Virginia Tenants Information

compiled from various sources

Alexandria

The Office of Housing (838-4990, or TTY 838-5056) coordinates and administers City housing and housing-related programs and services and makes recommendations to the City Manager and City Council on housing policy for the City. Its major divisions are Program Administration and Landlord-Tenant Relations (838-4545), which are located in Room 1100, City Hall, and Program Implementation (2 West Herbert Street - 838-4622). The Office of Housing also works closely with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) on housing issues.

The majority of the City's housing activities are funded through annual grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program. In addition, the Office of Housing administers state-funded housing programs and the federal HOME Investment Partnership Program. Its major programs are outlined below.

The Landlord-Tenant Relations Division supports the following activities:

conciliation of complaints from tenants and landlords concerning rent increases, health code violations, security deposits, evictions, and other landlord-tenant issues, and maintenance of a list of complaints received for each major apartment complex;
monitoring the development and implementation of conversion assistance plans for conversions of rental property to condominiums, cooperatives, and other uses, and for substantial rehabilitation of rental property in accordance with the City's Housing Conversion Assistance Policy;
relocation counseling and assistance, including relocation payments to low- and moderate-income persons displaced from single family homes;
homesharing arrangements between people looking for reasonably priced housing and people with space to share in their homes (Operation Match); assistance in covering moving expenses and temporary storage for the furniture and possessions of evicted households;
temporary housing assistance for households making the transition from a homeless or overcrowded environment to stable rental housing;
staff support for the Landlord-Tenant Relations Board;
administration of the City's Fair Housing Testing Program;
mortgage delinquency counseling.

The Program Implementation Division administers the following programs/ activities:

no-interest and deferred payment loans for rehabilitation of single family homes;
homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families through assistance for down payments, principal and interest writedowns, and closing costs;
removal of blight in residential neighborhoods;
technical assistance to owners of businesses located on Mt. Vernon Avenue under the Mt. Vernon Avenue Commercial Revitalization Program, staff support to the Mt. Vernon Avenue Commercial Revitalization Task Force, and liaison with the Chamber of Commerce and local trade associations.
technical assistance to business owners within the City's State Enterprise Zone (Mt. Vernon Avenue and Route 1 corridors).

The Program Administration Division is responsible for the following activities:

development and administration of the City's Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) Affordable Housing Policy and other housing policies and programs; oversight of federal and state rules and regulations pertaining to housing and community development activities;
administration of the Office's budgetary and fiscal affairs;
negotiation of private sector participation in affordable housing;
planning, evaluation, and implementation of housing and community development programs and activities;
liaison with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG).

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) (549-7115, or TTY 836-6425) provides publicly assisted housing to lower-income families in accordance with state and federal statutes and the HUD regulations. As a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, ARHA does not receive any City funding to cover operating expenses; however, its nine commis- sioners are appointed by the City Council for four-year terms.

ARHA owns and/or operates 1,150 public and publicly assisted housing units in the City and is responsible for their administration and maintenance. To qualify for one of the units, families or individuals must be residents of the City or employed in the City and must meet certain income restrictions. Except in special circumstances, single individuals must be aged 62 years or older, handicapped, or disabled.

ARHA also administers the Section 8 Rental Voucher and Rental Certificate Programs, which provide subsidies on behalf of low-income families who rent privately owned housing. To qualify for this assistance, applicants must meet certain income requirements.