Are you a renter who can’t pay your full rent due to COVID-19 related loss of income? Are you a property owner with a tenant who can’t pay their rent? A homeowner who can't make your mortgage payment? The Office of Housing, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and the State have programs and services that can help.

• Resources for Renters 
• Resources for Landlords  
• Resources for Homeowners
• Resources to Meet Basic Needs
• Coping, Mental Health and Staying Safe Resources
• Eviction Prevention Task Force 
• How You Can Help 
• News on Evictions Policies and Orders 

Help with Rent Payments

• Virginia Rent Relief (RRP) Program
  NOTE- The Virginia RRP will no longer accept new applications after May 15, 2022. The RRP (which was formally known as the Rent and Mortgage Relief Program) is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to support housing stability during the coronavirus pandemic. Based on funding availability, the RRP provides eligible households with assistance to cover rent payments past due beginning April 1, 2020.  Tenants are urged to complete a survey to determine eligibility, submit an application, or call 703.962.1884 for more information. View or download a flyer for renters in English and Spanish. Landlords can also apply directly on behalf of tenants at VirginiaHousing.com/RMRP. Review the list of participating City of Alexandria landlords.  

• OCS Rental Assistance Program
  The Office of Community Services (OCS) at City of Alexandria’s The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides rental assistance to eligible, low-income households facing a housing crisis or homelessness. To request OCS services, call the DCHS Customer Call Center at 703.746.5700 or text 703.346.5599 for an assessment

• Alexandria Eviction Prevention Partnership
  If you prefer not to talk to a City employee, the  Alexandria Eviction Prevention Partnership have staff that can help. Call 571.351.3272 or email volunteerAEPP@alive-inc.org. Español disponible. 

Rights and Laws

• On July 28, 2021 the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that tenants in multifamily properties with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) who are subject to eviction for nonpayment of rent must be given 30 days’ notice to vacate before the tenant can be required to leave the unit. This requirement applies to all Enterprise-backed multifamily properties, regardless of whether the loan is in forbearance.  A list of properties in the City of Alexandria covered by this provision can be found at this link.

Additional Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions for Renters and Landlords

• Legal Services of Northern Virginia COVID-19

• Virginia Poverty Law Center Info sheet

• The Eviction Process in Virginia
• Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance website- Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit 
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority- Contact ARHA with questions about its communities and the Housing Choice Voucher program.

Apply on Behalf of Tenants for Past-due Rent Payments

• Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP). 
  NOTE: The Virginia RRP will no longer accept new applications after May 15, 2022.
  Virginia Housing is administering relief for renters experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible landlords can apply on behalf of their tenants to receive financial assistance for past-due rental payments. Take action today to see how RMRP may help your tenants make their past-due and current rent payments. Get started with the application process at VirginiaHousing.com/RMRP. View or download a flyer for landlords in English and Spanish.

• List of Alexandria Apartment Complexes Participating in Program March 3, 2021

• Covered Properties. Alexandria Properties covered by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act are on the attached list which is sourced from the NLIHC database.

  Rights and Laws

• On July 28, 2021 the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that tenants in multifamily properties with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) who are subject to eviction for nonpayment of rent must be given 30 days’ notice to vacate before the tenant can be required to leave the unit. This requirement applies to all Enterprise-backed multifamily properties, regardless of whether the loan is in forbearance.  A list of properties in the City of Alexandria covered by this provision can be found at this link.
• Frequently Asked Questions for Renters and Landlords

• Protections for Tenants During COVID-19 - Legal Services of Northern Virginia (dated June 29, 2020)
  NOTE- COVID-19-specific tenant protections will expire July 1, 2022.

• View or download the Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit, which has a section on What Landlords Can Do, on the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance website
• Get information on the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Fair Housing Law Training, Complaint Mediation services and other resources.

Help with Mortgage Payments

• The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) implemented a program that enables low- and moderate-income homeowners with incomes up to 80% of the area median income and Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-backed mortgages to refinance. For more information, visit the FHFA.
• Visit the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s website for updates on potential future mortgage relief assistance.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau compiled a useful guide to coronavirus mortgage relief options. 
• Find resources at FHA Resource Center at 1-800-Call-FHA and review Frequently Asked Questions. Persons with hearing or speech impairments should use Federal Relay Service at 1.800.877.8339. 
• Foreclosure housing counselors work closely with struggling homeowners to understand their financial situation and to help them identify their best long-term solution. Locate a HUD-approved housing counseling service. 
• Condominium owners and homeowners association members are encouraged to contact their communities' management if they have questions about condominium and HOA fees.
• For additional information or general questions, email vicente.espinoza@alexandriava.gov at the Office of Housing or call 703.746.3087. 

Rights and Protections

• Contact Virginia Legal Aid to learn about foreclosure prevention resources. 
• Learn about homeowner rights at the National Housing Law Project.  

The Eviction Prevention Task Force is a multi-agency partnership composed of representatives from the Department of Community and Human Services, Office of Housing, Sheriff’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Christ Church and Emergency Financial Providers. The group is collecting and sharing data and working to understand the local eviction landscape, identifying and resolving gaps in eviction prevention services, and engaging stakeholders to address the crisis.

The goals of the Task Force include reducing the number of evictions in Alexandria, diminishing the impact of eviction on residents and developing and implementing  a long term eviction prevention strategy that addresses the needs of residents and property owners.

According to the Aspen Institute, the housing crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has sharply increased the risk of long-term harm to renter families and individuals, disruptions of the affordable housing market and the risk of foreclosure and bankruptcy, especially among small property owners.

Following eviction, a person’s likelihood of experiencing homelessness increases, mental and physical health are diminished and the probability of obtaining employment declines. Eviction is also linked with respiratory disease, which could increase the risk of complications if COVID-19 is contracted. Instability, like eviction, is particularly damaging to children, who suffer in ways that impact their educational development and well-being.

How You Can Help

The Task Force welcomes community input, cooperation and participation in ongoing projects and initiatives, including outreach to at-risk households and identifying renters in need of assistance. The group is also seeking input from and collaboration with owners of rental properties. For more information or to get involved, email evictionprevention@alexandriava.gov.

QUESTIONS?

To reach the Office of Housing with questions about landlord-tenant issues or to learn more about available services, please call 703.746.4990.