Community Planning Resources - Regional, State and National

National

• American Planning Association:  www.planning.org
•  APA is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. 
• Virginia Chapter American Planning Association: www.apavirginia.org
• Offers continuing professional development and services to members. 
• American FactFinder  www.factfinder.census.gov
• The main research instrument of the U.S. Census.  Source for population, housing, economic and geographic data.
• Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service: www.coopercenter.org
• Provision of policy analysis, applied research, technical assistance, leadership development, survey research, consultation, and training for state and local officials, community leaders, as well as members of the general public.
• Planetizen: www.planetizen.com
• Planetizen is a public-interest information exchange provided by Urban Insight for the urban planning, design, and development community. It provides urban planning news, commentary, interviews, event coverage, book reviews, announcements, jobs, consultant listings, training, and more.
• The National Center for smart Growth Research and Education: http://www.smartgrowth.umd.edu/
• A non-partisan center for research and leadership training on smart growth and related land use issues based at the University of Maryland.
• Planning Commissioners Journal:  www.plannersweb.com
• A publication designed for citizen planners, including members of local planning commissions and zoning boards.
• Local Government Commission: www.lgc.org
• Assists local governments in establishing and nurturing key elements of livable communities: a healthier human and natural environment; a more sustainable economy; an actively engaged populace; and an equitable society
• National Association of Home Builders: http://www.nahb.com/
• NAHB is a trade association that promotes the policies that make housing a national priority, and connects individuals, professionals, and communities around the country.
• Urban Land Institute: http://www.uli.org/
• The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.  As the preeminent, multidisciplinary real estate forum, ULI facilitates the open exchange of ideas, information and experience among local, national and international industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating better places.
• CommunityPlanning.net: http://www.communityplanning.net/
• CommunityPlanning.net is dedicated to helping people shape their cities, towns, and villages in any part of the world.  The website provides easily accessible how-to-do-it best practice information of international scope and relevance to residents and professionals who are interested in shaping their local environment.
• Congress for the New Urbanism: http://www.cnu.org/
• The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is the leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities and healthier living conditions.
• Sustainable Communities Partnership: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html
• The EPA joined with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide. Through a set of guiding livability principles and a partnership agreement that will guide the agencies' efforts, this partnership will coordinate federal housing, transportation, and other infrastructure investments to protect the environment, promote equitable development, and help to address the challenges of climate change.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development: http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD
• HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.

Virginia

• Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development: http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/
• DHCD partners with Virginia’s communities to develop their economic potential, regulates Virginia’s building and fire codes, provides training and certification for building officials, and invests more than $100 million each year into housing and community development projects throughout the state - the majority of which are designed to help low-to-moderate income citizens.  By partnering with local governments, nonprofit groups, state and federal agencies, and others, DHCD is working to improve the quality of life for Virginians.
• Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development: http://www.vahcdo.org/
• The Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials (VAHCDO) is dedicated to preserving and maintaining Virginia's existing housing resources; improving the health and living standards of the people of Virginia; and developing new housing opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. VAHCDO represents agencies and localities that use federal, state and local funds for the development, construction and maintenance of housing.
• Virginia Department of Health: Family Health Services: http://www.vahealth.org/
• The mission of the Office of Family Health Services is to provide leadership, expertise, and resources that enable Virginia residents to reach and maintain their optimum level of health and well-being throughout their life.  Their website contains information on some 50 programs that focus on strengthening the health of families and communities, plus risk avoidance tips and information on how certain issues affect public health.
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Community Viability: http://www.cv.ext.vt.edu/
• Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas: civic leadership and engagement; sustainable place-building and enterprise readiness; community food system and enterprises; community planning; and emerging community issues.

Region

• UCARE (University and Community Action for Racial Equity): http://ucareva.org/index.html
• UCARE is dedicated to helping the University of Virginia and the Charlottesville Communities work together to understand the University role in slavery, racial segregation, and discrimination and to find ways to address and repair that legacy, particularly as they relate to present day disparities.  To that end, UCARE participants represent a broad cross-section of community members and University faculty, staff, and students.  We hope that our efforts at working collaboratively across sometimes polarized divides represent authentic steps towards truth, understanding, repair and reconciliation. 

• PHAR (Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents): http://phar.typepad.com/
• PHAR’s mission is to empower low-income residents to protect and improve our own communities through collective action.  PHAR believe that, given the opportunity, people are capable of obtaining skills to acquire self-worth, self-confidence and self-sufficiency, with the ultimate goal of self-empowerment.

• Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority: http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=28
• The CRHA manages 376 units of public housing at 11 sites in the City of Charlottesville.  It also administers 300 Housing Choice Voucher rental units through leased housing contracts with private owners.   Housing Choice Voucher refers to a part of the Housing Act which created this program.

• Albemarle County Office of Housing: http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=housing
• The primary focus of the Albemarle County Housing Department is to assist people with securing rental housing and paying rental subsidy.  The Housing Department also assists people in purchasing homes and can help people set goals to become economically self sufficient.

• Fluvanna-Louisa Housing Foundation: http://www.louisa-county.com/LCliving/HousingBrochure.htm
• The Foundation is organized as a non-stock, not for profit corporation exclusively for community services purposes without pecuniary gain or profit to its members. Its purposes shall be to promote, develop and encourage activities and means to improve the ability of low-income, elderly and/or disadvantaged persons to meet their housing needs, without regard to race, religion or national origin: and to that end sponsor, support, promote, and undertake housing projects within the Counties of Fluvanna and Louisa, Virginia

• Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless: http://tjach.avenue.org/
• The Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH) is a broad-based coalition of individuals and organizations working to end homelessness in our region through strategic planning, coordination of services, and public education/advocacy on the causes and impacts of homelessness.

• The Haven: http://www.thehavenatfirstandmarket.org/the-haven/
• The Haven at First & Market is a safe and welcoming place for the homeless and very poor of Central Virginia to be during the day. Opened for business on January 18, 2010, The Haven at First & Market provides this community with a central place to receive vital services and get connected to social service providers.

• Legal Aid Justice Center: http://www.justice4all.org/
• The Legal Aid Justice Center provides legal representation for low-income individuals in Virginia.  Our mission is to serve those in our communities who have the least access to legal resources.  The Legal Aid Justice Center is committed to providing a full range of services to our clients, including services our federal and state governments choose not to fund.