V.O.I.C.E. of Northern Virginia

News from an Arlington VOICE blogger:  It's been a crazy week leading up to the snowstorm on the Hill, but one thing I've been tracking closely is the National Housing Trust Fund item that will provide $1 billion from the unused TARP funds for affordable housing construction.
Given the huge numbers we become accustomed to see in Washington, this may seem a small number, but in Virginia it would mean more than 3,000 new affordable housing units could be constructed and 385 jobs created -- not chump change at all.
What we can do is call and write Senators Webb and Warner, and ask them to support this in the "Jobs on Main Street Act" (HR 2847) that was sent to the Senate Dec. 16.

Contact Sen. Warner:
Phone: 202-224-2023
E-mail (form): http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Contact Sen. Webb:
Phone: 202) 224-4024
E-mail (form): webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm

This is a simple thing you can do that could make a difference in our community (Arlington is one of the several Virginia communities that have established Affordable Housing Funds that would directly benefit from the federal appropriation.)


SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
Hello. My name is _______________, and I am a constituent from ___________ (name your place of residence.) I am calling today to ask the Senator to do all he can to keep the National Housing Trust Fund measure in the "Jobs on Main Street Act."
I understand that this would create more than 3,000 needed affordable housing units in Virginia. And we need the construction jobs that would come with those units, so I ask that the Senator fight to keep the Housing Trust Fund in the Act.
Thank you. (If you are so inclined to extend holiday wishes -- feel free to do that here.)
tent here - text, photos, videos, addons, whatever you want!

                                                                                                en Espanol:  Arlington Act Espanol

Washington Post, 29 June 09 

Speaking Up for Oral Health-Care Funding

Letter to the Editor, Washington Post, June 29 2009

Having watched a patient suffer with severe pain from a periodontal abscess that could have been prevented if she had access to oral health care, I'm compelled to agree with the June 23 Health article "Putting Teeth in Health-Care Reform." Oral health care must be part of the health-care package Congress is debating.

Unfortunately, Virginia is among the few states that do not provide oral health care to its poorest adults, even those who qualify for Medicaid.

Since the fall of 2008, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), a nonpartisan coalition of more than 40 Catholic, Islamic, Jewish and Protestant congregations, has sought to change that. VOICE has convinced government officials of Alexandria, Arlington County and Fairfax County that providing funding to assist individuals in getting oral health care makes sense. The combined effort will generate services worth an estimated $350,000 to $400,000 through approximately 1,800 appointments.

While it's a good start, it's not enough. Virginia needs to join other states that provide oral health care to adult Medicaid recipients, and Congress needs to ensure that oral health care is part of an overall health care package.

THOMAS WILSON , Executive Director, Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, Falls Church

Held 400 person action with Supervisor Chair Barbara Favola and Vice-Chair Jay Fisette to secure their commitments to maintain Arlington’s affordable housing funding level in FY2010 (with some enhancements of safety net programs), $25,000 to support dental service expansion thru the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, and to schedule  a vote on Macedonia 31 units of affordable rental housing  in South Arlington.

Secured Board approval for financing for Macedonia Apartments; Groundbreaking scheduled for June 2009.

100+ VOICE Arlington leaders attended the FY 2010 Budget Hearings and Secured Board approval for FY 2010 Budget that maintains 2009 Affordable housing funding levels and dedicates $25,000 in FY 2010 budget to add a full-time dentist to the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Arlington-lending-more-for-apartment-project_03_19-41445492.html

http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Communications/PressReleases/69194.aspx

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=325017&paper=60&cat=104

 http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2009/02/06/video_news/mov31.prt

See a video of the LOMAX AME Action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HXbUt-28eY

For more information about VOICE of Arlington or if you would like to be added to the Arlington email distribution list email Arlington@VOICE-iaf.org