📣 Affordable housing takes ALL of us.
From policy to partnerships, solving the housing challenge requires collaboration across sectors. That’s why we’re proud to work alongside organizations like @virginiahousing to expand access and opportunity.
Ashley Davies is Vice President of Riverbend Development and a member of the Board of Directors for the CAAR Foundation. With experience spanning both the public and private sectors, she brings deep expertise in urban planning, project entitlements, and community engagement. At Riverbend, she leads complex development approvals and works closely with stakeholders to advance thoughtful, community-centered projects.
Previously, Ashley served as Zoning Administrator and Neighborhood Planner for the City of Charlottesville, where she built a strong foundation in code interpretation, project review, and consensus building. She also chaired the @charlottesvillechamber Area Development Roundtable (CADRe), where she championed high-quality design and the creation of vibrant, sustainable places.
For more than 20 years, Ashley has partnered with neighborhood groups and local stakeholders across Virginia on master planning and comprehensive planning initiatives. Her current work includes a pro bono partnership with the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (cvillerha), centering residents in the redevelopment of public housing and helping deliver hundreds of new deeply affordable homes. She holds a Master of Environmental Planning and a Bachelor of Architectural History from the University of Virginia.
"I'm involved in the CAAR Foundation because I believe stable, affordable housing is the Foundation for thriving communities. Throughout my career in planning and development, I've seen how thoughtful design, strong partnerships, and inclusive engagement can create lasting impact. My work with resident-led redevelopment has reinforced that the best solutions come from empowering the people most affected. The Foundation offers an opportunity to help expand access to affordable housing options, support innovative approaches, and ensure that growth in our region is both equitable and sustainable. I'm committed to advancing efforts that create real pathways to opportunity for individuals and families."
Join the CAAR Foundation & @piedmonthousing for our Realtor Mixer!
This event offers an opportunity for realtors to connect with Piedmont Housing Alliance, learn how they support clients on their homeownership journey, and get to know their Housing Counseling team. Together, we'll explore how purposeful programming and guidance can help your clients achieve and sustain the dream of owning a home.
📅 May 18th from 5:30 pm to 7 pm
📍 CAAR Classroom at Hillsdale Conference Center
550 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville
Register here with the link in our bio.
🎙️ On the air with @cvillerightnow !
Our Executive Director, Dave Norris, joined Keshia Washington of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville on WINA to talk about the launch of the Homeownership Navigators Program, a new initiative designed to support aspiring homebuyers as they navigate the path to homeownership.
Together, they discussed how this program connects local expertise with real community needs, helping address ongoing housing affordability challenges right here in our region.
🎧 Listen to the full interview on Cville Right Now!
The CAAR Foundation was honored to be a featured presenter at the @tomtomfoundation Festival Civic Futures Summit on April 22, talking about some of the partnerships we have created to move the needle on affordable housing.
Many thanks to CAAR Foundation Board Chair @mkkingrealtor for moderating, and kudos to our wonderful panelists: Ashley Harper of @cvilletomorrow , Keshia Washington of @charlottesvillehabitat , Ashley Davies of Riverbend Development, and Keith Smith of @piedmontclt .
We can all be part of the affordable housing solution! 🏡
🏡 Did you know?
@virginiahousing offers programs that make homeownership more accessible — from down payment assistance to homebuyer education. These resources are helping more Virginians move from renting to owning, strengthening families and communities along the way.
Virginia Housing is a sponsor of the CAAR Foundation, and we could not be more grateful! Thank you!
104 hours a week. That's how long someone earning the minimum wage in Virginia would need to work just to afford a 2-bedroom apartment.
That's not a typo. According to the Out of Reach report published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Charlottesville area ranks as the second-most expensive area in Virginia for low-income renters, and the gap between wages and housing costs continues to grow.
This is exactly why the work of the CAAR Foundation matters. Numbers like this are why we can't stop pushing for change in our region. 🏡
Hear from Ginny Barefoot, CAAR Foundation Treasurer. Our work matters more now than ever.
From personal experience to professional purpose, Ginny’s journey with affordable housing is rooted in real life. Her passion for educating individuals on budgeting, finding resources, and navigating the path to stable housing is exactly the kind of lived perspective that drives our mission forward.
The path to affordable housing is rarely walked alone, and we’re here to make sure no one has to walk it without support. 🏡
The CAAR Foundation is excited to be featured at a Lunch & Learn session at the TomTom Festival Civic Futures Summit.
📅 Wednesday, April 22
🕛 12:30pm - 2:00pm
📍 Irving Theater, CODE Building (240 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902)
Big thanks to our event sponsor, @redlightmgmt !
The Lunch & Learn theme, "Partnerships for Affordable Housing," will feature a panel discussion led by the CAAR Foundation highlighting collaborative strategies to expand housing access in the Charlottesville region. Drawing on several recent cross-sector partnerships, the session will explore how coordinated efforts among nonprofits, developers, and community organizations can create new pathways to homeownership and strengthen housing stability.
🎟 CAAR members are eligible for a 25% discount off the Civic Futures Summit $125 registration fee. Click on /14th-annual-tom-tom-festival-i-courage/tickets and enter "CAAR25" as your discount code. Then enter the number of people you're registering for the Civic Futures Summit and click on "Continue" at the bottom of the page.
Hope you can join us!
We are proud to sponsor the 2026 Women Build with @charlottesvillehabitat ! 🛠️🏡
This Women's History Month, more than 300 female volunteers came together to help build five new homes for families in the Southwood community. In an industry where women make up just 14% of the construction workforce, Women Build flips the script. We love being part of an event that builds homes AND breaks barriers.
The build kicked off on March 26! 💛
Read the full article on 29 News.
The Senate took a significant step on affordable housing! 🏡
The U.S. Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill 89-10, aimed at making housing more accessible and affordable across the country. The legislation would reduce regulations, restrict corporate investors from buying single-family homes, expand how housing dollars can be used, and give local governments more tools to address their unique regional housing challenges.
Whether it becomes law remains uncertain, as the House and White House have both signaled potential roadblocks ahead. The overwhelming bipartisan support is a notable sign that housing affordability is being taken seriously at the federal level.
Read the full article on CBS 19 News.
The Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership, of which the CAAR Foundation is a member, is kicking off a speaker series on April 8th with a virtual presentation by Fabrizio Fasulo of Virginia Housing. His topic will be Housing Policy in Virginia: trends, updates, and what to expect. This is the first of a series of presentations designed for housing professionals and local governments to provide information on different aspects of housing that impact our region.
