Based on feedback, Virginia Housing made changes to streamline the application process for emergency rental assistance:  

The household’s total gross income must be equal to or less than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI).  

  • Supporting income documentation is not required for households of three or less residing in the linked list of zip codes 
  • Supporting income documentation is not required for households of three or less receiving SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP or TANF and can provide award letters from those programs. 
  • Asset verification is required for households above 50 percent of AMI only. 

A written COVID-19 narrative is no longer required. When completing the application, please select from the following list of expanded options for COVID-19 Impact: 

  • Loss of Income: 
  • Tenant has been laid off. 
  • Tenant’s place of employment has closed. 
  • Tenant has experienced a reduction in hours of work. 
  • Tenant must stay home to care for children due to closure of daycare and/or school. 
  • Tenant must stay home to care for children due to distance learning. 
  • Tenant has lost child or spousal support. 
  • Tenant has been unable to find employment due to COVID-19. 
  • Tenant is unwilling or unable to participate in employment due to risk of severe illness from COVID-19. 
  • Tenant is not able to work and/or missed hours due to contracting, being exposed or having to quarantine as a result of COVID-19. 
  • Increased COVID-19 Related Expenses: 
  • Tenant has had an increase in childcare expenses. 
  • Tenant has had an increase in medical expenses. 
  • Tenant has had an increase in food costs. 
  • Tenant has had an increase in utility costs. 

Eligibility for households receiving rental subsidy has been expanded:  

  • Households receiving rental subsidy, e.g., Section 8 or Housing Choice Voucher, are now eligible for past due, current and three months of future rent. Month-to-month leases are not eligible for future rent. 
  • Households receiving rental subsidy are no longer required to submit documentation that their rent has been income adjusted (interim recertification) with their RRP application. Please submit the Rent Change Letter with the application.