On Wednesday, August 28th, Congressman Don Beyer, House of Delegates Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Delegate Alfonso Lopez, and Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman held a virtual press call to highlight the stark contrast between Vice President Harris’ plan to bring down the cost of renting and owning a home and Trump’s Project 2025 agenda that would drastically raise housing prices on Virginia families. 

See coverage below:

Virginia Mercury: “How Kamala Harris’ New Policy Plan Could Impact Housing In Virginia”

Virginia Democratic lawmakers praised Vice President Kamala Harris’ housing policy plans in a virtual call Wednesday afternoon. The gathering came on the heels of a new campaign ad highlighting Harris’ plan to build three million new homes and rental units if elected president. 

The plan is part of a proposal she unveiled ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which includes providing $25,000 in down payment assistance for some first-time homebuyers and tax incentives for builders.

A 2021 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study found that most Virginains affected by affordable housing issues are  renters. It also found that a declining number of Virginians can afford to purchase a home, while the state has an estimated shortage of at least 200,000 affordable rental units. 

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Alexandria, said that Harris’ plans will help local governments handle affordable housing issues.

“She can do this by deploying tax incentives to build starter homes to alleviate the shortage of houses on the market for aspiring homeowners,” Beyer said.
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Alexandria councilman John Chapman stressed how increasing affordable housing options is “not a hyper-local issue.” 

“We want to hear that at the state level, and we love to hear that at the federal level, that there’s a need for supply, and there are also going to be some additional tools,” he said. 

Housing is a personal issue for him, Chapman said, as someone benefiting from living in the home that his mother was able to purchase, in part, from down payment assistance. 

“I know personally of the effect of the generational wealth that has passed along from family to family,” Chapman said. 

WVTF: “Virginia Democrats Applaud Housing Proposals From Harris-Walz Campaign”

Democrats in Virginia are hoping the Harris-Walz policy proposals on housing will be a benefit in the election this year.

If elected to the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris says she wants to offer $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. That's something that could have a huge impact at the local level, says Alexandria City Councilman John Chapman.

"How do you make sure that the supply coming in is not just affordable but attainable to the folks that are in your community? And, I think having down payment assistance is huge because there are very few people walking around with tens of thousands of dollars if they want to get a house that works for their family," says Chapman.

Harris is also talking about taking on corporate landlords by restricting rent increases to five percent for landlords with more than 50 units, as well as tax incentives for the construction of new homes. Delegate Charniele Herring says the Harris-Walz housing proposals could be a game changer for people across Virginia.

ALX Now: Local elected Democrats discuss how Harris housing plan would impact Alexandria

Alexandria Democratic leaders met today on a Zoom call to discuss proposals from Vice President Kamala Harris to address the housing crisis.

A lack of housing, particularly affordable housing, has been a major talking point in Alexandria for years. Last year, the City Council approved a suite of new zoning changes aimed at creating new housing, though those changes are still in a lengthy court battle.

A handful of journalists were on the call, arranged by local Democrats, to discuss the proposals with elected officials. The call featured Rep. Don Beyer, Del. Charniele Herring, Del. Alfonso Lopez, and City Council member John Chapman.

During the call, Beyer outlined the key points of the plan…

Chapman discussed how the need for more housing in Alexandria.

“We’ve seen [Trump] doesn’t believe the housing crisis is a real priority,” said Chapman. “I know personally the effect of generational wealth passed down along from family to family when home ownership becomes a priority. We need federal partners, in particular folks in the White House, folks like Harris and Walz who are making this a priority.”

Chapman said Harris’ proposals gives Alexandria more tools in its toolbelt to encourage affordable housing construction, particularly the tax incentives to build more moderately priced housing as compared to the luxury apartments and condominiums that typically dominate construction around Northern Virginia.

Chapman said the proposals align with requests from both the City of Alexandria and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

“It puts money on the table,” Chapman said. “One of the big challenges… is zoning policy vs resources. How do you look at the resources and make sure the supply coming in is not just affordable, but attainable.”