The City of Virginia Beach, through its Department of Housing and Neighborhood preservation, helps to expand affordable housing opportunities by facilitating partnerships, contributing federal and other resources toward projects, administering housing assistance programs and offering guidance to organizations interested in developing affordable housing.

What is the City’s Role in Expanding Affordable Housing?

The City helps to expand affordable housing opportunities by facilitating partnerships, contributing funds toward new development and creating new policies and programs.

Every day, thousands of families and individuals are also able to afford safe, stable housing through various federal and state housing assistance programs administered by Virginia Beach Housing & Neighborhood Preservation.

What Progress is Being Made on This Issue?

• Since 2000, the City has invested more than $15 million in federal and City funding to support developments that provide affordable housing for families and individuals in Virginia Beach. This funding has created 1,280 affordable rental housing units and rehabilitated 413.
• The City provided direct support to two developments that have recently opened or will be completed in 2026 that will add 76 total units of affordable rental housing for seniors and the most vulnerable individuals exiting homelessness in Virginia Beach: Tranquility at the Lakes II and Macon & Joan Brock House
• In September 2025, the City and the City of Virginia Beach Development Authority launched the Attainable Workforce Housing Performance (AWHP) Grant, a new program that aims to promote the private development of safe, quality, affordable multi-family rental housing. As of July 2026, grant applications have been approved for three developments, totaling 552 new units of affordable rental housing.