Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot grant

Recognizing the benefits of eviction reduction efforts, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed a budget during the 2020 Special Session, allocating $3.3 million to implement the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot (VERP). The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) was directed to design and implement the pilot. The purpose of this pilot program is to create a local/regional coordinated systems approach to effectively prevent evictions. When evictions cannot be prevented, the system must also include how to divert evictions once the household has received an unlawful detainer. The systems approach will include creating a collective impact model where organizations that serve as a safety-net within the community collaborate to ensure households have early access to resources to stabilize their housing situations. 

The TJPDC is proud to administer an eviction reduction pilot grant (VERP) to address and prevent evictions in Albemarle in Charlottesville. A $275,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Community Development (DHCD) will fund two new positions at Piedmont Housing Alliance’s Financial Opportunity Center + Housing Hub to work directly with landlords across the region as well as tenants who are at risk of eviction. The grant will also provide financial assistance to qualified community members.

The TJPDC successfully completed a VERP planning grant in Fall 2021, which produced a work plan and comprehensive eviction records database. The TJPDC then completed an implementation grant through a second round of VERP funding, with $250,000 spent to reduce and prevent evictions through financial assistance, hiring eviction prevention staff, and outreach efforts.