CAAR Foundation

Reminder to join us Monday, June 22nd, for our Lunch & Learn about Public Housing Redevelopment in Charlottesville. Initiated by a $5 million donation from the Dave Matthews Band, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority is leading a $200 million+ resident-driven initiative to redevelop every public housing neighborhood in the city.

Hear from Ashley Davies of Riverbend Development, John Sales of CRHA Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, and Joy Johnson of the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents - PHAR. Learn what's going well, what challenges lie ahead, and how low-income residents are stepping up to shape their own communities.

📍 Monday, June 22 | 11:45am – 1:00pm
🏢 Hillsdale Conference Center Ballroom at CAAR | 550 Hillsdale Dr.
🍕 Free to attend | Lunch included
🔗 Registration is open to CAAR members, affiliates, and the general public: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YYTCYPJ

A huge thank you to our Lunch & Learn sponsor, Pro Pipe Plumbing & Drain , for making this event possible!

What if the housing affordability problem isn't just about building more, but building the right things? This piece from Strong Towns digs into the real tensions communities are facing: how to add housing without losing neighborhood character, why small-scale development is so hard to finance, and why the "just build more" argument misses a critical piece of the puzzle.

One thing that stuck with us is that the missing product in most communities is smaller, flexible, modest housing that fits naturally into existing neighborhoods.

It's a thoughtful, honest conversation about the challenges we're all navigating here in Charlottesville and across the country. Read the full article here: https://clmarohn.substack.com/p/questions-from-the-front-lines-of?r=f6px&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

You're invited! Join us for our next Lunch & Learn on Monday, June 22nd.

This month's topic is Public Housing Redevelopment in Charlottesville. Initiated by a $5 million donation from the Dave Matthews Band, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority is leading a $200 million+ resident-driven initiative to redevelop every public housing neighborhood in the city.

Hear from Ashley Davies of Riverbend Development, John Sales of CRHA Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, and Joy Johnson of the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents - PHAR. Learn what's going well, what challenges lie ahead, and how low-income residents are stepping up to shape their own communities.

📍 Monday, June 22 | 11:45am – 1:00pm
🏢 Hillsdale Conference Center Ballroom at CAAR | 550 Hillsdale Dr.
🍕 Free to attend | Lunch included
🔗 Registration is open to CAAR members, affiliates, and the general public: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YYTCYPJ

A huge thank you to our Lunch & Learn sponsor, Pro Pipe Plumbing & Drain , for making this event possible!

The numbers are in, and they speak for themselves. 📊

Since launching our Housing Resources Guide in collaboration with Charlottesville Tomorrow, we've reached nearly 12,800 page views and almost 5,900 active users online, and distributed more than 3,300 paper copies to 25+ local organizations across our region.

What we're most proud of? The guide is available in five languages: English, Spanish, Pashto, Arabic, and Dari. Access to housing resources shouldn't depend on the language you speak.

Check out the guide here: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/charlottesville-and-albemarle-county-housing-resources-guide/

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville 2025 Impact Report is here, and we're proud to be part of the story. 🏡💛

The report highlights our Homeownership Navigators program, launched in partnership with Habitat last November. The program was three years in the making, led by Keshia Washington, Habitat's Associate Director of Special Partnerships and CAAR Foundation board member.

"The CAAR Foundation brought important knowledge and realtor connections, and I shared my expertise in working with marginalized families and communities at Habitat. It is a true partnership." — Keshia Washington

Together, we're helping families who fall outside of Habitat's traditional program navigate the full journey to homeownership.

The Gap report found that only 35 affordable homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renters. That's where Virginia stands according to the 2026 Gap Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

77% of extremely low-income renter households in Virginia face a severe cost burden, meaning they're spending far more than they can afford just to keep a roof over their heads. Nationally, the shortage stands at 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes.

These reports illustrate challenges with housing affordability in the region and help measure progress over time in supporting this population. These numbers represent our neighbors here in Charlottesville and across the region, and they're the reason why we show up every day.

📣 Affordable housing takes ALL of us.

From policy to partnerships, solving the housing challenge requires collaboration across sectors. That’s why we’re proud to work alongside organizations like Virginia Housing to expand access and opportunity.

Ashley Davies is Vice President of Riverbend Development and a member of the Board of Directors for the CAAR Foundation. With experience spanning both the public and private sectors, she brings deep expertise in urban planning, project entitlements, and community engagement. At Riverbend, she leads complex development approvals and works closely with stakeholders to advance thoughtful, community-centered projects.

Previously, Ashley served as Zoning Administrator and Neighborhood Planner for the City of Charlottesville, where she built a strong foundation in code interpretation, project review, and consensus building. She also chaired the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Area Development Roundtable (CADRe), where she championed high-quality design and the creation of vibrant, sustainable places.

For more than 20 years, Ashley has partnered with neighborhood groups and local stakeholders across Virginia on master planning and comprehensive planning initiatives. Her current work includes a pro bono partnership with the CRHA Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, centering residents in the redevelopment of public housing and helping deliver hundreds of new deeply affordable homes. She holds a Master of Environmental Planning and a Bachelor of Architectural History from the University of Virginia.

"I'm involved in the CAAR Foundation because I believe stable, affordable housing is the Foundation for thriving communities. Throughout my career in planning and development, I've seen how thoughtful design, strong partnerships, and inclusive engagement can create lasting impact. My work with resident-led redevelopment has reinforced that the best solutions come from empowering the people most affected. The Foundation offers an opportunity to help expand access to affordable housing options, support innovative approaches, and ensure that growth in our region is both equitable and sustainable. I'm committed to advancing efforts that create real pathways to opportunity for individuals and families."