FY 26 Budget Q&A #052: How many families are currently served by the pilot rental subsidy program? What is the cost per family? What would it cost to potentially double that program?
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Question: How many families are currently served by the pilot rental subsidy program? What is the cost per family? What would it cost to potentially double that program? (Mayor Gaskins)
Response: 45 families are currently served with one unit vacancy currently being filled.
On average, the cost per family is $9,600 for direct rental assistance annually. Households receiving services through the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) are referred for the subsidy program. Through the program, the rental assistance supplements the difference between what the household can afford to pay and the affordable rent for the unit they are occupying, creating a deeper level of affordability for referred households.
The current annual cost for the pilot rental subsidy program is $441,600. So far, staffing for the program has been covered through existing positions in the Office of Housing and DCHS. An estimated additional $460,000 would need to be added annually to double direct rental assistance to serve up to 92 households, taking inflation into account. However, expanding administration of the program will necessitate additional Housing staff time, potentially requiring up to an additional staff position at an approximate cost of $100,000. This would bring the total additional funding need to $560,000.
Please note that besides the existing 46 units, based on Alexandria's practice of providing grant funds for pilot rental assistance at City-supported LIHTC projects, future subsidies have been committed for Witter Place (10), Elbert Avenue (10), and Sanse (12).
