Working Toward Housing Justice: Highlights from the Affordable Housing Forum at Church of the Ascension

On a recent evening at Church of the Ascension, community members gathered for a powerful forum focused on one of Virginia Beach’s most pressing issues: affordable housing. Led by local experts and guided by research from the Virginia Center for Housing Research, the forum shed light on the growing need for attainable housing in our city—and the role faith communities can play in addressing it.

The Scope of the Crisis

According to the latest data shared during the forum, 34% of households in Virginia Beach—nearly 60,000 families—are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. These families are living one emergency away from crisis. Seniors, extremely low-income renters, and those living on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable.

The Virginia Beach Housing Study concludes that affordable, attainable housing is the city's most critical need. Without increased investment in low-income housing and supportive services, we risk growing instability and rising homelessness in our community.

What Can Congregations Like Ascension Do?

Faith communities are uniquely positioned to make a tangible difference. The forum offered practical actions that congregations can take right now:

1. Educate yourselves and others about the realities of housing insecurity.

2. Support City Council initiatives related to affordable housing—your voice and vote matter.

3. Listen to the needs in your own congregation and community; bring those stories to light.

4. Partner with local organizations like Virginia Beach CDC, Habitat for Humanity, and others doing the work on the ground.

5. Explore available land—and if land is owned by the church, consider a study to assess its suitability for affordable housing development.

   
   

A Call to Action

The housing forum was not just about sharing data—it was about inspiring hope and encouraging action. As one speaker noted, "We don’t need to solve everything overnight. But we do need to take the next right step.”

Church of the Ascension, like many congregations, is being called to discern how its land, resources, and relationships can serve as a foundation for justice in housing. This conversation is just the beginning.

If you're interested in learning more about how to get involved, support housing advocacy, or partner on future forums, reach out to your local housing organizations—or your congregation’s leadership. The path to housing justice begins with awareness, and it grows stronger through collective action.