Available Rental and Housing Assistance
By Office of Communication
Posted on April 06, 2020, April 06, 2020

Rental and Housing Assistance

During these uncertain times, the Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) is a great resource for Arlington residents. Please see a list of helpful resources here.

In an effort to limit the exposure and spread of COVID-19, AHA no longer assists customers in the lobby. However, staff are available via phone and email Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. A secure document drop box was installed in the lobby, so paperwork can be turned in for staff to process. AHA has also placed a copier in the lobby so residents can make copies of important documents and keep the originals.

Processing applications is taking a bit longer due to social distancing requirements, but the AHA is still open for business and bringing people onto its programs.

In addition to doing virtual inspections and facilitating the distribution of masks to nonprofits, the AHA operates several programs to help find housing, rehabilitate homes, and provide rental assistance for low-income Arlington residents.

Rental Assistance

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program provides rental assistance to low-income Arlington residents, the elderly and people with disabilities. This program serves over 3,400 households in Arlington. Applicants must meet the income requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The waiting list for the HCV program is not open so applications are not being accepted at this time, but the AHA is pulling persons from the current waiting list for the program. If you are on the waiting list, be sure you are checking your email and the AssistanceConnect portal regularly. Additional information can be found here.

Emergency Housing Rehabilitation

The AHA provides financial assistance to make repairs to eligible homeowners in the City. To be eligible, a household must earn less than 80% of the area median income based on family size. During the COVID-19 crisis, the AHA has suspended this portion of the program for the safety of our staff, contractors and homeowners. But AHA is still performing emergency repairs for eligible households which are provided in the form of a grant, up to $5,000, and are for situations or conditions that occurred recently, without warning, and that is a detriment to or a threat to life, health or safety and requires immediate action. Examples would include repair of HVAC systems during the hot summer months. Additional information can be found here.

Homeless Services

Services to assist the people who are homeless or in risk of being homeless include the Eviction-Prevention Program (HHSP), Rapid Re- Housing Program (RRHP), Supportive Housing (PSH) Program, Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), and Elderly/Disabled Mainstream Vouchers. If you think you qualify for one of these programs, click on their webpage for information about how to apply and view the eligibility requirements. Visit the homeless services page here.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program

For participants in the HCV program, the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program assists families in becoming economically self-sufficient members of the community. Different services include educational assistance, job fairs, vocational assistance, help with job search, and classes on budgeting and improving credit. In some cases, the program can assist with minor car repair and job-related expenses. Complete details can be found here.

Homebuyer Assistance

If you are purchasing a home, the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation may be able to assist you. Through the Mortgage Credit Program, eligible homebuyers can receive a tax credit of up to $2,000 per year for as long as you own your home. If you are interested in this valuable program, please contact a participating lender which can be found on our website here.

Additional Outside Resources

Additional resources for food, employment, utility assistance and much more can be found on the Arlington Housing Authority webpage. 

Coronavirus, Assistance Resources
News, Government, Housing