Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board
Summary
The Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board (HHCAB, also referred to as HCAB) is a permanent advisory board of the City of Fairfax established in July 2024. It grew out of a homelessness task force created in 2023 to study root causes of homelessness and make recommendations to City Council, including the addition of affordable housing staff capacity. The board brings together residents and professionals working within the city and operates under a charter adopted by City Council that requires it to report to Council once per year. On December 2, 2025, HHCAB Chair Mark Light and Vice-Chair Susan Lacroix gave the board's first annual presentation to City Council during a work session, covering the board's purpose, membership, housing landscape data, homelessness Point-in-Time data, ALICE/workforce population indicators, and workplan updates including the Home Sharing initiative and Housing Trust Fund; no Council action was taken. Following that presentation, a HHCAB strategy team formed to develop Housing Trust Fund guidelines and application processes, which were brought forward to Council on July 14, 2026. As of mid-2026, a significant number of HHCAB members are approaching the end of their terms, and the Council is coordinating a separate reappointment/interview process for the board, tentatively scheduled for August 18, 2026.
Open questions & options on the table
- Which HHCAB members will seek reappointment and which will resign as terms expire in 2026, and how many vacancies will result?
- The reappointment/interview session for HHCAB members was tentatively set for August 18, 2026 — confirmation of that date and logistics remain pending.
- Council action on the Housing Trust Fund guidelines and application process presented July 14, 2026 is not reflected in the available record — outcome is unknown.
What members have said
Light presented to City Council on December 2, 2025, noting it was the board's first appearance before Council and that reporting out once per year was part of the board's charter as adopted by City Council.
Lacroix appeared alongside Chair Light at the December 2, 2025 Council work session presentation, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to present to Council.
At the July 28, 2026 discussion on reappointment scheduling, Councilmember Peterson noted that approximately 12–13 of the ~20 people due for reappointment interviews appeared to be HHCAB members, and indicated flexibility on scheduling dates, preferring the 11th or 18th.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[10] Staff noted that City Council would consider whether to support the Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board at its July 23, 2024 meeting.
[4a] HHCAB leadership presented an overview of the board's purpose, membership, current housing landscape data, homelessness Point-in-Time data, ALICE/workforce population indicators, and workplan updates including the Home Sharing initiative and Housing Trust Fund. No Council action was taken.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.