Advocate for Key Housing Investments in the State Budget
Tell the General Assembly to Increase Funding for Homelessness and Affordable Housing
Background
Tens of thousands of Virginians are continuing to struggle with the rising costs of housing. This troubling trend could worsen if the Federal Administration continues its reckless slashing of funding for life-saving programs that support homeless prevention and affordable programs throughout the commonwealth.
Now that both the House and Senate have passed their budget bills, it is up to a small group of appointed legislators to resolve the differences between versions to create the final budget bill.
This is why the Virginia Housing Alliances is asking for your continued support in advocating for the following key housing related budget requests. Each of these items were included to some degree in one or both chamber’s budget bills.
- 102#3h/102#1s: Increase the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF) as much as possible both years. At a minimum, we ask that legislators set aside an additional $30M specifically for homeless reduction grants in response to imminent threats to at least $42.5M of our federal funding for homelessness. In addition to this set aside, we request that the budget include the House bill’s language to create the stakeholder workgroup to review and improve the VHTF. Lastly, we do not want to see VHTF dollars used for the pilot program (SB490) for mixed-income housing due to structural and statutory misalignment between these programs. We support the House’s allocation for this pilot with general funds, not VHTF funds.
- 102#8h: Increase funding for homeless services as much as possible both years (at least $13M for rapid rehousing and $2M for capacity support) to protect our homeless response system in light of threats to at least $42.5M of our federal funding for homelessness.
- 102#1h/102 #2s: Increase funding for eviction prevention (grants to local and regional nonprofits that work with community members at risk of eviction) as much as possible both years to reach currently underserved regions, including Central and Northern Virginia. We support the House bill’s language that ensures remaining funds from the first year do not revert back to the General Fund.
- 301 #2s: Increase by $5M/year the State Rental Assistance Program, which grants rental subsidies to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
These 4 crucial budget items will ensure Virginians have access to safe, stable affordable housing options.
Learn more: