Eviction Prevention

Overview

Arlington County’s housing and rental assistance programs seek to help tenants facing eviction.

What if I can’t pay my rent?

Contact your landlord as soon as possible. Ask if partial payments are accepted until the rent is paid in full. If so, write out a payment plan that reflects what you can afford. For additional help with rent and expenses, contact 703-228-1300 or dhs@arlingtonva.us.

Emergency Financial Assistance Process
  1. Call The Department of Human Services at 703-228-1300 for assistance.
  2. An assigned case worker will reach out in 3-5 business days for assessment.
  3. Once the assessment is finalized and all the necessary documents are collected, they will be reviewed to determine eligibility for assistance.
  4. After confirmation of eligibility, a payment will be made to the rental property.
Are you at risk of eviction?

What You Can Do
Talk to your landlord immediately to try to resolve the problem. Find out why you are being evicted. The law does not require the landlord to tell you why, unless the reason is unpaid rent. If you are being evicted for unpaid rent, you must give your landlord a reasonable schedule for paying past as well as future rent. See if this applies to you:

Appear in court unless the Landlord cancels the summons in writing. You will lose your case if you do not go to court on the date on the Unlawful Detainer. You are not required to have an attorney, but the landlord will have an attorney in court.

Additional Resources
Eviction Prevention Resources
Contact Information  Purpose 
Housing Information Center
703-228-3765 
For basic questions regarding counseling, and other eviction prevention resources available to Arlington tenants help with translating information. 
Clerk of the Court
703-228-7900 
Request a change to the court date. 
Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV)
703-778-6800 
For tenants and homeowners needing legal assistance; provides information about free legal aid for people with low to moderate incomes. 
Department of Human Services
703-228-1300 
Emergency Financial Assistance. 
Virginia Poverty Law Center's Eviction Helpline
833-663-8428 
Questions or concerns around evictions in Virginia.