A couple of weeks ago Sherry and I spent an afternoon house hunting in some of Richmond’s lower-income neighborhoods. We weren’t searching for a perfect fixer-upper, but were trying to spot the work of Richmond’s Better Housing Coalition. The results were obvious—and encouraging.
The Better Housing Coalition has been creating quality, affordable homes in Richmond for more than two decades. They first caught our attention a couple of years ago when we decided to share some prize winnings with a local housing charity. We asked a few friends involved with nonprofits who they trusted, and every single person we asked recommended the BHC. Supporting them felt like an obvious choice—and it felt great to give.
Their name came up again recently when the organization invited us to tour some of their projects. Who would pass up a chance to see compelling before-and-after transformations—especially when they benefit families and strengthen neighborhoods?
T.K. and Jane from the Better Housing Coalition guided us through neighborhoods such as Church Hill, Union Hill and Manchester, pointing out blocks filled with houses that need attention and others that have already received careful restoration. Whether restoring an historic structure, building a new infill home, or planning entire communities, the BHC focuses on creating attractive, practical housing that teachers, firefighters, nurses and other working families can actually afford.
The homes aren’t cookie-cutter. The BHC takes care to respect the historic character of each neighborhood. Increasingly, they also emphasize sustainability—many of their recent homes earn EarthCraft certification, which means higher energy efficiency and lower utility bills for the homeowners.
On the tour we learned a lot, admired many thoughtfully designed homes, and were reminded there’s still important work ahead. Having a place to call home is a gift, and organizations like the Better Housing Coalition are helping to revive neighborhoods and pass that gift on to new homeowners.
In short: we’re proud to continue supporting the Better Housing Coalition here in Richmond. While we’re on the topic of supporting local nonprofits, we’d love to hear about charities in your area that you’re proud to support. Whether you donate money or time, which organizations get your support—and why? Share the good causes you believe in.