Recently, Governor Ralph Northam announced $524 million in new federal funding to help keep Virginia families in their homes amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) is funded through the recent federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program and will assist households and landlords with rent payments to avoid eviction.
Virginia Rental Relief Program
Virginia is immediately placing $160 million into the RRP to increase housing stability across the Commonwealth and will make additional funding available based upon need, through the Department of Housing and Community Development, which is administering the program.
Tenants interested in applying for the RRP should check their eligibility by completing the self-assessment at dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility or by dialing 2-1-1 from their phones. Tenants may be eligible for rent arrears payments dating back to April 1, 2020, and up to three months of payments into the future. The total payments may not exceed 15 months of rental assistance per household.
Stay Home Virginia offers online resources for homeowners, renters and landlords. FAQs about the RRP are available for renters and landlords.
Prince William County Emergency Housing Assistance
Since the state of Virginia is offering rental assistance, Prince William County's Emergency Housing Assistance Program will no longer provide assistance for rent.
The County Office of Housing & Community Development (OHCD) will continue to provide mortgage and utility assistance through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program to those eligible households who reside in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19, with up to no more than six months payments of emergency sustenance housing assistance to prevent homelessness. Visit the OHCD webpage for additional details.