Affordable Housing Is a National Crisis
Affordable housing is a national crisis and Southwest Virginia is no exception. According to a study led by the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, one in three Virginia households are cost burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The result is hundreds of families or individuals living in unsafe or unstable homes with many unable to pay for housing altogether. Virginia Tech’s researchers also found that the lack of affordable homes will negatively impact our ability to add jobs over the next ten years.
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While the affordable housing crisis may seem overwhelming, there is a way for you to help in your own community. The federal government gives property owners and managers like you the ability to offer affordable housing without risking the profitability of your property. Through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), a service made available through the federal government and Virginia Housing, you can help provide safe, stable homes to those who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
At Housing Connections, we are fully prepared to guide you through the process of approval required to open up your property to residents whose HCVP applications have already been approved. We’ll add you to a list of Connected Property Owners who are prepared to help families across their community.
What Do I Need to Do to Become a Housing Partner?
To begin the process, contact your local agency partner to schedule an interview. Required paperwork includes:
- Request for Tenancy Approval
- Inspection
- Request for Taxpayer ID
- Signed lease
- Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract
New Law Defines New Protected Housing Class
A recent update to Virginia’s Fair Housing Law added a new protected class: Source of Funds.
What Does This Addition to the Law Mean?
A landlord cannot discriminate against a renter based on any source that lawfully provides funds to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing, including any assistance, benefit, voucher, or subsidy program. In other words, it doesn’t matter from where a renter obtains his funds, as long as it’s done legally. This includes housing assistance programs.
Which landlords does this new law apply to?
Any landlord that owns 4 or more rental properties or employs a rental or leasing agency or management company to administer the property.
Are the Penalties for Violation of This Law?
Yes,If the judge or jury finds in favor of the renter, he/she may be entitled to compensatory and punitive damages. In other words, they are entitled to any money lost due to the discriminatory action, as well as any fines administered by the Court. The renter may also be entitled reimbursement for reasonable legal fees and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the process is very simple and only requires 3 forms to be completed
Renting to a Housing Choice Voucher resident has several benefits including guaranteed rent paid directly from Virginia Housing each month to the property owner. Depending on several factors, this can be a portion or all of the rent.
Yes! Your lease should specify what is required from residents and what the consequences will be if the property is damaged. You may require a security deposit, just as you would for any other resident leasing your property.
Prospective applicants will be screened by the landlord the same as any other applicant that may apply to live at the property. For the HCVP each voucher participant has been screened for eligibility within our program guidelines, but landlords complete their own screenings.
Your rent amount is set by you, also considering what is reasonable for the location of your property an in comparison with similar properties in the area.
The amount of rent for the family to pay is based on their household income. They will pay their designated portion, and the HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) will cover the remainder.
Yes, as with any resident, if the resident fails to uphold the requirements of the lease the property owner has the right to evict the resident. We simply ask that we receive a copy of notices sent to the resident for their file as the family may lose assistance if they violate the terms of their lease.
Your responsibilities are determined by your lease agreement and the HAP contract.
Contact us today! We are here to assist property owners from the first step to the last.
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Location
4 E. Main St. Suite 200
Christiansburg, VA 24073
Telephone/Text: (540) 381-8101
Fax: (540) 381-8109
Open Monday – Thursday
8:30am to 5pm
Fridays are Closed to the public
Our drop box is located at the front of the building (to the right of the front door)
Housing Connections serves Craig, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties.