Affordable Wait List To Open For Select Fairfax County Voucher Units

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The wait list for select affordable housing units in Fairfax County will open to households meeting income requirements, according to the Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Residents can apply for a chance to be placed on waiting lists for several properties, One University's two-bedroom apartments at 4518 University Drive, Fairfax, VA; Audubon Apartments studio apartments at 7951 Audubon Avenue, Alexandria, VA; and Rental Assistance Demonstration Project-Based Voucher two-bedroom units at select locations around Fairfax County.

Applications will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at 8:00 a.m., on the Fairfax County Housing and Community Development website and remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14. Guides for applying are available in English and Spanish.

The affordable units are available through two programs. Fairfax County's project-based voucher program provides rental assistance to income-eligible households in rental units. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority pays a portion of monthly rent through a contract with the property owners.

The other program is the county's Rental Assistance Demonstration Project-Based Voucher Program, which offers affordable townhouses, condominiums and apartments owned by the Fairfax Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The authority operates 1,060 of these affordable homes, which were built or acquired with federal funds.

In both programs, rent subsidies are provided so the household is paying 30 to 35 percent of their adjusted gross monthly income. The vouchers are available to households who are below the income limits set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For example, the 80 percent of area median income limit in the DC metropolitan region is $66,750 for a household, or one or $95,300 for a household of four. Households can only qualify if they are not receiving other federal rental housing assistance.

The Rental Assistance Demonstration Project-Based Voucher Program is typically provided to households making up to the 50 percent of the area median income. The 50 percent area median income limit is $52,750 for one person, $60,300 for two, $67,850 for three or $75,350 for four.

Individuals who apply for the vouchers will be randomly put on a wait list for the affordable units. Once a unit becomes available, those on the wait list will be randomly selected, contacted and screened for eligibility. Eligibility is based on income, household size, and the size of the unit.

The vouchers are associated with specific units at the properties. If a household moves, the voucher stays with that unit.