Now Accepting Applications
Welcome to HRHA’s Application for Housing Assistance Page.
We are happy to announce that our new portal is now live, and we’re accepting applications to be added to our waitlist. Please use the link below to register for an account and apply for housing.
We at HRHA would like to thank you for your patience during our transition to this new software. This software will better help residents, landlords, and service providers for HRHA. This software will allow online access to apply, update personal information, complete the application certification process, and pay rent. These new features will help improve client access, increase communication, and enhance ease for all its users.
Please feel free to reach out to our main office at (540) 434-7386 if you have any questions.
FAQ’s and General Application Information:
Where do I apply for rental assistance?
- Apply online any time.
- If you don’t have access to the internet or computer, or need assistance in during the application process, contract Sandra Lowther at 540-615-5557.
Am I eligible to apply?
- Anyone can apply. To be eligible for assistance, you must meet the following criteria:
- Families, including single-person households, under the very-low income limit, which is 50% of area median income (2021 Income Limits)
- Citizens and individuals with eligible immigrant status (assistance may be prorated if there are ineligible members)
- Screening standards for adults, which include background checks for drug-related and violent criminal activity
- Social security numbers for all household members
- Sign all required consent forms
- Address any prior debts to HRHA and other public housing agencies
Where do I report updates & changes to my application?
- To make updates and changes to your application, contact Sandra Lowther at 540-615-5557.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that all information on your application remains current.
- When your name comes to the top of the waiting list, you will be notified by regular mail.
- If we are unable to contact you due to a returned or not received letter, your name will be removed from the waiting list.
How does the waitlist work?
- Placement on the waitlist depends on preference score
- Some characteristics & circumstances are given a certain amount of preference points, as a means of prioritizing applications
- HRHA sets preferences based on local housing needs & priorities
- You may qualify for zero, one, or multiple preferences
- Your preference score is the total points for all eligible preferences claimed
- All preferences checked on the application are verified when your comes to the top of the waitlist
- Applicants with an equal number of preference points are ranked by date and time
More on Preferences HERE
Where can I check to see if I’m active on the waitlist?
We have launched a NEW Online Applicant Portal. After you apply for housing assistance through the website, please request a PIN and then create an account on the portal.
On the portal you can:
- Add and edit family members to your application
- Add new income
- Search available units
- Access important documents
- More features coming this year
You can request your PIN anytime by submitting the form below. Please keep in mind it will take up to a week after you submit your application for your PIN to be active in our system.
Can you tell me where I am on the waitlist?
- We are unable to tell you what number you are on the waitlist or give estimates about when you will reach the top.
- The order of the waitlist is affected by preferences and by other applicants, so your placement can change frequently.
How long is the waitlist?
- Our wait times can be anywhere from a few months to over two years.
- You can always contact HRHA at (540) 615-5557 to make sure you’re still active on our waitlist.
What happens when my name comes to the top of the waitlist?
- When your name comes to the top of the waitlist, we will send you a letter through the mail. Letters are sent to the address listed on the application. You are responsible for keeping your application current with your mailing address.
- The letter will give you a deadline to contact HRHA and move forward with the voucher process
- If you do not contact HRHA by the deadline, your name will be removed from the waitlist.
- When you contact HRHA, your household will be scheduled for an appointment for verification of your preferences and eligibility.
- At the appointment, the occupancy specialist will describe the documentation you must submit.
- If you submit all required information and are determined eligible and you meet all preferences claimed, your file will be forwarded to the new contracts specialist. The contract specialist will contact you and schedule a meeting to:
- explain the searching and leasing process
- issue you a voucher
- If you are determined to be eligible but you do not qualify for claimed preferences, you will be returned to the waitlist based on your updated preference score.
- If you are determined to be ineligible, or if you fail to provide all required documents by the deadline, you will be removed from the waitlist.
- If you submit all required information and are determined eligible and you meet all preferences claimed, your file will be forwarded to the new contracts specialist. The contract specialist will contact you and schedule a meeting to:
I have submitted my application for housing, now what?
Applicants can check their status and update information with the new portal. Click here to register for an account and apply for housing.
We welcome those with questions to call our main office at (540) 434-7386.