CAAR Foundation

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from CAAR Foundation, Nonprofit Organization, 550 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA.

The CAAR Foundation was created as a vehicle for leveraging the time, talents, and resources of the REALTOR® community and its partners to address local needs, with a primary focus on strategies for impacting our region’s affordable housing crisis.

05/26/2026

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville 2025 Impact Report is here, and we're proud to be part of the story. 🏡💛

The report highlights our Homeownership Navigators program, launched in partnership with Habitat last November. The program was three years in the making, led by Keshia Washington, Habitat's Associate Director of Special Partnerships and CAAR Foundation board member.

"The CAAR Foundation brought important knowledge and realtor connections, and I shared my expertise in working with marginalized families and communities at Habitat. It is a true partnership." — Keshia Washington

Together, we're helping families who fall outside of Habitat's traditional program navigate the full journey to homeownership.

05/19/2026

The Gap report found that only 35 affordable homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renters. That's where Virginia stands according to the 2026 Gap Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

77% of extremely low-income renter households in Virginia face a severe cost burden, meaning they're spending far more than they can afford just to keep a roof over their heads. Nationally, the shortage stands at 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes.

These reports illustrate challenges with housing affordability in the region and help measure progress over time in supporting this population. These numbers represent our neighbors here in Charlottesville and across the region, and they're the reason why we show up every day.

05/18/2026

Hear from Steven Reese, CAAR Foundation Board Member. Our work matters more now than ever.

This work is personal. Steven has watched friends and neighbors try to navigate the affordable housing market on their own, and believes realtors have both the responsibility and the opportunity to walk alongside them. At the CAAR Foundation, this means equipping realtors with the knowledge and tools they need to show up for their community in a meaningful way.

No one should have to figure it out alone. That's why we're here.

05/12/2026

📣 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 Virginia Housing to expand access and opportunity.

05/07/2026

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 Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce 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 CRHA Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, 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."

05/05/2026

Join the CAAR Foundation & Piedmont Housing Alliance 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: http://tinyurl.com/PHARealtorMixer

04/28/2026

🎙️ On the air with Cville Right Now!

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 here: https://cvillerightnow.com/podcasts/caar-foundation-partners-with-habitat-for-humanity-to-assist-in-affordable-housing/

04/27/2026

The CAAR Foundation was honored to be a featured presenter at the Tom Tom Foundation 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 Mary Katherine King, Realtor for moderating, and kudos to our wonderful panelists: Ashley Harper of Charlottesville Tomorrow, Keshia Washington of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, Ashley Davies of Riverbend Development, and Keith Smith of Piedmont Community Land Trust .

We can all be part of the affordable housing solution! 🏡

04/23/2026

🏡 Did you know?

Virginia Housing 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!

04/22/2026

Join us for a Realtor Mixer co‑hosted with the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® Foundation. It’s an evening to connect with our Housing Counseling team, strengthen partnerships, and explore how we support successful homebuyers through education and guidance.

Monday, May 18 • 5:30–7 PM

Hillsdale Conference Center
550 Hillsdale Drive

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfghjozDBbsFvC8P9f0pf5D8tYEmU0-_iEL8VY6hnBU8nXBBw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Address

550 Hillsdale Drive
Charlottesville, VA
22901

Website

http://www.caarfoundation.org/

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