Housing and Urban Development

Community Development Block Grants

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to the City of Winchester to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. The program is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Please note that CDBG funds can only be spent within municipal limits and are administered by the City of Winchester staff.

HOME Investment Partnerships Program

In general, under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, HUD allocates funds by formula to the Northern Shenandoah Valley Consortium to strengthen public-private partnerships and to expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing, with primary attention to rental housing, for very low-income and low-income families. Generally, HOME funds should be matched by nonfederal resources. The City of Winchester acts as the representative unit for the Northern Shenandoah Valley Consortium with assistance from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC). Funds may be spent in Winchester City, Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Page, and Shenandoah Counties.

Plans and Publications

The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides decent, affordable housing to very low- to low-income individuals and families, including people with disabilities and senior citizens. Vouchers are distributed through Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) with local housing agency partners. VHDA contracts with the City of Winchester to administer this program.  Vouchers allow qualifying prospective tenants to select from a wider range of housing options, as opposed to being limited to designated housing projects. The program pays the difference between the voucher payment standard and 30% of the participant’s monthly adjusted income toward rent and utilities.

To participate in the program, a family must apply to Virginia Housing and be certified as eligible. They are allowed to seek housing from landlords who wish to participate. The family may select the housing in which they currently reside or move to another home. Any rental housing, including single-family homes, apartments, and mobile homes, qualifies as long as it is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition, as defined by the program Housing Quality Standards. Every month, the landlord receives two checks: one from the family and one from VHDA. Payments will be made for the term of the specified contract. 

For landlords and applicants interested in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, please visit: Virginia Housing |  virginiahousingsearch.com

Applicants are selected in order of date and time of application by preference.

1. First preference is given to applicants living and/or working in the City of Winchester.
2. Second preference is given to those applicants who are Working Families: Families where the head, spouse, or sole member is either employed, is age 62 or older, or is a person with disabilities.
3. Third preference is given to those applicants who are Homeless: “Any person or family that lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; or is living in a shelter, an institution that provides a temporary assistance, or a public or private place not designated for regular sleeping accommodation”.
4. All other applicants are selected after preference holders are selected in order of date and time of their application.

The City of Winchester Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly referred to as "Section 8") is currently closed. To stay informed about future openings, please visit the Housing Choice Voucher Program (virginiahousing.com/renters/housing-choice-voucher-program) to:

• Access the waiting list portal.
• Check for any open waitlists, which will be listed along with the City of Winchester name and the areas the City of Winchester serves.
• If no waitlists are currently open, you'll see a message stating: "We are sorry, but none of Virginia Housing's waiting lists are currently open".