People Incorporated recently celebrated the completion of its latest affordable housing property, Sweetbriar II, with a ribbon-cutting and open house. The agency was joined by Josh Hess, District Director for Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Phil McCall, Washington County Board of Supervisors, and People Inc. President and CEO, Bryan Phipps, for remarks.
“It’s hard to get affordable housing for people and we’re happy to be celebrating the completion of this property today” said Phil McCall, member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors. “We’re growing in Washington County, and we need more affordable housing.”
“Affordable housing continues to be a need in every community we serve,” said Bryan Phipps, People Inc. President and CEO. “We consistently hear the need for more affordable housing and Sweetbriar shows what affordable housing can – and should – be.”
A 2022 study commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly found that over 300,000 units of affordable housing are needed in Virginia to alleviate rent burden for low-income renters. Sweetbriar II is the second and final phase of the Sweetbriar development and provides 22 new units of affordable housing, which have already been leased. Over 190 families are currently on the waitlist for housing at Sweetbriar II.
The $7.2 million project was funded by a mixture of public and private sources, including a combined $1.9 million from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development HOME, Virginia Housing Trust Fund, and Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency funding. An additional $4.4 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity was also used to complete the 22-unit 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom duplexes.
People Incorporated currently owns and operates over 30 affordable housing properties in Virginia and Tennessee.
