
Housing Publications, Reports, and Videos

Publications and Reports
Housing Publications
We are committed to racial and social equity. Please contact the Office of Housing if you would like any of our resources translated or printed.
- NEW! 2022 Housing Affordability Quick Facts
- 2022 Report on Impact of Affordable Housing on Nearby Residential Property Values
- NEW! 2022 The Fair Housing Testing Program: From 1990 to Today
- 2021 Market Affordable Housing Update (2018 Update; 2017 Update; 2016 Update)
- 2021 Fall Citizen Academy Presentation
- 2018 Micro-units Research Findings
- 2017 The City's Homeownership Programs: From the 1970's to Today
- 2016 The Housing Trust Fund: From the 1980's to Today
- 2016 The Affordable Set-Aside Program: From the 1990's to Today
Environmental Assessments
Federal Reports
The Five-Year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans, and Assessment Reports for housing and community development are provided to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a condition of receipt of funding of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs.
Housing Definitions and Terminology
Area Median Income (AMI)
Area Median Income (AMI): Income levels that are established annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for households of various sizes, where half of the households in the region earn more and half earn less. In 2022, the area median income for a household of four for the Washington, DC Metropolitan Statistical Area was $142,300. AMIs by household size, along with associated maximum rents, are available here. The AMIs for 2023 are anticipated to be released in late spring 2023.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing: Rental or ownership housing costing no more than approximately 30% of a household’s gross monthly income before taxes. Affordable housing helps Alexandria families, workers, and seniors meet their housing needs without sacrificing other priorities, such as food, healthcare, childcare, and education. Affordable housing is also important to the city’s economic vitality and competitiveness. Businesses look for a diverse and stable local workforce when deciding to locate, retain, and expand their operations in the city. Learn more about the importance of and need for affordable housing in the City.
Committed Affordable Units
Committed Affordable Units (CAUs): Housing units that are available to income-eligible households through rent and/or occupancy restrictions imposed as a condition of assistance under federal, state and/or local programs. Targeted income levels vary by program.
- Committed affordable rental units serve households with incomes up to 60% AMI.
- Workforce committed affordable rental units serve households earning between 61% and 80% AMI.
- Committed affordable homeownership units typically serve households with incomes between 70% and 100% AMI. Learn more about the City’s Homeownership Program.
Market Affordable Units
Market Affordable Units: Non-subsidized rental units affordable to households earning 60% AMI. Rents at these units are not restricted and may cease to be affordable at any time. Market-affordable units preserve diversity and provide housing opportunities to younger families, new residents, and recent graduates, as well as to longtime Alexandrians. They enable workers critical to our economy across numerous industries and sectors (such as education, public health and safety, construction, custodial services, and restaurant and retail) to live affordably in the City. Learn more about the City’s Market Affordable housing.
Housing Choice Vouchers
Housing Choice Vouchers: The housing choice voucher (HCV) program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford housing in the private market. HCV holders pay 30% of their income toward the rent, and the HCV pays the difference up to an established fair market rent, including utility costs. In the City, HCVs are administered by the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority (ARHA).
Project Based Vouchers
Project Based Vouchers: Funded by the federal government, project-based vouchers (PBVs) are a critical source of deeply affordable housing in the City. Residents pay 30% of their income toward the rent, and the PBV pays the difference up to an established fair market rent, and potentially, some utility costs. PBVs operate similarly to Housing Choice Vouchers, but are tied to a specific property rather than a household. PBV contracts typically have 20-year term of affordability with varying options to renew or extend. In the City, some PBVs are administered by the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority (ARHA) while others are administered through Housing Assistance Contracts managed directly by HUD or other funding agencies.
Videos
our diverse community in many ways.
Housing Reference Guides
For general information on housing services and programs, please see our 2022 Housing Resource Guide (Spanish, Amharic, and Arabic) and 2022 Rental Housing Options Guide (Spanish, Amharic, and Arabic).