Message to Senator Warner:

ATTN: Nathan Steinwald

Legislative Aide for Tax

 Dear Senator Warner,

As a proud Virginian and alumna of Kappa Delta Sorority, I am writing to urge you to join 26 other Senators as a co-sponsor of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2009, or CHIA, S 781.  CHIA will help provide modern, affordable, energy efficient housing with the latest fire & life safety systems for all college students in not-for-profit student housing.  CHIA allows not-for-profit entities to use tax-deductible charitable contributions to build, maintain or improve not-for-profit student housing, pulling the trigger on nearly $300 Million in shovel-ready projects nationwide and over $1 Billion over the next decade – including at 22 campuses in Virginia.  This will directly employ scores of contractors, roofers, plumbers, electricians, and others who will make needed upgrades to properties that offer affordable student housing nationwide.

Fraternity and sorority housing serves more than 250,000 students annually across the nation and in Virginia, but this aging housing stock calls for significant capital improvement to remain safe, affordable, and sustainable.  An arbitrary distinction in the tax code prevents not-for-profit student housing owners from using charitable contributions to improve the housing they provide.  This results in a decline in capacity and increase in cost of safe and affordable housing for all students.

Every privately donated dollar raised as a result of CHIA will serve to buy, build, and upgrade not-for-profit student housing.  This is the work of our local plumbers, roofers, carpenters, electricians, and contractors – those that make up our battered ‘main street’ economy.  CHIA will preserve these main street jobs and family owned businesses through private dollars at over 4000 properties on 800 campuses nationwide – including here in Virginia.  For these reasons, I strongly encourage you to become a co-sponsor of CHIA and work to see it become law in 2010.