Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
County staff warn housing grants and shelter costs will rise; point-in-time homelessness increased in 2024
Summary
Arlington County staff and the county’s housing director told the board that demand for housing grants and shelters has climbed, that the county may need additional funds for housing grants and eviction prevention, and that 2024 point-in-time counts showed an increase in homelessness including among older adults.
Arlington County’s housing and human services officials told the County Board on March 13 that housing assistance costs and shelter needs continue to grow, and they presented options for how the county might manage demand if current program levels are maintained.
Anne Venezia, Arlington County Housing Director, and DHS Director Anita Friedman jointly presented data showing steep recent growth in the county’s housing grants program and persistent pressures in homeless services.
Why it matters: Housing grants and rental subsidies are a core county tool for keeping low-income households housed. Staff told the board that if current housing-grants service levels are maintained in FY26, the program would require an additional multi-million-dollar allocation.
Key points from the presentation - Housing grants growth: Staff said the housing grants caseload has grown rapidly in recent years and projected the program would serve about 1,783 households in FY26. Venezia said…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
