Federal Policy Initiatives

Federal Funding Sources for Housing in Virginia

The Virginia Housing Alliance and HousingForward VA created a dashboard to track federal housing and community development funding in Virginia over time and make such data accessible to the housing community. Use this tool to better understand how Virginia utilizes federal resources to address our affordable housing needs. Click on the image to access the dashboard.

Additionally, VHA developed a one-pager that provides a brief summary of federal housing investments in Virginia. Specifically, it details the impact of funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) across the state, including a snapshot of data collected by VHA in April 2025 about potential threats to certain funding streams.

2024-2025 Congressional District Housing Profiles

This resource provides an updated analysis of the housing landscape for each of Virginia’s Congressional districts. The profiles examine key housing data points, including cost burden, rent affordability, availability of federal assistance, Point-in-Time (PIT) counts, and Area Median Income (AMI) levels within each district. Additionally, each profile includes a map showing the percentage of cost-burdened renter households by county, highlighting the variations throughout the district. We created this resource to serve as both an education and advocacy tool to ensure that Congressional Representatives are aware of the housing needs of their constituents.

Federal Housing Action Tracker

The Virginia Housing Alliance and HousingForward VA have developed the Federal Housing Action Tracker to provide our housing community with clear information about our rapidly changing federal housing landscape. Use this tool to stay-up-to date on federal actions that may impact housing in Virginia.

Get Involved

Monthly Federal Housing Impact Meetings

In the face of growing uncertainty around federal funding, actions, and staffing cuts, VHA recognizes the need for collaborative sharing of information, implications, and needs across the housing spectrum in Virginia. As a result, VHA has decided to convene monthly virtual meetings for those in the housing community to better understand and navigate these changes together. Email vha@vahousingalliance.org if you would like to join the calls or get more information.

Tell Congress to Expand Housing Funding in FY26

Please join us in urging Congress to strengthen, not shrink, its commitments to affordable housing and homelessness. We need you to raise your voice TODAY to advocate for a budget that provides resources for Virginia’s housing needs

Federal Advocacy 101 Training

Interested in federal advocacy but not sure where to begin? Watch a recording of the Federal Advocacy 101 webinar for housing advocates hosted by VHA on August 5, 2025. In the webinar, Isabel McLain, VHA’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, shares an introduction to federal legislative and budgetary processes, advocacy tips for nonprofits and recipients of federal funding, guidance for engaging legislators strategically, and numerous other resources to support your advocacy. Access the presentation slides used in the webinar here.

National Advocacy Partners

Partnership is central to the Virginia Housing Alliance’s role in federal housing advocacy. While we have numerous allies on the federal level, VHA is the official state partner of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH). These organizations support our capacity to engage in federal advocacy by providing resources, forums for knowledge-sharing, and opportunities for us to connect with Virginia’s Congressional delegation.