Quick answer
Virginia has no open statewide rent relief application. RRP ended, and the U.S. Treasury states that the ERA2 period of performance closed September 30, 2025. Rent help now flows through the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program, run by the Department of Housing and Community Development, which funds local governments and nonprofits to provide eviction prevention and optional post-eviction rehousing; its 2027–2028 grant cycle is expanding to underserved regions including Northern Virginia. To find help: dial 211 Virginia, call your local department of social services and housing office, and contact legal aid or the Virginia Legal Aid Society. Virginia law also lets a tenant stop many nonpayment evictions by paying all rent, fees, and costs owed (generally once in 12 months). Applying is free.
Key facts
- RRP closed: Virginia’s pandemic Rent Relief Program and the earlier Rent and Mortgage Relief Program are over.
- VERP: DHCD grants to localities and nonprofits for eviction prevention and post-eviction rehousing; 2027–2028 applications were due October 9, 2026, with awards expected in early December 2026.
- 2026 law: Chapter 164 (HB527) shaped the 2027–2028 VERP guidelines and directs expansion to underserved regions.
- 14-day notice: tenants now have 14 days after a written nonpayment notice before the landlord can file; paying the full amount owed (redemption) can often stop the case.
- No real program charges a fee to apply.
Table of contents
- Is the Virginia Rent Relief Program still open?
- How does the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program work?
- What other rent help exists in Virginia?
- What rights do Virginia tenants have in a nonpayment eviction?
- What documents do I need to apply in Virginia?
- How do I get help, step by step?
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
Is the Virginia Rent Relief Program still open?
No. RRP was Virginia’s statewide emergency rental assistance program during the pandemic, funded by federal ERA and earlier CARES Act money and run by DHCD with local partners. That funding has ended; the U.S. Treasury states that the ERA2 period of performance closed September 30, 2025, on its ERA page. Some localities used their own funds to keep programs going for a time, so ask your city or county directly.
Watch out: sites still offering a “Virginia Rent Relief Program application” for a fee are scams. DHCD, 211, and the agencies below never charge.
How does the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program work?
VERP is a state grant program. DHCD awards funds to local governments and nonprofit organizations, which then deliver eviction prevention, such as paying arrears and providing case management, and optional post-eviction support, including rehousing assistance and service coordination, under its 2027–2028 program guidelines. Those guidelines were shaped by Chapter 164 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly (HB527), and the state budget directs DHCD to expand the program to underserved regions, including Northern Virginia. The 2027–2028 application deadline for grantees was October 9, 2026, with awards expected in early December 2026, so new local programs may open in early 2027. Tenants do not apply to DHCD; they apply to the local grantee, which 211 can identify.
What other rent help exists in Virginia?
| Type of help | What it pays | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Local eviction prevention funds | Arrears, sometimes future rent | Cities and counties, VERP grantees |
| Homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing | Arrears, deposits, short-term rent | Virginia Homeless Solutions Program grantees via coordinated entry |
| Local DSS emergency assistance | One-time help in some localities | Local departments of social services |
| Charity rent funds | One-time payment to the landlord | Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, churches |
| Housing Choice Vouchers | Ongoing subsidy | Virginia Housing and local housing authorities |
HUD Exchange lists homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing among the uses of Emergency Solutions Grants in its program requirements. Families can also free up cash through SNAP (up to $1,023 a month for four from Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027; estimate with our SNAP calculator), Medicaid (Virginia expanded coverage), and energy assistance through local DSS offices; see our Virginia utility relief guide.
What rights do Virginia tenants have in a nonpayment eviction?
- Notice: a landlord must give written notice before filing for nonpayment; under Va. Code § 55.1-1245, the tenant now has 14 days after the written notice to pay before the landlord can file an unlawful detainer.
- Redemption: under Va. Code § 55.1-1250, a tenant can often stop a nonpayment eviction by paying all rent, late fees, court costs, and attorney fees owed, by cashier’s check, certified check, or money order; you can ask the landlord for a written statement of the exact amount. Legal aid guides note that redemption is generally available once in any 12-month period.
- Court: go to the hearing in General District Court; ask for a continuance if a rental assistance payment is pending.
- Legal help: call your regional legal aid program or the Virginia Legal Aid Society; Virginia Poverty Law Center runs an eviction legal helpline.
What documents do I need to apply in Virginia?
Most delays come from missing papers. Having this packet ready before your first appointment usually saves a second trip, and the same documents work for almost every program on this page.
| Document | Why agencies ask for it |
|---|---|
| Photo ID for each adult | Confirms identity; a driver license, state ID, or passport works |
| Social Security numbers for everyone applying | Required for SNAP, Medicaid, and cash programs |
| Proof of income for the last 30 days | Pay stubs, benefit letters, child support, unemployment, or a signed no-income statement |
| Lease, rent receipt, or mortgage statement | Counts shelter costs, which raise SNAP benefits, and proves residency |
| Recent utility bill and any shutoff notice | Needed for energy help and counted as a SNAP expense |
| Proof of the emergency | Eviction notice, layoff letter, medical bill, or fire report |
| Court summons and landlord’s written statement of amount owed | Needed for redemption and for local funds to pay the right amount |
If you are missing something, apply anyway. Caseworkers can often verify information electronically or give you time to bring documents, and SNAP must process expedited applications within 7 days even while some papers are pending.
How do I get help, step by step?
- Dial 211 Virginia and ask which VERP grantee, local fund, or charity serves your city or county.
- Call your local department of social services about emergency assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, and energy help.
- Call legal aid the day you get a notice; bring it to your appointment.
- Apply for Housing Choice Vouchers with Virginia Housing and your local authority.
- Bring: lease, notice or summons, ID, proof of income, and the landlord’s contact information.
Applying is free. DHCD grantees, local DSS offices, housing authorities, 211, and legal aid never charge.
For more specifics, see our guides on Virginia hardship programs and emergency rent relief by state.
Related guides
- Virginia government assistance
- Virginia mortgage relief
- Programs that help pay rent
- Churches that help with rent
Frequently asked questions
Is the Virginia Rent Relief Program still accepting applications?
No. RRP ended with federal ERA funding. Rent help now comes from Virginia Eviction Reduction Program grantees, local funds, HUD-funded prevention, charities, and vouchers.
What is the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program?
A state grant program run by DHCD that funds localities and nonprofits to prevent evictions and, optionally, rehouse families after an eviction. Tenants apply to the local grantee, not to DHCD.
Can I stop an eviction in Virginia by paying?
Often yes. Under Virginia’s right of redemption, paying all rent, fees, and costs owed can end a nonpayment case, generally once in any 12-month period. Ask legal aid about the deadline in your case.
Who do I call for rent help in Virginia?
Dial 211 Virginia, your local department of social services, and legal aid. They know which local programs have funds.
Does Virginia have new rent help coming in 2027?
VERP’s 2027–2028 awards are expected in early December 2026, with expansion to underserved regions including Northern Virginia, so new local programs may open in 2027.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on October 25, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
- Virginia DHCD: Virginia Eviction Reduction Program 2027–2028 guidelines
- Code of Virginia § 55.1-1250: Tenant’s right of redemption
- U.S. Treasury: Emergency Rental Assistance program status
- HUD Exchange: Emergency Solutions Grants program requirements
- USDA FNS: SNAP cost-of-living adjustments, FY 2027 tables
- 211 Virginia
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and not an application. Program funding and tenant law change; confirm with DHCD, your locality, or legal aid. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
