Helen McIlvaine has been Alexandria’s Housing Director since 2015 and was Deputy Director from 2006-2014. As Director, Helen led implementation of Alexandria’s 2013 Housing Master Plan and the COG Regional Housing Initiative, including a cumulative target of 4,250 new units of affordable housing by 2030.  Both efforts are “on track” to meet their goals.  A Housing Master Plan update, Housing 2040, is currently underway.  Helen supports citywide planning and engagement initiatives to increase the preservation and production of affordable housing and protect tenants from displacement, and works with nonprofit and private developers, as well as with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), to structure and finance mixed-use, mixed-income, and mixed-ability rental and ownership projects. Over the past few years, Helen and Housing staff have supported the Arlandria Chirilagua Plan Update, the Zoning for Housing/Housing for All Initiative, and the Alexandria West Small Area Plan. Culturally competent outreach, including collaborations with community partners to engage those most likely to be impacted by the planning process and ensure they are at the table is a key Housing priority.

In 2018, Helen received the Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award from the Center for Nonprofit Advancement for her commitment to Alexandria nonprofits.  In 2019, Helen’s work leading the Northern Virginia Housing and Economic Stakeholders’ Collaboration (formed to develop a regional response to Amazon’s selection of National Landing for HQ2) was awarded the Virginia Housing Award for Best Regional Partnership at the Governor’s Housing Conference. Helen received a 2020 Regional Housing Leader award from the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance. The Alexandria Office of Housing and the Department of Planning and Zoning were awarded ULI’s 2021 Best Housing Policy Award for the Residential Multifamily Zone, a land use tool which enables substantial density in exchange for the preservation or production of deeply affordable housing. So far, five projects proposing use of the “RMF Zone” have been approved which collectively will yield more than 1,000 deeply affordable rental units in the City. In December 2023, Helen was recognized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) with its Ronald F. Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership. 

Cecilia Gondor is a Managing Member of Alexandria-based family-owned real estate management company L&M Management LLC.   Landmark Towers, a local 154-unit apartment building, three office buildings, and a few houses in the West End of Alexandria make up the company’s portfolio.

Cecilia and her siblings grew up in Alexandria, where her parents worked as physicians and believed in a hands-on approach to real estate investment.  Dr. Leslie P. Gondor and Dr. Magdolna Iranyi-Gondor, both immigrants from Hungary, practiced medicine for five decades at the Bradlee Medical Building, which they built in 1964.

After a 30-year career in finance, Cecilia took over day-to-day management of the portfolio in 2014 with the goal of renovating and modernizing the properties to serve today’s Alexandria residents.  At Landmark Towers, she continues the family directive of providing comfortable, beautiful, budget-friendly housing for Alexandria’s working families.

Jon has served as the President/CEO of Housing Alexandria since 2015.  During his tenure the organization has grown from a small team of one with under 200 units of rental housing to a team of sixteen with approximately 900 units owned with 500 units under construction.  During this time, he has overseen the development and implementation of two strategic plan initiatives. 

The most recent plan, Beyond Units, shifted Housing Alexandria’s mission as one focused solely on the provision of affordable rental housing to one of a full-scale community development organization working at the intersection of housing, services, community partnerships, and equity building. 

Prior to joining Housing Alexandria, Jon worked in several positions in community development, most notably as a housing analyst for the City of Alexandria and a real estate development director for Volunteers of America.  He holds a master’s degree in urban planning and sits on several boards and commissions including the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance leadership council, and the Grounded Solutions Network Board of Directors.   

In his free time, he enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring great urban spaces and our national parks.  He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife and daughter.

Moha joined National Housing Trust in 2018 and currently serves as Senior Manager of State & Local Policy. In this role, Moha oversees NHT’s state & local policy portfolio across all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- analysing state, local, and regional affordable housing laws, programs, and identifying best practices. Moha partners with communities across the country who want to create and preserve affordable housing, providing technical assistance and actionable policy solutions. She is a nationally recognised expert in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, working to protect and expand the affordable housing supply and support residents.

Moha graduated with a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University.

Ingris was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, the daughter of Salvadoran parents. She joined the youth chapter of Tenants and Workers United (TWU) as a freshman in high school. A first-generation college graduate, Ingris earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University, the culmination of an academic journey that started at Northern Virginia Community College. After college, Ingris became a youth organizer at TWU, and now, nearly 10 years later, has since transitioned into Lead Organizer, overseeing all the organizing work that happens in the City of Alexandria, including the housing campaign. Ingris has lived experience and a deep understanding of community organizing, recognizing the critical importance of empowering working class families of color in order to change systems.

Serving as the National Housing Justice Director at African Communities Together, Sosseh is responsible for developing and managing housing campaigns and advocacy efforts across ACT's chapters to ensure that members of the African immigrant community are safely housed and protected from displacement. Using a combination of grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, investor engagement and community empowerment, her work is designed to center lived experiences in housing conversations and develop community-focused solutions that reinforce the principle of housing as a human right for all. Previously a Family Law attorney representing low-income D.C. residents, Sosseh has dedicated her life to assisting vulnerable communities by providing them with the resources they need to thrive. Prior to joining ACT, Sosseh also served as Policy Counsel for a D.C.-based non-profit, advocating for change to make D.C. courts and government agencies racially equitable and just. She is an active member of the D.C. Bar and holds a J.D. from the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law.

NEW!  Thank you to everyone who attended the March 18 community meeting and open house at Patrick Henry K-8 School to learn about and provide feedback on the draft principles and goals developed to guide the Housing 2040 Master Plan. Complete our Meeting Evaluation and tell us how we did!  Input received will inform the development of the final Housing 2040 principles and goals. Feedback on the draft principles and goals can be submitted using our Comment Form through April 20; to complete the form in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, or Pashto, please click on "English" in the upper right hand corner to access the drop down language menu. Please contact Tamara Jovovic with any questions. 

• Presentation
• Draft Housing 2040 Principles and Goals (dated March 18, 2025) in Spanish; Amharic; Arabic; Dari; and Pashto.
  • Principle and Goal Station Boards: Principle 1; Principle 2; Principle 3, Principle 4; Principle 5; and Principle 6.
• Open House Boards: Housing 2040 Survey Summary Board; Financial Tools Board; Preservation Board; Homeownership Board; and Tenant Issues Board 

• NEW!  Join us on April 29 for an engaging panel discussion on Affordable Housing Preservation! This event will be hybrid: attendees can attend in-person at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (Multipurpose Room), 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, or virtually via Zoom. An open house will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The panel discussion, followed by Q&A, will begin at 7 p.m. A light dinner will be available for in-person attendees.
  • To attend in person at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, please register at this link. 

  • To attend virtually via Zoom, please register at this link. 

    Interpretation will be provided virtually in Spanish. Please email Christopher Do at christopher.do@alexandriava.gov to request virtual interpretation in any language other than Spanish by April 23.

• Housing 2040 Homeowner Resources and Programs:
  • NEW!  Meeting 2: May 14, 2025. This public virtual meeting will be hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.
  • Meeting 1: January 8, 2025. This public virtual meeting was hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.
    • Homeowner Programs Presentation
• Housing 2040 Financial Tools for Affordable Housing:
  • NEW!  Meeting 2: May 14, 2025. This public virtual meeting will be hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.
  • Meeting 1 (City Hall): December 5. This public meeting was hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.
    • Affordable Housing Financial Tools Presentation
• Housing 2040 Introduction to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority - Meeting 1: February 6, 2025. This hybrid meeting was hosted jointly by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee and Landlord Tenant Relations Board.
  • ARHA Presentation
• Housing 2040 Plan-Age Friendly Plan Coordination Meeting (Virtual): November 7, 2024.
• Housing 2040 Discussion on Rental Assistance Resources (City Hall): November 6, 2024. This public meeting was a joint meeting between the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee and the Landlord Tenant Relations Board.
  • Rental Assistance Programs Presentation
  • Local Rental Subsidy Program Study Presentation
  • Local Rental Subsidy Program Study Findings

Stay tuned for new engagements opportunities across the city and check back for event confirmations in case there are unexpected changes! 

• Economic Opportunities Commission Briefing: April 16, 2025
• Youth Speak Up Pop Up: April 10, 2025
• Commission for Women Briefing: April 8, 2025
• Landlord Tenant Relations Board Briefing: April 2, 2025
• Alexandria Youth Council: February 23, 2025
• Eco-City Academy (City Hall): January 31, 2025
• Age Friendly Plan Kick-off (Lee Center): January 17, 2025
• Central Pop Up (Patrick Henry Recreation Center): January 15, 2025
• Environmental Policy Commission Briefing (virtual): December 16
• Casa Chirilagua (Arlandria): December 14.
• TWU (Arlandria): December 13.
• DCHS/Mark Center: December 13.
• Ladrey Senior Housing: December 13.
• The Claridge House: December 9.
• Federation of Civic Associations (Alexandria Police Department): December 11.
• DCHS/Mark Center: December 2.
• The Watergate: November 30.
• Kids First Years Council: November 19
• Youth Engagement (Beatley Library): November 14
• Del Ray Farmers Market: November 9.
• Bingo (Casa Chirilagua): October 31.
• ALIVE Food Distribution (William Ramsey Recreation Center): October 26.
• Central Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (Patrick Henry Recreation Center): October 23.
• Senior Services of Alexandria Ambassadors Briefing (virtual): October 23.
• West End Farmers Market (4800 Brenman Park Drive): October 20.
• Fall Festival (Leonard Chick Armstong Recreation Center): October 19.
• Lynhaven Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (Leonard Chick Armstrong Recreation Center): October 17.
• Senior Services of Alexandria Monthly Speaker Series (Westminster Presbyterian Church): October 16.
• West End Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (William Ramsey Recreation Center): October 15.
• Hispanic Heritage Festival (Beatley Library): October 12.
• Alexandria City High School Student Engagement: October 11
• Braddock Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (Charles Houston Recreation Center): October 10.
• Fall Festival/Southern Towers Farmers Market (5067 Seminary Road): October 5.
• Chamber of Commerce Briefing (virtual): October 1.
• Community Health Assessment Kick Off: October 1.
   

• In-Person Meeting: September 25, 7-9 p.m. Open house: 6-7 p.m.
  Where? This meeting was held in-person at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Gym. NEW!  View the meeting presentation and recording. Let us know how we did by completing our meeting evaluation. 
  Why? Shape the Housing 2040 principles, goals, and topics.
  Details? A light dinner was served, and interpretation was provided in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, and Pashto. Please share our Housing 2040 Kick-Off Meeting Flyer! 

• Virtual Meeting: September 18, 7-9 p.m.
  Where? This meeting was held virtually. NEW!  View the meeting presentation and recordings in English  |  Spanish  |  Amharic  | Arabic  |  Dari  |  Pashto. Let us know how we did by completing our meeting evaluation!
  Why? Learn about the ongoing Housing Needs Assessment and the Housing 2040 timeline, purpose and engagement process. A Q&A followed the presentation. 
  Details? Interpretation was provided in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, and Pashto. Please share our Housing 2040 Kick-Off Meeting Flyer! 

Share your thoughts via our Housing 2040 Comment Form (English)

Share your thoughts via our Housing 2040 Comment Form (Spanish)

Share your thoughts via our Housing 2040 Comment Form (Amharic)

The HMP established a goal of creating "new affordability" in 2,000 units through 2025. New affordability is gained through the construction of new committed affordable housing and the preservation and improvement of existing housing resources to enhance affordability, accessibility, safety, health, and energy efficiency. The following activities are counted towards the HMP goal:

• construction of new committed affordable rental and homeownership units, including committed affordable units resulting from the conversion of obsolete commercial buildings into housing
• preservation of existing committed affordable units
• conversion of existing market-rate housing into committed affordable housing
• improvements to existing low- to moderate-income homeownership units through the Home Rehabilitation Loan Program and Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria projects
• improvements to existing low-income rental units through the Rental Accessibility Modification Program
• support to first-time homebuyers in the form of downpayment and closing-cost assistance

NEW! Progress towards the HMP goal is tracked through the:

• Housing Key Indicator Dashboard; and
• HMP Quarterly Progress Report (through December 2024).

To learn about City housing programs and recent projects, visit our Affordable Housing and Publications pages. 

A number of implementation tools are identified for further study and consideration in the HMP.  Since 2014, the City Council has approved the following tools:

• an amendment to grandfather parking requirements for affordable housing projects that undergo a substantial renovation;
• an increase in the level of predevelopment funding provided to facilitate affordable housing through secured, repayable loans;
• a reduction in parking requirements for new affordable housing projects;
• an increase from 20% to 30% in bonus density for affordable housing;
• an amendment to create the Residential Multifamily Zone (RMF) to promote the creation and preservation of deeply affordable housing;
• an update to the Housing Contributions Policy to address cases pursuing additional density, senior housing projects, and commercial to residential building conversions;
• an amendment to permit Accessory Dwelling Units; and
• an amendment to permit Co-Living Units.

The HMP planning process was designed to ensure participation by stakeholders through: a series of 15 public meetings; a bus tour of the City's existing affordable housing stock; and an allocation exercise which gave stakeholders the opportunity to consider future housing needs and locations.

The HMP Advisory Group was composed of the City's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) plus an additional five appointees, including both public sector and private sector representatives. This group was charged with providing feedback on data presented and developed goals and objectives to guide the creation of the implementation plan.

On November 30, 2012, the City of Alexandria released its draft Housing Master Plan and the draft Housing Master Plan At a Glance for public review and comment. Two town hall meetings were held to receive questions and comments on the Plan. The first meeting was held on January 24, 2013 at Samuel Tucker Elementary School. A second Town Hall meeting was held on February 11, 2013 at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School. Following a 90-day comment period, the Planning commission and City Council held work sessions on the draft plan. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Revised Draft Housing Master Plan on December 3, 2013.