THE HOUSING CRISIS
THE REGIONAL HOUSING CRISIS DEMANDS RESPONSE
The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia is experiencing rapid growth, with new businesses emerging and a rising, more affluent population. Berkeley County’s population grew by 19% and median income by 26% in the past decade; Jefferson and Morgan counties have seen similar trends. Lower housing costs and taxes have made Berkeley and Jefferson Counties popular bedroom communities for people working in Northern Virginia and Washington DC suburbs.
As long-term residents throughout the wider region face difficulties coping with increasing costs of living, there is growing concern that those most in need may be neglected. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 households below the federal poverty level in West Virginia, only 50 rental homes are available to meet their needs.
OUR LOCAL FOCUS
WE SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE THREE PANHANDLE COUNTIES WITH LOCAL VOLUNTEERS
Demand for housing has driven up prices of owner-occupied and rental housing. This price pressure means the supply of housing affordable to working and lower income households hasn’t kept up. Our area needs some 1,330 new rental units to close the affordable housing gap and 900 of those are needed to house people making less than one-third of the local median income.
“In the Eastern Panhandle, housing prices have surged,” “Working families are struggling to keep up as they compete with high-end buyers from D.C.” The state’s housing crisis stems from high rent and home costs, a lack of supply of affordable housing and a growing inventory of dilapidated homes. Nate Testman, Interim Director of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, an agency which provides housing assistance to low-income residents.
FCCH quickly responds to emergency needs – Our volunteers are available every day to respond to calls or referrals for emergency shelter.
We collaborate with other local nonprofit partners, corporations, businesses, volunteers, churches and individual donors to secure resources and financial support.