The Virginia Housing Development Authority is a state agency that funds and manages housing programs, not a local housing authority
The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) is a state-level agency created by the Virginia General Assembly. It does not process applications or determine who gets housing information in your city or county. Instead, VHDA funds programs that local housing authorities, nonprofits, and lenders use to help people rent or buy homes. If you are looking for emergency rental help or a housing voucher, you need your local housing authority — not VHDA.
VHDA's main role is to finance affordable housing development, manage mortgage programs for first-time homebuyers, and administer rental information funds that the state receives from the federal government. When VHDA receives federal money for emergency rental information or other programs, it distributes that money to local agencies that actually run the programs in your area. VHDA itself does not take applications.
Key Takeaways
- VHDA is a state agency that funds housing programs; your local housing authority handles applications and determines who receives information in your area.
- If you need emergency rental help, a housing voucher, or homebuyer information, contact your city or county housing authority first, not VHDA.
- VHDA manages several programs including rental information, mortgage loans for first-time buyers, and funding for affordable housing development.
- You can reach VHDA at 804-782-1986 or through its website at vhda.com to learn which local agency runs programs in your area.
What programs VHDA funds and manages
VHDA administers several housing programs across Virginia. The agency manages Emergency Rental information funds that come from the federal government; this money goes to local housing authorities and nonprofits that distribute it to tenants behind on rent. VHDA also runs a Mortgage Credit Certificate program for first-time homebuyers, which reduces the federal income tax owed by people buying their first home with a VHDA-approved lender.
The agency also funds affordable housing development through tax credits and direct loans to developers who build or rehabilitate rental properties for low-income households. VHDA manages the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, which provides grants and loans for affordable housing projects. Additionally, VHDA oversees homeownership programs that help first-time buyers with down payment information and favorable loan terms through partner lenders.
None of these programs take direct applications from individuals. Instead, you work with a local housing authority, a nonprofit housing agency, or a lender that VHDA has approved. VHDA sets the rules and provides the money; local organizations do the work of reviewing applications and making decisions.
How to find your local housing authority
VHDA maintains a directory of local housing authorities on its website at vhda.com. You can search by city or county to find the agency that serves your area. Most Virginia cities and counties have a housing authority; some smaller areas share a regional authority. The local authority's name usually includes your city or county name — for example, the Richmond Housing Authority or the Arlington County Housing Authority.
You can also call VHDA at 804-782-1986 and ask for the contact information of the housing authority in your area. VHDA staff can tell you which agency handles emergency rental information, housing vouchers, or other programs where you live. Having the correct local agency's phone number and address saves time, because calling VHDA and then being transferred is slower than going directly to the source.
Emergency rental information through VHDA-funded programs
When the federal government sends emergency rental information money to Virginia, VHDA receives it and distributes it to local housing authorities and nonprofits. These local agencies then open applications, review requests, and pay landlords or tenants. The rules for who can receive help, how much you can receive, and what documents you need come from the federal government, but the local agency decides whether you meet those rules.
To find out whether emergency rental information is available in your area right now, contact your local housing authority directly. Many programs run out of money and close to new applications, then reopen when more funding arrives. Your local authority can tell you whether the fund is currently open and what you need to bring to explore. VHDA does not take applications for emergency rental information; it only funds the programs that do.
Housing vouchers and other rental information
VHDA does not issue housing vouchers directly. Housing vouchers are managed by local housing authorities using federal money that VHDA helps coordinate. If you want to know about housing vouchers in your area — whether there is a waiting list, how long the wait is, or what the income limits are — you must contact your local housing authority.
Some local authorities also run other rental information programs beyond vouchers and emergency rental help. These might include security deposit information, utility information, or short-term rental help. Your local housing authority can describe all the programs it runs and tell you which ones you may be able to use based on your income and situation.
First-time homebuyer programs through VHDA
VHDA offers mortgage programs and down payment information for first-time homebuyers through approved lenders across Virginia. These programs include favorable interest rates, down payment help, and closing cost information. You do not explore to VHDA directly; instead, you work with a lender that VHDA has approved. VHDA's website lists approved lenders by region, and you can contact them to ask about first-time buyer programs.
To use a VHDA homebuyer program, you typically need to complete a homebuyer education course, have a stable income, and meet income limits that vary by program and by area. The lender you choose will explain the specific requirements and walk you through the process. VHDA sets the program rules and provides the funding, but the lender handles your process and loan decision.
How to contact VHDA directly
You can reach VHDA by phone at 804-782-1986 during business hours. The agency is located in Richmond, Virginia. VHDA's website at vhda.com has program information, a directory of local housing authorities, a list of approved lenders, and downloadable resources about homebuying and rental information.
Call VHDA if you need to find your local housing authority, want to know which programs operate in your area, or have questions about how VHDA programs work. VHDA staff can point you to the right local agency or lender, but they cannot process applications or tell you whether you personally meet program rules — that is the job of the local agency or lender you work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I explore to VHDA for emergency rental information?
No. VHDA funds emergency rental information programs but does not take applications. You must explore through your local housing authority or the nonprofit agency that runs the program in your area. Call VHDA at 804-782-1986 to find out which agency handles emergency rental information where you live.
What is the difference between VHDA and my local housing authority?
VHDA is a state agency that funds programs and sets rules. Your local housing authority is the agency in your city or county that takes applications, reviews your situation, and makes decisions about information. You work with your local authority, not VHDA, when you need help.
Does VHDA have a waiting list for housing vouchers?
VHDA does not manage waiting lists. Your local housing authority does. Contact your local authority to ask whether it has a waiting list for vouchers, how long the wait is, and whether it is currently taking new applications.
How do I know if I live in a VHDA service area?
VHDA serves all of Virginia through local housing authorities and partner agencies in every city and county. You always have a local housing authority or designated agency in your area. Call VHDA at 804-782-1986 to find out which one serves you.
Can VHDA help me buy a house?
VHDA offers first-time homebuyer programs through approved lenders. You do not explore to VHDA; you contact a VHDA-approved lender in your area. VHDA's website lists lenders by region and describes the homebuyer programs available.