U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development is a cabinet level agency with a rich and varied timeline. HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. The City of Winchester Consortium supports HUD’s mission through the strategic deployment of resources provided by HUD. In partnership with local partners and agencies, the City seeks to improve the lives and living conditions of the City’s low- and moderate-income residents. Through HUD funding, the Consortium supports community-based strategies that may create a sense of place, build strong, sustainable, and inclusive neighborhoods, and assists in developing quality workforce housing throughout the City.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties 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, Public Law 93-383, as amended 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. Please note that CDBG funds can only be spent within municipal limits and are administered by the City of Winchester staff.
- Approved 2023 Citizen Participation Plan
- 2023/2027 Consolidated Plan
- 2022 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER)
HOME Investment Partnerships Program
In general, under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, HUD allocates funds by formula to the City of Winchester 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. State and local governments that become participating jurisdictions may use HOME funds to carry out multi-year housing strategies through acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of housing, and tenant-based rental assistance. Please note that HOME Consortium funds are administered by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC) and may be spent in Winchester City, Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Page, and Shenandoah Counties.
It is the Consortium’s intent to solicit public comments when developing Annual Action Plans and 5-year Consolidated Plans per Code of Federal Regulations.
Housing Choice Voucher Program
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 a local housing agent 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 interested in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, please visit: vhda.com | virginiahousingsearch.com
The Winchester Housing Choice Voucher Program only serves families that live/work in the City of Winchester. Anyone may apply, but those applicants who live/work in Winchester are placed on the waiting list ahead of those who do not live/work in the city of Winchester.
Housing Choice Voucher Program Contacts:
(Last name A-J) Jean Richardson
(Last name K-Z) Sherry Richards
Eligibility is determined by household income and based on family size.
City of Winchester Waiting List Selection Process
Applicants are selected in order of date and time of application by preference.
- First preference is given to applicants living and/or working in the City of Winchester.
- 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.
- 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”.
- All other applicants are selected after preference holders are selected in order of date and time of their application.
Announcements
The Waiting List for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8, is currently closed.
If you are an applicant that has a pending application for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, notify our office in writing of any changes in your local preferences. When applicants are pulled off the waiting list, staff will attempt to contact the applicant twice by mail. If our office is unable to make contact with the applicant, their name will be removed from the waiting list. The applicant must reapply when the waiting list is open to receive new applications.
Other Resources
Fair Housing posters in six different languages: