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Coalition for Smarter Growth & Tenants and Workers United

Press Advisory: January 9, 2007

With rents at an all-time high and housing costs continuing to rise, all Fairfax County residents, but especially lower income households, are finding it increasingly difficult to find quality housing options within their budget. The Coalition for Smarter Growth, Tenants and Workers United, and the community will meet to honor Dr. King on January 14th and act in his spirit to discuss how Fairfax can ensure that its lower income residents have access to more housing choices.

“To honor Dr. King’s legacy, we want to ensure that Fairfax’s new One Penny for Housing Fund is truly serving those who work in the County yet have the fewest housing choices. Right now, this fund is not doing that,” said Edgar Rivera, Organizer for Tenants and Workers United.

Fairfax County’s One Penny for Housing Fund, a progressive county initiative approved in May 2005, may be falling short of its promise by using too few of the resources for lower income residents.

The Campaign for Affordable is a broad community coalition of faith based and community organizations, labor unions, and tenants, working together for affordable housing in Fairfax County, especially for low-income residents.