Affordable Housing Initiatives

To help Arlington County residents keep up with increasing property values, real estate taxes and rent increases, the County Board has approved several initiatives for fiscal year 2007 (which began July 2006). Some initiatives are new and some are enhancements to existing programs. See below for more details.

Expanded tax relief for older adults and persons with disabilities:

The Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief Program is for Arlington residents age 65 and older and certain disabled persons. It provides for exemption, partial exemption and/or deferral of Arlington real estate taxes. The kind of relief for which you are eligible depends upon your income and assets. The application deadline was August 15, 2006. You may call 703-228-1350 or visit the Real Estate Tax Relief FAQs for more information on next year's application.

Affordable Housing Initiatives

• Housing Grants Program: This program provides rental assistance to the elderly (over 62), the disabled and to working families with minor children. Renters with annual incomes of up to $38,377 for a family of four may be helped.
  • Housing Grants Program FAQs
  • Download an application (890KB, PDF Format) or contact the County's Department of Human Services at (703) 228-1350 or dhs (at) arlingtonva.us
• Culpepper Garden $673,000: This includes a one-time grant in FY 2005 of $573,000 to pay off accumulated debt caused by the need for subsidies for a larger number of low-income residents than was budgeted, a fundraising contract of $50,000 for an independent contractor to develop a comprehensive fund raising plan, and tenant subsidies of $100,000 for assisted living subsidies for low-income residents that are not covered by the current County subsidy.
• Condominium Conversions: $150,000 will be allocated to fund a program in the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development that will initiate outreach to developers and residents of buildings converting to condominium regarding home ownership opportunities for first time home buyers, relocation plans and potential sales to non-profits or tenant groups. One Housing Specialist would work with developers on the many condo conversion properties in the pipeline. This position would help ensure the retention of affordable housing as these units transition from rental to homeownership. Additional funds would be earmarked for tenant outreach.
• Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF): The Board also has agreed to increase the AHIF revolving loan fund which provides funding for affordable housing development projects by $2.9 million - above the base budget amount of $4 million - to $6.9 million.
• Homeowner Grant Program: This program was eliminated in the FY 2011 budget to better respond to current community needs. Resources have been channeled to other housing programs.  Details>>

Conservation Easements:

The County Board encourages homeowners to consider conservation easements as a means of potentially lowering their real estate assessments. These may be useful for a homeowner whose land is more valuable than their home. They may be able to place a portion of their land in a conservation trust, which could lower the assessed value of their property, and their real estate tax. More information about such easements is available from the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.