The Virginia Eviction Reduction Program (VERP) was established by the Virginia General Assembly during the 2020 Special Session with an initial $3.3 million appropriation to launch a pilot initiative. Building on the pilot's success, the General Assembly made VERP a permanent program, and the Governor signed the legislation into law on March 31, 2026.
VERP's purpose is to support coordinated local and regional systems that effectively prevent evictions before court involvement whenever possible and divert evictions after an unlawful detainer has been filed when prevention is no longer possible. Through a collective impact approach, VERP brings together housing, legal, social service, and other community partners to create a coordinated safety net that ensures households have early access to the resources and support needed to stabilize their housing. In addition to providing direct assistance, VERP works to identify and address the systemic barriers that contribute to high eviction rates, strengthening eviction prevention systems across Virginia. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) designs, administers, and oversees VERP, awarding grant funding to eligible nonprofits, units of local government, or planning district commissions (PDCs) through a competitive application process.
