Thursday, June 29, 2006

Contact: Mary Curtius 703-228-7943 (voice), 703-228-4611 (TTY)

Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette Honored as Housing Leader

Virginia Housing Coalition cites Fisette's leadership at state and local level

ARLINGTON, Va – Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette has been honored as a Housing Leader by the Virginia Housing Coalition and the VHC Information Service for his efforts to preserve and increase the supply of safe, quality, affordable housing in Virginia.

Fisette is one of four individuals to receive Housing Leadership awards from the non-profit "sister" organizations, which together work to improve access to affordable housing in the Commonwealth.

"Jay Fisette is a champion of affordable housing in the Commonwealth," said Governor Timothy M. Kaine, the keynote speaker at the event. "From serving on the Virginia Housing Development Authority board to his critical role in chairing Arlington’s Affordable Housing Task Force, Jay has been an articulate and energetic advocate on the issues of affordable and fair housing."

The awards were handed out at a dinner June 22 celebrating the organizations’ 25th anniversary.

"It is truly an honor to receive this award from the Virginia Housing Coalition and VHC Information Service, two organizations that have done so much to promote housing assistance from federal, state and local sources for low- and moderate-income Virginians," Fisette said. "The preservation and expansion of our affordable housing pool is a priority for the Arlington County Board and for me personally. We are fighting to keep Arlington a great place to live for people of all income levels."

In awarding Fisette, the organizations noted that he has provided a "consistent voice for equality and common sense in how affordable housing and livable communities can be accessed by many," and has "advocated for polices and resource deployment that support quality housing in environmentally friendly communities accessible to families at a variety of economic levels."

The Official Date and Time of this Release is: 6/29/2006 4:31:41 PM