Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell recently appointed Delegate Christopher K Peace (R-Mechanicsville) to the Virginia Housing Commission. The mission of the Virginia Housing Commission is to study and provide recommendations to ensure and foster the availability of safe, sound and affordable housing for every Virginian. The Commission consist of 11 members, eight legislative members and three non-legislative citizen members. Five of the members of the House of Delegates are appointed by the Speaker of the House, three members of the Senate are appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and three non-legislative citizen members are appointed by the Governor.
Speaking about the appointment, Delegate Peace said "It is a great honor and responsibility to be entrusted to work with my colleagues to ensure that Virginia continues to move our housing opportunities forward." He continued “As a member of the General Laws Committee, I am tasked with deliberating over many bills that impact the housing industry. Additionally I work with affordable housing advocacy groups. Housing is not simply a pivotal economic engine, but also a key component in our quality of life.”
The Commission may also study and make recommendations relating to such other housing, real property, and community development issues as it may be called upon to consider or as may be desirable.
In early 2009, Peace organized a legislative working group which included for-profit and not-for-profit housing experts. In this "kitchen cabinet," a "Help Housing Now" housing policy package emerged and worked to address housing needs across the economic spectra including reforms to the living home tax credit, communities of opportunity incentives and ultimately establishment of the housing trust fund. Since that time, as Chairman of the House of Delegates Housing sub-committee, Peace continues to recognize that in a time of economic challenge elected leaders must come together to put Virginia first in bipartisan ways, working together for solutions particularly concerning an industry that employs so many directly and indirectly. In 2010, Delegate Peace was pleased to be named a “Housing Hero” by the Virginia Housing Coalition. This honor acknowledged his service to the public, particular and significant contributions to promoting affordable housing opportunities and legislative efforts to stimulate the housing market across the Commonwealth.