Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP)

Virginia Rent Relief portal to close to new applications on May 15

The Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) is closing its application portal to new or renewing applications at 11:59 p.m., May 15, 2022.

Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) requires a prioritization of assistance for households with incomes less than 50 percent of area median income or households with one or more individuals that have not been employed for the 90-day period preceding the date of application. Any application submitted after April 21, 2022 will be prioritized based on these criteria, then processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Through March 31, the Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) has processed and disbursed more than $713 million in 141,330 rent relief payments for more than 104,990 unique households throughout Virginia. The program was created to keep tenants stably housed and landlords whole on payments during the pandemic.

DHCD will continue to work with partners and stakeholders across the state to create comprehensive strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing, address and prevent evictions and reduce barriers in housing throughout the Commonwealth.

RRP Application Portal Closure FAQs

Apply Now!

RRP user guides are available in 10 other languages. See below to access.

English | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Amharic | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Arabic | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Chinese | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

French | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Korean | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Persian | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Spanish | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Tagalog | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Urdu | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

Vietnamese | Landlord User Guide | Tenant User Guide

RRP Application Prioritization

Equitable distribution of rental assistance throughout Virginia is a guiding principle of the Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP). Prioritization is given to households who are currently facing eviction, whose income is at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI), and/or include an adult who has been unemployed more than 90 days. Out of the households that have received payments since the inception of the program (as of July 1, 2021), more than 79% of all households are at or below 30% of area median income.

In addition, DHCD seeks to promote RRP within historically economically disadvantaged communities. As of July 1, 2021, RRP data shows that of those who identified their race, Black households account for almost 52% of those served, and white households account for 23% of those served. Over 67% of households served have included children under 8 years old. To support this effort, DHCD has initiated the RRP Outreach and Engagement grant to strategically assist households and landlords who have limited access to the Internet or are not able to complete the online RRP application due to accessibility and language barriers.

Chesterfield County and Fairfax County Residents

Note: Chesterfield County and Fairfax County are administering separate local programs. Chesterfield County's Rent and Utility Relief Program provider, ACTS, has received requests for rental assistance in excess of the available resources from the U.S. Department of Treasury. ACTS has closed the application portal to ALL new requests unless additional resources are made available, and will continue to distribute the program’s remaining funds until all funds are expended. All households that submitted an application prior to December 14, 2021, will be contacted by an ACTS caseworker with an update on the status of their application and availability of resources. Other emergency financial assistance resources are available through the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services, visit https://www.chesterfield.gov/569/Social-Services, email the department, or call 748-1100.

RRP Marketing Toolkit

Please use any materials from this Marketing Toolkit with your members/group to help raise awareness that rent relief is available for those affected by the pandemic. You can print or email the flyers and infographic and send to your members or constituents. You may also download social media assets and post to your social media accounts to help spread the word. You will see a small ‘download’ icon in the upper right-hand corner of the materials, as well as an alert that pops up. Click OK and it will navigate to that page on the website.

RRP Marketing Toolkit
RRP Landlord Flier | RRP Landlord Fliers in Multiple Languages
RRP Tenant Flier | RRP Tenant Fliers in Multiple Languages
RRP Infographic
RRP Application Tips Graphic
RRP Social Media Graphics (English)
RRP Social Media Graphics (Spanish)

The RRP will provide financial assistance on behalf of renters who meet the following criteria:

RRP may be able to provide rent relief for households who have experienced a negative financial impact due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Do any of the below statements apply to you for a loss of income or increase of expenses during COVID-19?
- LOSS OF INCOME
- You have been laid off.
- Your place of employment has closed.
- You have experienced a reduction in hours of work.
- You must stay home to care for children due to closure of day care and/or school.
- You must stay home to care for children due to distance learning.
- You have lost or experienced a reduction in child or spousal support.
- You have been unable to find employment due to COVID-19.
- You are unwilling or unable to participate in employment due to risk of illness from COVID-19.
- INCREASE IN EXPENSES
- You have had an increase in childcare expenses.
- You have had an increase in medical expenses.
- You have had an increase in food costs.
- You have had an increase in utility costs.
Have a rent amount that is at or below 150% Fair Market Rent (FMR).
Have a gross household income at or below 80% area median income (AMI) (based on current month’s income). The determination of income includes any unemployment insurance received by a member of the household but does not include one-time payments such as a stimulus check.

To check your eligibility, click here.

Proof of income (pay stubs, bank statements, letter from employer, social security documents, pension)
- Fact-specific Proxy -Households of three or less individuals who live in one of these zip codes, your RRP application does not require income documentation.
- Categorical Eligibility - Households of three or less individuals who participate in any of the following: TANF, WIC, SNAP or LIHEAP are automatically deemed income eligible and only need to provide a benefit letter, dated on or after Jan. 1, 2020, as income documentation.
- General Income Eligibility - If an applicant does not meet Fact-specific Proxy or Categorical Eligibility as outlined above, applicants must determine their income eligibility by calculating the household’s current monthly gross income for all adult household members, including payments made to an adult on behalf of a child living in the home. The amount must be at or below 80% AMI, which can be determined here. An applicant may provide one of the following documents as supporting documentation to verify income eligibility: pay stub, W-2, other wage statement, tax filing, bank statement, or a written attestation from an employer.
Valid lease or other documentation confirming the landlord-tenant relationship
Virginia W-9 must be submitted by the landlord.
Certification of Voluntary Tenant Vacancy
Outreach Unified Application Attestation
Landlord Unified Application Attestation
Landlord Unified Application User Guide

Are you a tenant or landlord applying for RRP? Click here to begin a new application.

Are you a Chesterfield County resident? Click here to access your local program.

Are you a Fairfax County resident? Click here to access your local program.

If you suspect an RRP applicant has, intentionally or unintentionally, submitted a fraudulent application or fraudulent supporting documentation, please email rrpfraud@dhcd.virginia.gov.

Landlord User Guide

Tenant User Guide

Virginia Mortgage Relief

Tenant and Landlord Resources

2-1-1 Virginia

StayHomeVirginia.com

Virginia Poverty Law Center COVID-19 Civil Legal Response in Virginia

Virginia Legal Aid

Virginia Fair Housing Office

Eviction Hotline