Housing Updates

Loudoun County will hold a public hearing to gather residents’ input on housing, homelessness, community development and public service needs in the community. The public hearing will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., at the Department of Housing and Community Development, which is located at 106 Catoctin Circle SE in Leesburg. The hearing will be held on the first floor in the Olmstead Room.

The Housing Advisory Board is facilitating the public hearing as part of the county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) process. The Housing Advisory Board is composed of members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Comments received at the public hearing will be considered in preparing Loudoun County’s CDBG 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval and subsequently submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in May 2024. 

The CDBG program, administered by HUD, provides funding on an annual basis for local projects that address a variety of housing, public service and community development needs.

Written comments may be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development by email or by mail to the CDBG Program Manager, PO Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177. All written input must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on December 13, 2023. For questions, call 703-737-8755.

Anyone who requires reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or who needs language assistance to participate in the CDBG process may contact the Department of Housing and Community Development for assistance. 

More information about the program is available at loudoun.gov/CDBG.

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Beginning Monday, November 20, 2023, eligible Loudoun County residents may apply for emergency eviction assistance by submitting an online pre-screening application through the nonprofit Loudoun Cares.

The program has been commissioned by the Board of Supervisors as part of the county’s efforts to distribute available funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to address lingering economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The county is using a portion of the available funds for various housing programs, including one that is intended to keep eligible residents who are facing immediate eviction in their homes—particularly during the cold weather months—by paying outstanding rent obligations and fees associated with the eviction process.

Loudoun has allocated $500,000 for this one-time, emergency assistance program, which includes a contract with Loudoun Cares to administer the program. The number of households that will receive assistance will vary based on several factors. Loudoun Cares will sign up and recommend financial assistance for as many households as possible. The county will make payments directly to landlords on behalf of approved applicants. The program will end by January 31, 2024, or sooner if funds are exhausted.

Who is Eligible to Apply for Assistance?

Individuals and families must meet specific criteria to be considered eligible for the eviction assistance program. All applicants must:

• Live in Loudoun County.
• Rent their homes and have a valid current lease.
• Earn less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income.
• Hold a current Eviction Summons (for Unlawful Detainer).
• Be impacted by COVID-19-related economic factors.

In addition, the applicant’s landlord must provide an IRS W-9 form and agree to participate in the program.

How to Apply for Assistance

Beginning at 12:00 noon on Monday, November 20, 2023, eligible residents may begin submitting an online pre-screening application for assistance to Loudoun Cares. All applicants must complete the online pre-screening application to verify eligibility.

The online application is available in English and Spanish. Eligible residents should visit loudouncares.org/eviction to submit the online application beginning November 20 at noon.

Any applicant who does not have access to the internet may call Loudoun Cares at 703-669-4636 for assistance in submitting an application.

More Information

For more information about other rent assistance programs offered by Loudoun County, visit loudoun.gov/rentassistance. For information about all Loudoun County housing programs and services, visit loudoun.gov/housing.

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Loudoun County has issued a Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the development of county-owned land for attainable housing. The property is about 4.86 acres and was formerly the Ashburn North Park and Ride lot. The deadline for applicants to submit a response to the RFEI has been extended to 4:00 p.m., December 15, 2023.  

The purpose of the RFEI is to: 

• Gauge interest from the affordable housing development community. 
• Gather information to establish project requirements for the next phase of the procurement process. 
• Collect ideas from potential developers with the interest, capacity, and qualifications to design, plan, finance, construct, and operate/manage a desirable 100 percent attainable or a mixed-income housing project within the defined confines of county-owned land. 

This is a Request for Expressions of Interest only and no award will result from the RFEI.

Housing Definitions and Needs

Affordable housing, as the term is defined in the Virginia Code, Section 15.2-2201, consists of housing units to serve households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Attainable housing, as the term is defined in the Loudoun County’s Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan (UHNSP), consists of housing units to serve households earning up to 100% of AMI. The proposed development must address Loudoun County’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan and the UHNSP with the goal to provide attainable housing to households earning up to 100% of AMI.

Specific to this RFEI, the UHNSP aims to “secure land resources needed to address unmet housing needs,” and to “use public land and facilities for housing.” Loudoun County can consider the use of public land in a new way and consider making it available for the development of attainable housing. By allowing mixed-income, high-density development on high value public sites, Loudoun County can create opportunities for affordability housing and attainable housing; and ensure diverse, inclusive communities.

How to Apply

Final submissions must be sent in PDF format via email with the subject line “RFEI: Former Ashburn North Park and Ride Submittal.” All RFEI submissions are due by Friday, December 15, 2023, prior to 5:00 p.m.

For More Information

The original RFEI and an addendum with questions and answers regarding the RFEI may be found at loudoun.gov/housing. More information is available by calling the Department of Housing and Community Development, 703-737-8323, or sending an email.

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