single-family homeownership units in a
style that is consistent with the historic context of the Southeast community and that are developed in a
way that increases the affordability and sustainability of the unit. New house designs mirror the character
of existing neighborhood houses while providing more modern interior features and energy efficient
construction and appliances for sustainability.
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