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Housing help · Virginia

Rent & mortgage help in Virginia

Behind on rent, facing eviction, or worried about your mortgage? Start with the section that fits you. Everything here is free.

Links last checked October 26, 2026. Programs open and close, so confirm before you apply.

Call 211Or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Free, 24/7 in most areas: local rent, utility and food help.

HUD counseling line: (800) 569-4287Connects you to a HUD-approved housing counselor, free or low-cost.

Act fast

Got an eviction notice?

  1. Don't ignore it, and don't move out yet. Read every date on the notice. In most cases a landlord has to go through the court to make you leave, and you have the right to respond.
  2. Go to your court date. If you miss it, you can lose automatically.
  3. Get free legal help today. Legal aid offices help low-income tenants for free, and having a lawyer can change the outcome. Use the legal aid finders below.
  4. Apply for rent help at the same time. Some programs can pay back rent so the case gets dropped. Tell them you have an eviction case, since some programs put those first.
  5. Keep records. Save every notice, receipt, text and email with your landlord.
Find free legal aid →Legal Services Corporation's map of legal aid offices. Virginia tenant rights →Pick Virginia on LawHelp.org for guides and local legal help. HUD eviction help for Virginia →HUD's page of Virginia eviction prevention resources.

Eviction help HUD lists for Virginia

Get caught up

Behind on rent

  1. Call 211 (or text your ZIP code to 898-211). Tell them how much you owe and by when. They know which local programs have money right now.
  2. Contact your community action agency. These local nonprofits often hand out emergency rent and utility money. Find yours by ZIP →
  3. Talk to your landlord early, before the rent is late if you can. Ask for a payment plan in writing. Use our script →
  4. Free up money from other bills. Utility help and SNAP food benefits can leave more for rent. National Energy Assistance Referral line: (866) 674-6327.

Programs HUD lists for Virginia

See HUD's list of Virginia rental help programs →

From HUD's Rental Help: Virginia page. Watch out for anyone who charges a fee to "help" you apply for rent assistance. Real programs are free.

Longer term

Need cheaper housing

Housing authorities run two big programs. Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) helps pay rent for a home you find. Public housing is apartments they own. Rent is usually about 30% of your income.

All 41 housing authorities in Virginia
  • Abingdon Redevelopment and Housing Authority Abingdon · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 628-5661 · Email
  • People Inc. of Southwest Virginia Abingdon · Section 8
    (276) 623-9000 · Email
  • Accomack-Northampton Regional Housing Auth Accomac · Section 8
    (757) 787-2800 · Email
  • Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority Alexandria · Section 8 + public housing
    (703) 549-7115 · Email
  • Arlington County Dept of Human Services Arlington · Section 8
    (703) 228-1450 · Email
  • Big Stone Gap Redevelopment and Housing Auth. Big Stone Gap · Section 8
    (276) 523-4788 · Email
  • Bristol Redevelopment & Housing Authority Bristol · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 642-2001 · Email
  • Charlottesville Redev & Housing Authority Charlottesville · Section 8 + public housing
    (434) 326-4672 · Email
  • County of Albemarle/Office of Housing Charlottesville · Section 8
    (434) 296-5832 · Email
  • Chesapeake Redevelopment & Housing Authority Chesapeake · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 523-0401 · Email
  • Wise County Redevelopment & Housing Authority Coeburn · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 395-6104 · Email
  • Covington Redevelopment & Housing Authority Covington · Section 8
    (540) 946-9230 · Email
  • Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority Danville · Section 8 + public housing
    (434) 792-5544 · Email
  • Scott County Redev. & Housing Authority Duffield · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 431-2022 · Email
  • Fairfax County Redevelopment & Hsg Authority Fairfax · Section 8 + public housing
    (703) 653-7130 · Email
  • Franklin Redevelopment and Housing Authority Franklin · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 562-0384 · Email
  • Hampton Redevelopment & Housing Authority Hampton · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 727-6337 · Email
  • Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authorit Harrisonburg · Section 8
    (540) 434-7386 · Email
  • Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority Hopewell · Section 8 + public housing
    (804) 458-5160 · Email
  • Lee County Redevelopment & Housing Authority Jonesville · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 346-3910 · Email
  • Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority Lebanon · Public housing
    (276) 889-4910 · Email
  • Loudoun County DHCD Leesburg · Section 8
    (703) 737-8323 · Email
  • Lynchburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority Lynchburg · Section 8 + public housing
    (434) 485-7200 · Email
  • Marion Redevelopment & Housing Authority Marion · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 783-3381 · Email
  • Buckingham Housing Development Corp. Inc. New Canton · Section 8
    (434) 581-2605 · Email
  • Newport News Redevelopment & Housng Authority Newport News · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 928-2620 · Email
  • Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority Norfolk · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 623-1111 · Email
  • Norton Redevelopment & Housing Authority Norton · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 679-0020 · Email
  • Petersburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority Petersburg · Section 8 + public housing
    (804) 733-2200
  • Portsmouth Redevelopment & Housing Authority Portsmouth · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 399-5261 · Email
  • Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority Richmond · Section 8 + public housing
    (804) 780-4200 · Email
  • Virginia Housing Development Authority Richmond · Section 8
    (804) 584-4764 · Email
  • Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority Roanoke · Section 8 + public housing
    (540) 983-9283 · Email
  • Staunton Redevelopment & Housing Authority Staunton · Section 8 + public housing
    (540) 886-3413 · Email
  • Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Suffolk · Section 8 + public housing
    (757) 539-2100 · Email
  • Va. Beach Dept. of Hsg & Neighborhood Pres. Virginia Beach · Section 8
    (757) 385-5750 · Email
  • Waynesboro Redevelopment & Housing Authority Waynesboro · Section 8 + public housing
    (540) 946-9230 · Email
  • James City County Office of Housing Williamsburg · Section 8
    (757) 259-5349 · Email
  • Williamsburg Redevelopment & Housing Auth. Williamsburg · Public housing
    (757) 220-3477 · Email
  • Prince William County Office of HCD Woodbridge · Section 8
    (703) 792-7530 · Email
  • Wytheville Redev. & Housing Authority Wytheville · Section 8 + public housing
    (276) 228-6515 · Email

Homeowners

Behind on your mortgage

  1. Call your mortgage servicer now, the company you send payments to, even if foreclosure has already started. Ask what options they have, such as a repayment plan, forbearance (a pause), or a loan modification.
  2. Talk to a free HUD-approved housing counselor. They can review your options and help you deal with the servicer. Call (800) 569-4287 or pick one below.
  3. Ask about state help. Your state's housing finance agency may run programs for homeowners. Check HUD's Virginia links above, and ask your counselor what's open now.
48 HUD-approved housing counselors in Virginia
Foreclosure rescue scams target people in your spot. The FTC warns:
  • It's illegal for a company to charge you anything until you have a written offer from your lender that you accept.
  • Never sign your home's deed over to anyone. You likely won't get it back, and you still owe the mortgage.
  • Anyone who tells you to stop talking to your lender or counselor, or guarantees results, is a red flag.

Near you

Free help near you

HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost help with rent, budgets and avoiding foreclosure. Housing authorities run Section 8 vouchers and public housing.

More official finders

Free legal aid →Legal Services Corporation's map of free legal aid offices. Enter your address. Your state's legal help site →LawHelp.org: tenant rights guides and legal aid by state. Community action agency →Local nonprofits that often have emergency rent and utility money. Search by ZIP. Housing counselor finder →The CFPB's search of HUD's official counselor list.

Other states

Help in another state

See all 50 states and DC →

Need help right now? Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for local food, rent, and utility help, 24/7 in most areas. More free help →