“These federal dollars will help Virginians access safe and affordable housing as our Commonwealth continues to build back better… We are glad to see this funding go toward helping Virginians in need.”
On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia announced $4,098,261.60 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The federal funds will be allocated to the Commonwealth for expanding access and opportunities to affordable housing. A partial amount of the funding will be invested in parts of Hampton Roads, as well as in Danville and Alexandria among other areas. Here is a breakdown of the allocation:
Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
These funds will go toward reducing the number of youth experiencing homelessness in rural, suburban, and urban areas across the Commonwealth:
- Commonwealth of Virginia: $1,603,743.60
Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) for Demolition/Disposition
This funding will go toward replacement/relocation vouchers to demolish or dispose of public housing developments:
- Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority: $499,680
Calendar Year (CY) 2020 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Set-Aside Funds
This funding will go toward providing special fee adjustments to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that need additional funds to administer their Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program:
This program aides low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities afford good, safe, and sanitary housing.
- Portsmouth Redevelopment & Housing Authority – for Unforeseen Circumstances for CY2020: $1,133,877
- Staunton Redevelopment & Housing Authority – Unforeseen Circumstances for CY2020: $59,930
- James City County Office of Housing – Unforeseen Circumstances for CY2020: $23,252
Calendar Year (CY) 2021 Housing Choice Voucher Program Fund for Special Fees for Portability
These funds will be put toward providing special fee adjustments to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that need additional funds to administer their HCV Programs, specifically for special fees for receiving PHAs with portability vouchers:
The vouchers allow families to transfer their rental subsidy should they move outside the jurisdiction of the public housing agency that originally provided the voucher.
- James City County Office of Housing – for Portability for CY2021: $5,856
Fiscal Year 21 American Rescue Plan Funding Adjustments for Mainstream Vouchers and Housing Choice Vouchers (Shortfall and Extraordinary Circumstances)
These funds will assist PHAs in compensating for Housing Assistance Payments per-unit-cost increases that said agencies faced due to the pandemic, or other extraordinary circumstances, and to prevent the termination of participants who are currently in the program:
- Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority – Extraordinary Circumstances (Mainstream Vouchers): $12,243
- Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority – Extraordinary Circumstances (Mainstream Vouchers): $20,647
- *Lynchburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority – Shortfall and Per Unit Cost Increases due to Extraordinary Circumstances (HCVs): $292,979
- Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority – Shortfall (Mainstream Vouchers): $107,626
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Vouchers Competitive Awards
These funds will go toward housing assistance for youth between the ages of 18-24 who have: aged out of foster care, or will age out of foster care within 90 days, and/or are (at risk of being) homeless:
- Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority – Family Unification Program HCVs: $302,106
- Virginia Beach Department of Housing & Neighborhood Preservation – Homeless Foster Youth to Independence Initiative HCVs: $36,322
To read Senator Kaine’s press release, please click here.
For additional information on the breakdown, click here.
For more news on the announcement, click here.
For questions, reach out to DAAR’s Government Affairs Director.
For more advocacy and legislative news, please visit DAAR’s In The News page.
September 24, 2021