Eviction Prevention Programs, Resources and Information

Page updated on Sep 7, 2021 at 12:53 PM

Eviction Prevention Programs, Resources and Information

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

Help with rent payments

Rights and Laws

  • NEW! On August 26, 2021, the US Supreme Court invalidated the federal eviction moratorium which had previously halted evictions through October 3, 2021 in locations where there have been surges in COVID-19 and increases in cases of the Delta variant. The eviction moratorium has been lifted across the country, including the City of Alexandria, as of August 27, 2021.
  • 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

  • Please find more information at the Legal Services of Northern Virginia COVID-19

  • Virginia Poverty Law Center Info sheet

  • The Eviction Process in Virginia

Additional Resources

Resources for Landlords

Apply on Behalf of Tenants for Past-Due Rental Payments 

  • Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP). Through this state program (which was formally known as the Rent and Mortgage Relief Program), 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.

  • The new state budget signed by Governor Northam in November 2020 has additional provisions regarding evictions and the RRP program. Landlords are required to submit applications on behalf of delinquent tenants facing eviction for unpaid rents–if the tenant hasn’t already submitted on their own behalf. In addition, if a tenant elects to participate in RRP, Virginia Housing’s interpretation is that landlords are required to wait 45 days from submission of a complete application (including all supporting documentation required in the application), prior to evicting a tenant due to unpaid rent. Please see full signed budget; this web page is not intended to provide legal advice.

    If you have questions, please email RMRP@VirginiaHousing.com. 

  • 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.

  • The Annual Alexandria Apartment Managers’ Seminar October 26, 2020

Rights and Laws

  • NEW! On August 26, 2021, the US Supreme Court invalidated the federal eviction moratorium which had previously halted evictions through October 3, 2021 in locations where there have been surges in COVID-19 and increases in cases of the Delta variant. The eviction moratorium has been lifted across the country, including the City of Alexandria, as of August 27, 2021.
  • 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

Health Department Guidance

Landlord, Realtor and Property Manager Resources

  • 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.

Resources for Homeowners

Help with mortgage payments

  • NEW! The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is implementing 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 in late February for updates on potential future mortgage relief assistance. [Note: DHCD is not currently accepting new mortgage relief applications at this time. The previous Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program is now the Virginia Rent Relief Program.]
    • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has 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. 
    • Many private lenders have announced that they will work with struggling borrowers by providing hardship forbearance options. Contact your lender to discuss options.
    • 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, contact Vicente Espinoza at the Office of Housing at 703.746.3087.  

    Rights and Protections

    • NEW! The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has extended the Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium for FHA-insured mortgages through June 30, 2021, and provides a 180-day extension to the deadlines for the first legal action and the reasonable diligence time frame from the date of the moratorium expiration. Read the press release for more information. Additional COVID-19 related policy extensions and expansions include:
      • Extends the dates to request an initial COVID-19 Forbearance or a COVID-19 Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) extension period through June 30, 2021.
      • Adds two COVID-19 forbearance and COVID-19 HECM extension periods of up to three months each for borrowers who requested their initial COVID-19 forbearance or COVID-19 HECM extension period on or before June 30, 2020 and are coming to the end of their 12-month period.
      • Expands eligibility for the COVID-19 loss mitigation options for certain borrowers regardless of whether they received a COVID-19 forbearance.
      • Eliminates the restriction on the number of permanent COVID-19 home retention options a borrower can receive.
    • Contact Virginia Legal Aid to learn about foreclosure prevention resources. 
    • Learn about homeowner rights during the pandemic at the National Housing Law Project.  

    Resources to Meet Basic Needs

    The City and its partners are working together to provide information and resources that may offer some level of support, security and stability for families in need due to the impacts of the coronavirus response. For a full list of resources, visit Resources to Meet Basic Needs for Those Impacted by the Coronavirus COVID-19. Learn how to access services online, by text or by phone in  English, Spanish, Arabic and Amharic.

    • DCHS Office of Community Services: For assistance with food, clothing, transportation, prescription drugs and other basic needs, call 703.746.5700.
    • Food Assistance: A list of resources and information for residents needing food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food distributions and delivery programs for older adults.
    • Job Assistance: Employment assistance and information for workers and job seekers, including the Workforce Development Center’s weekly job opportunities flyer, upcoming job fairs and other resources.
    • Health Care Resources: Primary care resources for the uninsured, COVID-Testing information, Medicaid assistance, health information in multiple languages, and more.

    For the latest information about resources, follow DCHS on Facebook or Twitter or subscribe to the Spanish Language Text Line by texting ALEXINFOESP to 888777.

    Coping, Mental Health and Staying Safe Resources

    Below are resources for coping with stress and fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health resources, domestic violence and sexual assault services, and resources for how to safe at home.

    Eviction Prevention Task Force Logo

    Eviction Prevention Task Force

    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. Please note that walk-ins cannot be accepted at this time.

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