County staff warn housing grants and shelter costs will rise; point-in-time homelessness increased in 2024

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 that growth has outpaced earlier patterns and that, if maintained without policy changes, housing grants would require roughly $2.4 million in additional local funding next year. - Who receives housing grants: DHS and CPHD materials presented a snapshot of February 2025 recipients. The program covers seniors, people with disabilities and working families; median and average incomes reported for recipients were well below area median income (examples cited: working-family averages in the low–$30,000s; many senior recipients on fixed incomes reported under $20,000 annually). Staff said turnover exists — some households leave the program after finding greater economic stability — but demand remains high. - Eviction prevention: County staff recommended tighter eligibility rules for eviction-prevention assistance — for example, prioritizing tenants who have been in a lease at least six months — as one approach to slow rapid spending growth. The county manager’s proposal estimated a potential FY26 savings of about $1.1 million from an eligibility change. - Homelessness counts and shelter demand: Staff showed 2024 point-in-time totals indicating a 14% year-over-year increase in homelessness and a notable rise in single older adults experiencing homelessness (55+ defined as seniors for the presentation). In FY24 staff said the county served hundreds of households through a mix of shelter, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing; family shelter demand led the county to use motel placements (the presentation cited roughly 47 families in hotels as a temporary measure). - Permanent supportive housing and vouchers: Venezia summarized funding for permanent supportive housing (local, state and HUD sources) and reported Housing Choice Voucher program cost and caseload figures. Staff noted the county received project-based vouchers for Culpeper Gardens and that the Housing Choice Voucher program is the county’s single largest federally funded housing subsidy.

Board and commission feedback Housing commission and tenant/landlord commissioners spoke during the meeting and urged continued investment in affordable housing and eviction prevention; housing-commission testimony also recommended additional funding for fair-housing enforcement and a study of rent stabilization.

What’s next Staff said the board can choose policy levers — modify eligibility, institute wait lists, or add local funding — to alter FY26 outcomes. Some proposals (new Housing Grants Navigator, fleet of shelter contracts and program changes) are contingent on board direction or final contract awards and could affect next year’s operating costs.

Ending note: County staff emphasized that housing grants and homelessness-response spending will likely remain a high-pressure area during FY26 and asked the board to consider a mix of policy, administrative and funding responses to manage both demand and fairness across applicants.