Take Action! Support the 5000 Families Pilot Program
We need your help to advocate for the 5000 Families program! Take 30 seconds to send an email to your legislators. Thank you!
Many Virginia families face high housing costs throughout the Commonwealth. In fact, one in three Virginian households are cost-burdened, meaning that they pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs. For those with extremely low incomes (ELI), the burden is even more severe. The most recent data estimates that 83 percent of ELI households are cost-burdened (183,096 households).
Due to the burden of high housing costs and limited access to services, many families are experiencing housing instability, displacement and eviction, which can have a profound impact on children's health, development, and education. For example, numerous studies indicate that children who change schools or are frequently absent experience declines in educational achievement. Changing schools and absenteeism are two of the most common consequences of housing instability. In other words, children are more likely to excel at school and be positioned for lifelong success when they have a stable and permanent home.
What is the solution? Virginia can make a bold investment in the future of the Commonwealth by developing the 5000 Families program. This program will provide $100M in ongoing rent relief over a two-year period to 5,000 low-income families with school-aged children across Virginia. The 5000 Families initiative will greatly reduce housing cost-burden for Virginia families by ensuring their rents are affordable over the long term. As a result, households will be able to stay in their current home or find a more stable, permanent home of their choice. Additionally, parents will be better equipped to ensure the best possible education for their children. Therefore, the housing stability offered through 5000 Families program will help us achieve the educational outcomes necessary for Virginia to compete in the 21st century.
Learn more here: https://5000families.com/