Housing Grant COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Your grant may be adjusted. Please contact your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker. Your household can also apply for unemployment benefits at: http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed.

Yes. Your income and hours prior to COVID-19 will be reviewed. You can also apply for unemployment benefits at http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed.

Yes, it is possible that you may qualify if you are receiving unemployment benefits and meet at least one of the three eligibility categories Your information prior to COVID-19 will be reviewed.

Yes, there is, see below. Please refer to the Housing Grant Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Please note: The Housing Grant never pays the full rent or the Maximum Allowable Rent. If your rent is slightly over the rent limit, it is possible that you may qualify. Please call 703-228-1300 if you need more information.

Housing Grant application can be on the Arlington County Housing Grant website or you may find links to the application by clicking: Housing Grant Application-English Version or Housing Grant Application-Spanish Version. You may also call 703-228-1300 for assistance.

You can submit your application through the following methods:

• Email completed applications to: dhshg@arlingtonva.us -or-
• Mail applications to: Housing Grant Program, 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204 -or-
• Applicants can also drop off documentation in the “Drop Box” located in front of the DHS Sequoia 1 building, located at 2100 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA. Please ensure that any documentation that is dropped off is in a sealed envelope and addressed to the Housing Grant Program.

Proof of your Arlington County residency must be submitted with all applications. For acceptable documentation of proof of residency, please review Appendix 3 of the Housing Grant Administrative Regulations linked here.

It can take up to 60 days to process a Housing Grant application. If eligible, you will receive your first Housing Grant check the month after approval. If you need immediate rental assistance, you may call 703-228-1300 to see if you qualify for other financial assistance or check out the Arlington County website for other COVID-19 resources linked here.

The Housing Grant program is designed to be a shared benefit payment between both the landlord and tenant. In order to qualify for a Housing Grant, your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker must consider all household earned income, including earned income prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. If your rent is within the allowable rent limits, you will be responsible for paying about 40 percent of the households’ gross earned income used to determine your eligibility. The Housing Grant benefit is designed to pay the balance. Please review Housing Grant Frequently Asked Questions for more information or contact 703-228-1300 for specific questions about your eligibility.

Housing Grant checks are sent to households by mail. Eligible participants will receive a two-party check made out to both the participant and the landlord. Participants need to sign the Housing Grant check and give it directly to the landlord/rental office along with household’s share of the rent. The Housing Grant check is mailed monthly.

Remember the Housing Grant benefit does not pay the entire amount of the household’s rent. Participants will have a payment contribution to be paid to the landlord/rental office along with their Housing Grant check.

Unfortunately, no. The Housing Grant Program is designed to be a shared tenant and Arlington County rental assistance program. The Housing Grant benefit does not pay the entire amount of the household’s rent. Participants will have a payment contribution to be paid to the landlord/rental office along with their Housing Grant check.

You may call 703-228-1300 to see if you qualify for other financial assistance or check out the Arlington County website for other COVID-19 resources linked here.

You can also apply for unemployment at: http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed.

Contact your landlord as soon as you realize you may not be able to pay rent. Ask if partial payments will be accepted until the rent is paid in full. Write out a payment plan that reflects what you can afford. You may call 703-228-1300 to see if you qualify for other financial assistance to help pay your portion of the rent.

Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a temporary national moratorium on eviction on September 1, 2020 and effective September 4 – March 31, 2021 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 for eligible renter for non-payment of rent. Following are links that can give you more detailed information (Overview of National Eviction Moratorium; National Eviction Moratorium: FAQ For Renters; Sample Declarative Statements in English / Spanish / Simplified Chinese / Traditional Chinese / Tagalog / Vietnamese / Arabic).

Your grant may be adjusted. Please contact your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker. Your household can also apply for unemployment benefits at: http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed.

No, if your household lost work hours due to COVID-19, your case will not close because your work hours decreased during this time. Please contact your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker as soon as possible to discuss your case. Your household can also apply for unemployment benefits at http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed.

There are three ways you may submit renewal applications or updated documentation to the Housing Grant department:

• Email completed renewal applications to: dhshg@arlingtonva.us -or-
• Mail renewal applications to: Housing Grant Program, 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204 -or-
• Participants can also drop off documentation in the “Drop Box” located in front of the DHS Sequoia 1 building, located at 2100 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA. Please ensure that any documentation that is dropped off is in a sealed envelope and addressed to the Housing Grant Program and includes your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker’s name.

Your grant may be adjusted to reflect your unemployment benefit. Please contact your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker.

The pending stimulus payments directly to individuals and families would not be considered as income. Federal Government stimulus checks are temporary, non-recurring, payments. You should however inform your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker if you or any member of your immediate household receives a stimulus check.

You can submit your application through the following methods:

• Email completed applications to: dhshg@arlingtonva.us -or-
• Mail applications to: Housing Grant Program, 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204 -or-
• Applicants can also drop off documentation in the “Drop Box” located in front of the DHS Sequoia 1 building, located at 2100 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA. Please ensure that any documentation that is dropped off is in a sealed envelope and addressed to the Housing Grant Program.

Proof of your Arlington County residency must be submitted with all applications. For acceptable documentation of proof of residency, please review Appendix 3 of the Housing Grant Administrative Regulations linked here.

Please contact your Housing Grant Eligibility Worker to see if your grant can be adjusted.

Unfortunately, no. The Housing Grant Program is designed to be a shared tenant and Arlington County rental assistance program. The Housing Grant benefit does not pay the entire amount of the household’s rent. Participants will have a payment contribution to be paid to the landlord/rental office along with their Housing Grant check.

You may call 703-228-1300 to see if you qualify for other financial assistance or check out the Arlington County website for other COVID-19 resources linked here.

You can also apply for unemployment at: http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed.

Contact your landlord as soon as you realize you may not be able to pay rent. Ask if partial payments will be accepted until the rent is paid in full. Write out a payment plan that reflects what you can afford. You may call 703-228-1300 to see if you qualify for other financial assistance to help pay your portion of the rent.

Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a temporary national moratorium on eviction on September 1, 2020 and effective September 4 – March 31, 2021 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 for eligible renter for non-payment of rent. Following are links that can give you more detailed information (Overview of National Eviction Moratorium; National Eviction Moratorium: FAQ For Renters; Sample Declarative Statements in English / Spanish / Simplified Chinese / Traditional Chinese / Tagalog / Vietnamese / Arabic).