The City of Staunton has been developing a housing strategy that will provide a framework comprehensively describing how the city plans to meet its housing objectives. The development of the housing strategy will wrap up by the end of 2025.

Throughout its development, the housing strategy will:

• Analyze data on current and future housing conditions
• Conduct a capability and capacity assessment to determine human capital and financial resources that exist now and what is needed in the future
• Provide community engagement opportunities with public input sessions and a brief community survey
• Utilize a workgroup appointed by the City Manager that will assist in the planning process. They will provide housing expertise and knowledge of the community, provide input, and review sections of the strategy as it is developed
• Define the policies the city hopes to achieve through the strategy
• Identify funding sources and current and potential partners
• Develop an action plan for implementing policies that will include steps, a timeline, responsible parties, partnering organizations, funding requirements, and measurable milestones.

Workgroup Meeting Schedule & Agenda

All workgroup meetings were held publicly in the Caucus Room located on the first floor of City Hall at 116 W. Beverley St.

• Meeting #1 – September 30, 2024 - 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Housing 101
  • The What and Why of a Housing Strategy
  • Housing Data Review and the Regional Housing Study
• Meeting #2 – November 7, 2024 - 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Local Housing Policies 101
  •  Development of Draft City Housing Policies based on data review
• Meeting #3 – January 29, 2025 - 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Public Engagement Activities Discussion
  • Development of Draft Action Plan
• Meeting #4 – April 28, 2025 - 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Review of Draft Housing Strategy and Incorporation of Public Input
  • Discussion of Potential Housing Commission and Next Steps

Workgroup Members 

Community Engagement

The Housing Strategy held community engagement meetings in April of 2025. Virtual and in-person input sessions were held and a short survey received more than 150 responses. "Housing 101" presentations were part of the outreach.

Strategy Document

The end result will be a document including housing data, summaries of the involvement and engagement, and an action plan. For each policy in the action plan there will be strategies that are specific and measurable. The action items will fall into three categories:

• Immediate: 3 Months – May to July 2025
• Short-term: 6 Months – May to October 2025
• Long-term: 18 Months – May 2025 to October 2026

If successful, the Housing Strategy can be revised at a later date to include longer term housing goals that meet the more complex needs of the community.

Housing Strategy Update Packet for City Council on July 24, 2025

Presentation to Council on July 24, 2025

Agendas & Minutes