Bill Text: VA HR289 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Susan F. Dewey.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-05 - Bill text as passed House (HR289ER) [HR289 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HR289-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Susan F. Dewey, chief executive officer of Virginia Housing, formerly the Virginia Housing Development Authority, and longtime state housing leader and advocate, retired on December 31, 2023, after 25 years of outstanding service to the authority, the Commonwealth, and the Virginia housing community; and
WHEREAS, a native of Chesapeake, Susan Dewey earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from The College of William & Mary and subsequently received her certification as a public accountant; and
WHEREAS, Susan Dewey was appointed to serve as State Treasurer and as an ex officio member of the Virginia Housing Board of Commissioners by Governor Jim Gilmore in 1995; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, Susan Dewey began laying the foundation of her legacy as a champion for affordable housing and forward-looking steward of the Commonwealth's housing finance agency; and
WHEREAS, in 2001, Susan Dewey was appointed by the Virginia Housing Board of Commissioners and began modernizing the authority's business model and system, including the establishment of the Resources Enabling Affordable Community Housing (REACH) Virginia program in 2006, which has allowed the authority to reinvest more than $915 million in excess net revenues for grants, down payment assistance, interest rate buydowns, and other tools and resources for critical housing needs; and
WHEREAS, Susan Dewey has been instrumental in increasing stakeholder input and transparency around Virginia Housing's policies and programs through the creation of six advisory councils, most recently creating the Minority Business Advisory Council and supporting a multifaceted Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) initiative; and
WHEREAS, Susan Dewey oversaw the creation and revitalization of housing across the spectrum of need, helping more than 136,000 Virginians achieve the dream of homeownership, producing almost 101,000 units of rental housing, building the first three-dimensional-printed home in Richmond, and more; and
WHEREAS, under Susan Dewey's leadership, Virginia Housing successfully navigated two generational challenges, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, without the disruption of services and while also providing resources to prevent foreclosure and eviction, underscoring the authority's status as a national model for state housing finance agencies; and
WHEREAS, Susan Dewey is a dedicated public servant who has continued to support the people and communities of the Commonwealth as a steward of Virginia Housing's resources and its mission; she has received numerous honors for her work, including a Housing Visionary Award from the National Housing Conference; and
WHEREAS, Susan Dewey is a true titan and innovator of the housing community, whose vision was informed by compassion and focused on delivering meaningful results, and who has fundamentally positioned Virginia Housing for enduring success as an effective and resilient agency and partner and one of the top housing finance agencies in the country; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Susan F. Dewey hereby be commended on the occasion of her retirement from Virginia Housing; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Susan F. Dewey as an expression of the House of Delegates' congratulations and admiration for her distinguished career serving the Commonwealth.
