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
- Resources for Landlords
- Resources for Homeowners
- Resources to Meet Basic Needs
- Coping, Mental Health and Staying Safe Resources
- Eviction Prevention Task Force
- How You Can Help
- News on Evictions Policies and Orders
Resources for Renters
Help with rent payments
Virginia Rent Relief (RRP) Program. The RRP (which was formally known as the Rent and Mortgage Relief Program) is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to support housing stability during the coronavirus pandemic. Based on funding availability, the RRP provides eligible households with assistance to cover rent payments past due beginning April 1, 2020.
- Tenants are urged to complete a survey to determine eligibility, submit an application, or call 703.962.1884 for more information. View or download a flyer for renters in English and Spanish.
- Landlords can also apply directly on
behalf of tenants at VirginiaHousing.com/RMRP. Review
the list of participating City of Alexandria landlords. View or download a flyer for landlords in English and Spanish.
Office of Housing COVID-19 Emergency Rent Relief Assistance Program. If you are currently facing eviction because you are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 related loss of income, you may be eligible for emergency rental assistance through the City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing. To learn about the program and eligibility criteria, visit the COVID-19 Emergency Rent Relief Assistance Program or call 703.746.4990.
OCS Rental Assistance Program. The Office of Community Services (OCS) at City of Alexandria’s The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides rental assistance to eligible, low-income households facing a housing crisis or homelessness. To request OCS services, call the DCHS Customer Call Center at 703.746.5700 or text 703.346.5990 for an assessment.
Rights and Laws
The CDC has extended the Eviction Moratorium on residential evictions through June 30, 2021. The moratorium temporarily halts evictions of covered persons for nonpayment of rent or housing payments. For more information about the moratorium and who is covered, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. Alexandria residents who have received eviction notices should call the Office of Housing at 703.746.4990 for assistance.
Please find more information at the Legal Services of Northern Virginia COVID-19
Protections for Tenants During COVID-19 - Legal Services of Northern Virginia (dated June 29, 2020)
- The Eviction Process in Virginia
Additional Resources
- View or download the Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit on the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance website.
- Contact the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority with questions about its communities and the Housing Choice Voucher program
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
- As a protective public health measure, the CDC has extended the current order temporarily halting residential evictions through June 30, 2021.
Protections for Tenants During COVID-19 - Legal Services of Northern Virginia (dated June 29, 2020)
Health Department Guidance
Guidance from Health Department (dated August 28, 2020)
Guidance from Health Department (dated July 14, 2020)
Guidance from Health Department (dated March 23, 2020)
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! 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.
- Coping with COVID-19 Fear and Uncertainty
- COVID-19 Wellness Resource Guide
- Multicultural Mental Health Resources
- Domestic Violence Program
- Sexual Assault Center
- Staying Safe at Home | Spanish | Arabic | Amharic
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.