As part of the Housing 2040 Master Plan Update process, we will:

• Learn from our past, our neighbors and partners, and from best practices
• Review and update the HMP’s principles, goals, and recommendations incorporating our commitments to equity and sustainability and leveraging recently completed and ongoing citywide planning efforts
• Establish housing priorities to set affordability targets and guide City investments and policy decisions
• Identify and evaluate housing strategies and tools
• Strengthen existing and explore new partnerships to leverage City resources
• Outline a workplan for City’s housing programs, initiatives and priorities through 2040

Curious about affordable housing terms and what they mean? Check out our Affordable Housing Definitions! 

In the fall of 2024, the Office of Housing and its partners launched a series of events and released educational materials on a range of housing topics. Learn more on Housing Education Resources page.  

For more information, please contact Tamara Jovovic, Housing Program Manager, 703.746.3097/tamara.jovovic@alexandriava.gov. 

NEW! The Office of Housing hosted a community meeting on November 17 to share and receive feedback on the Landlord Tenant and Affordable Housing Preservation project draft recommendations and strategies. The English meeting recording and slides are now available. 

• Please use this link to view the meeting recording in Spanish, Amharic, or Arabic. Click on the Globe icon next to "Speed" to change the language of the recording.

• Affordable Housing Targets:
  • Considerations When Setting Affordable Housing Targets July 30, 2025 Presentation
  • Considerations When Setting Affordable Housing Targets June 5, 2025 Presentation
• Housing 2040 Tenant Rights and Resources:
  • Meeting 4: September 8, 2025
    • NEW! Meeting Presentation. Provide feedback on the draft Landlord Tenant Rights and Resources project recommendations using our Comment Form through September 25!
  • Meeting 3: June 5, 2025. This public meeting was a joint meeting between the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee and the Landlord Tenant Relations Board.
    • Tenant Rights and Protections Project Presentation
  • Meeting 2: May 7, 2025
  • Meeting 1: November 6, 2024
• Housing 2040 Homeowner Resources and Programs:
  • Meeting 3: September 8, 2025.
    • NEW! Meeting Presentation. Provide feedback on the draft Homeowner Programs and Resources recommendations using our Comment Form through October 19!
  • Meeting 2: May 14, 2025. This public virtual meeting was hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee. The recording of this meeting is available.
    • Homeowner Programs Presentation 2
  • Meeting 1: January 8, 2025. This public virtual meeting was hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.
    • Homeowner Programs Presentation 1
• Housing 2040 Financial Tools for Affordable Housing:
  • Meeting 2: May 14, 2025. This public virtual meeting was hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee. The recording of this meeting is available.
    • Affordable Housing Financial Tools Presentation 2
  • Meeting 1 (City Hall): December 5. This public meeting was hosted by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.
    • Affordable Housing Financial Tools Presentation 1
• Housing 2040 Panel Discussion on Affordable Housing Preservation (Hybrid): April 29, 2025.
  • Affordable Housing Preservation Panel Presentation
• Housing 2040 Introduction to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority: February 6, 2025. This hybrid meeting was hosted jointly by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee and Landlord Tenant Relations Board.
  • ARHA Presentation
• Housing 2040 Plan-Age Friendly Plan Coordination Meeting (Virtual): November 7, 2024.
• Housing 2040 Discussion on Rental Assistance Resources (City Hall): November 6, 2024. This public meeting was a joint meeting between the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee and the Landlord Tenant Relations Board.
  • Rental Assistance Programs Presentation
  • Local Rental Subsidy Program Study Presentation
  • Local Rental Subsidy Program Study Findings

Stay tuned for new engagements opportunities across the city and check back for event confirmations in case there are unexpected changes! 

• NEW! Commission on Persons with Disabilities Meeting (City Hall): December 10, 2025
• Commission on Aging Housing Subcommittee Meeting (virtual): October 20, 2025
• EPC Subcommittee Meeting (virtual): October 9, 2025
• Interfaith Council (City Hall): September 9, 2025
• Senior Academy (Beatley Library): September 3, 2025
• RPCA Senior Orientation (Patrick Henry Rec Center): August 6, 2025
• National Night Out at Mason at Van Dorn: August 5, 2025
• Acclaim Apartments: July 16, 2025
• Commission on Persons with Disabilities Briefing (City Hall): July 9, 2025
  • Presentation
• Health Department Meeting (Lee Center): July 8, 2025
• Fairlington Presbyterian Cookout: July 1, 2025
• Quarterly P&Z Community Updates (virtual): June 17, 2025
• Southern Towers Cookout: June 4, 2025
• Rosemont Civic Association Presentation (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church): May 22, 2025
• Ewald Park Cookout: May 7, 2025
• Mount Vernon Recreation Center Cookout: April 29, 2025
• Economic Opportunities Commission Briefing: April 16, 2025
• Youth Speak Up Pop Up: April 10, 2025
• Commission for Women Briefing: April 8, 2025
• Landlord Tenant Relations Board Briefing: April 2, 2025
• Alexandria Youth Council: February 23, 2025
• Eco-City Academy (City Hall): January 31, 2025
• Age Friendly Plan Kick-off (Lee Center): January 17, 2025
• Central Pop Up (Patrick Henry Recreation Center): January 15, 2025
• Environmental Policy Commission Briefing (virtual): December 16, 2024
• Casa Chirilagua (Arlandria): December 14, 2024.
• TWU (Arlandria): December 13, 2024.
• DCHS/Mark Center: December 13, 2024.
• Ladrey Senior Housing: December 13, 2024.
• Federation of Civic Associations (Alexandria Police Department): December 11, 2024.
• The Claridge House: December 9, 2024.
• DCHS/Mark Center: December 2, 2024.
• The Watergate: November 30, 2024.
• Kids First Years Council: November 19, 2024.
• Youth Engagement (Beatley Library): November 14, 2024.
• Del Ray Farmers Market: November 9, 2024.
• Bingo (Casa Chirilagua): October 31, 2024.
• ALIVE Food Distribution (William Ramsey Recreation Center): October 26, 2024.
• Central Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (Patrick Henry Recreation Center): October 23, 2024.
• Senior Services of Alexandria Ambassadors Briefing (virtual): October 23, 2024.
• West End Farmers Market (4800 Brenman Park Drive): October 20, 2024.
• Fall Festival (Leonard Chick Armstong Recreation Center): October 19, 2024.
• Lynhaven Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (Leonard Chick Armstrong Recreation Center): October 17, 2024.
• Senior Services of Alexandria Monthly Speaker Series (Westminster Presbyterian Church): October 16, 2024.
• West End Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (William Ramsey Recreation Center): October 15, 2024.
• Hispanic Heritage Festival (Beatley Library): October 12, 2024.
• Alexandria City High School Student Engagement: October 11, 2024.
• Braddock Pop Up with Community Health Assessment Team (Charles Houston Recreation Center): October 10, 2024.
• Fall Festival/Southern Towers Farmers Market (5067 Seminary Road): October 5, 2024.
• Chamber of Commerce Briefing (virtual): October 1, 2024.
• Community Health Assessment Kick Off: October 1, 2024.

NEW!  Thank you to everyone who attended the September 8 community meeting and open house at the Minnie Howard Campus of Alexandria City High School to learn about and provide feedback on the draft recommendations for the Landlord Tenant Resources Project and Homeowner Programs Resources Project. Please contact Tamara Jovovic with any questions. 

• Presentation
• Housing 2040 Principles and Goals Draft #2 (dated September 8, 2025)
• Open House Board: 2025 Rental Housing Market Analysis

Thank you to everyone who attended the March 18 community meeting and open house at Patrick Henry K-8 School to learn about and provide feedback on the draft principles and goals developed to guide the Housing 2040 Master Plan. Complete our Meeting Evaluation and tell us how we did!  Input received will inform the development of the final Housing 2040 principles and goals. Feedback on the draft principles and goals can be submitted using our Comment Form through April 20; to complete the form in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, or Pashto, please click on "English" in the upper right hand corner to access the drop down language menu. Please contact Tamara Jovovic with any questions. 

• Presentation
• Draft Housing 2040 Principles and Goals (dated March 18, 2025) in Spanish; Amharic; Arabic; Dari; and Pashto.
  • Principle and Goal Station Boards: Principle 1; Principle 2; Principle 3, Principle 4; Principle 5; and Principle 6.
• Open House Boards: Housing 2040 Survey Summary Board; Financial Tools Board; Preservation Board; Homeownership Board; and Tenant Issues Board 

A survey was conducted to help inform the Housing 2040 process. Approximately 1,200 responses were received. View a summary of the results here. 

• In-Person Meeting: September 25, 7-9 p.m. Open house: 6-7 p.m.
  Where? This meeting was held in-person at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Gym. NEW!  View the meeting presentation and recording. Let us know how we did by completing our meeting evaluation. 
  Why? Shape the Housing 2040 principles, goals, and topics.
  Details? A light dinner was served, and interpretation was provided in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, and Pashto. Please share our Housing 2040 Kick-Off Meeting Flyer! 

• Virtual Meeting: September 18, 7-9 p.m.
  Where? This meeting was held virtually. NEW!  View the meeting presentation and recordings in English  |  Spanish  |  Amharic  | Arabic  |  Dari  |  Pashto. Let us know how we did by completing our meeting evaluation!
  Why? Learn about the ongoing Housing Needs Assessment and the Housing 2040 timeline, purpose and engagement process. A Q&A followed the presentation. 
  Details? Interpretation was provided in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, and Pashto. Please share our Housing 2040 Kick-Off Meeting Flyer! 

Share your thoughts via our Housing 2040 Comment Form (English)

Share your thoughts via our Housing 2040 Comment Form (Spanish)

Share your thoughts via our Housing 2040 Comment Form (Amharic)

Feedback received through Spring 2025 helped inform the development of the September Draft Principles and Goals. Please use our comment form below.

• Draft 2 Housing 2040 Principles and Goals (dated September 8, 2025).

The first draft of the City's principles and goals, informed by the Housing 2040 survey, community engagement completed through Fall and Winter 2024, the Quantitative Housing Needs Analysis, and research, was released in March. Comments on the March Draft were received through Spring 2025. 

• Draft 1 Housing 2040 Principles and Goals (dated March 18, 2025); Principles and Goals in Spanish; Amharic; Arabic; Dari; and Pashto

• Review the City’s current approach to and experience implementing homeowner programs and resources since 2010
• Review Housing 2040 Housing Needs Analysis and Housing Survey findings and input received through community engagement to identify priority needs as they relate to homeownership
• Conduct community education
• Research regional homeowner programs and resources
• Research national best practices and models for affordable homeownership
• Develop draft recommendations for community input
• Review community feedback
• Develop final recommendations for City Council consideration

• September 8, 2025 Presentation
• May 14, 2025 Presentation
• Current homebuyer resources and homeowner resources
• Homeownership Summary Board
• January 8, 2025 Homeownership Program Presentation 

• September 8, 2025
• May 14, 2025
• January 8, 2025
• October 16, 2024 webinar recordings (English and Spanish)

Project categories:

• Legislative actions
• Programmatic changes
• Communications, Engagement, and Service Delivery

Approach:

• Review current programs focused on mitigating high levels of housing cost burden, reducing evictions, supporting anti-displacement initiatives, and empowering tenants
• Review Housing 2040 Housing Needs Analysis and Housing Survey findings
• Review lessons from COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery as they relate to tenant rights and resources
• Review community input and lessons from recent SAP engagement and implementation (South Patrick Street Housing Affordability Strategy, Arlandria Chirilagua Small Area Plan, and Alexandria West Small Area Plan)
• Research regional and national best practices
• Conduct community education
• Develop draft recommendations and legislative proposals for community input
• Review community feedback
• Develop final recommendations for City Council consideration

• June 5 Tenant Rights and Protections Project Presentation
• May 7, 2025 Discussion with Landlord Tenant Relations Board
• Eviction Landscape Presentation and Recording
• Eviction Trends Dashboard
• Rental Assistance Programs Presentation
• Local Rental Subsidy Program Study Presentation
• Local Rental Subsidy Program Study Findings

• November 2025 (upcoming)
• September 8, 2025
• June 5, 2025
• May 7, 2025
• May 5, 2025 – Eviction Prevention Task Force meeting
• March 3, 2025 – Eviction Prevention Task Force meeting
• November 6, 2024
• October Education Month Week 4 resources

• ACT for Alexandria
• African Communities Together (ACT)
• Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA)
• ALIVE!
• Carpenter’s Shelter
• Casa Chiriliagua
• Christ Church
• Christ House
• City of Alexandria, Commission on Aging
• City of Alexandria, Department of Human and Community Services (DCHS)
• City of Alexandria, Health Department
• City of Alexandria, Office of Performance Analytics (OPA)
• City of Alexandria, Workforce Development Center (WDC)
• Edu-Futuro
• Housing Alexandria
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME)
• Landlord Representatives:
  • Brent Place Apartments
  • Presidential Greens Apartments
• Legal Aid Justice Center
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia
• Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA)
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church
• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Tenant and Workers United (TWU)
• Virginia Housing Alliance
• Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC)
• Wesley Housing 

• Review Alexandria’s past preservation projects, including those completed under the existing Housing Master Plan
• Research and analyze preservation policies across other jurisdictions, both regionally and nationally
• Inventory housing with expiring affordability commitments
• Inventory market affordable housing units
• Inventory property owners of market affordable housing
• Conduct targeted stakeholder discussions with planning officials in other jurisdictions, local developers, property owners, and housing advocates
• Facilitate a preservation panel discussion with local and regional partners who have expertise on preservation projects and policies to elicit community input and engagement
• Facilitate engagement with City departments, local partners, key stakeholders, and tenants to provide input on draft recommendations for preservation policies
• Develop draft recommendations for community input and feedback
• Review community feedback
• Develop final recommendations for City Council consideration

• April 29, 2025 Panel Discussion Recording and Presentation
• April 3, 2025 AHAAC Presentation
• Affordable Housing Preservation Summary Board 

• November 17, 2025 Community Meeting
• September-October 2025 Working Group Meetings
• July 2025 Multifamily Property Owner Meetings and Consultations
• April 29, 2025 Panel Discussion
• April 3, 2025 AHAAC

• Work with common interest community stakeholders to study and assess existing statewide recommendations and draft policy recommendations incorporating stakeholder input and best practices
• Develop recommendations for inclusion in Housing 2040
• Meet with regional and state leaders and other potential funders and partners to support implementation

• November 15 Recording, Slides, and Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation report
• May 14, 2025 Presentation
• The Office of Housing and Alexandria-based law firm MercerTrigiani have been sponsoring free educational sessions related to condominium and community association governance for almost a decade. The sessions have addressed a broad range of topics including educating common interest community members how run successful board meetings; explaining how common interest communities can build successful budgets; and helping owners understand the legal requirements for transparent governance. Recordings, slides, and supplemental materials from the past three years of sessions can be accessed under Homeowner Resources.

• Draft recommendations will also be shared at the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee December 4 monthly meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. in Room 2000, City Hall. The public is welcome to attend!
• The community was invited to provide feedback at a public meeting on the draft recommendations on Saturday, November 15 at 9:30 am. View the recording, slides, and supplemental material.
• A workgroup of stakeholders was convened and met throughout September, October, and November 2025.
• May 14, 2025 

• Law Firm of Mercer-Trigiani

• Continue interdepartmental and community collaboration to address housing quality, safety and livability issues through existing planning frameworks
  • Healthy Homes Initiative priority areas focus on 1) extreme clutter/hoarding; 2) mold; 3) smoke; 4) pests; 5) partnering with Alex311; and 6) overcrowding.
  • Community Health Assessment measures a community's health across a wide range of topics to examine strengths, weaknesses, priorities, and opportunities and will inform the development of the City's Community Health Improvement Plan and the Housing 2040 process. 

• Healthy Homes Action Plan 2025
• City of Alexandria State of Health Report 2025
• Alexandria Health Department Data Dashboard
• Alexandria's Community Health Improvement Plan Winter 2024-25 Progress Report

• July 8, 2025

Interested in getting involved in community health? Let us know!

• Review the City’s current financial sources and tools and those proposed in the 2013 Housing Master Plan related to predevelopment, development, acquisition, operations, and supportive services, and legislative authority
• Review of Housing 2040 Housing Needs Analysis and Housing Survey findings
• Conduct community education
• Research regional financial sources and tools to enhance and preserve housing affordability
• Research tax relief programs in Virginia and explore the potential for expanded tax relief for affordable housing based on specific criteria
• Research developer fee relief programs in Virginia and explore the potential for developer City fee relief for affordable housing based on specific criteria
• Develop draft recommendations for community input
• Review community feedback
• Develop final recommendations for City Council consideration

• Housing Funding Programs Matrix
• Housing Funding Sources Matrix
• May 14, 2025 Presentation
• Financial Tools for Affordable Housing Summary Board
• December 5, 2024 Presentation
• October Education Month Week 2 resources

• May 14, 2025
• December 5, 2024 

• Review data and findings from the Housing 2040 Housing Needs Analysis, Housing Survey, Age Friendly Plan Update and other data sources to identify priority needs as they relate to Alexandria seniors
• Working closely with the Division on Aging and Adult Services and the Commission on Aging, consult with partners, service providers, developers, and other stakeholders involved in senior housing+care
• Research senior housing+care programs, resources, models across the region and country
• Building on the Age Friendly Plan Update recommendations, draft recommendations for community feedback
• Develop final recommendations for City Council consideration

• Age Friendly Plan Update (coming soon!)

• October 20, 2025: Housing Subcommitee Meeting
• October 15, 2025: AHAAC Meeting
• September 3, 2025: Senior Academy (Beatley Library)
• August 22, 2025: COA Chair/DAAS Consultation
• January 17, 2025: Age Friendly Plan Kick-off (Lee Center)
• December 13, 2024: Ladrey Senior Housing
• December 9, 2024: The Claridge House
• October 31, 2024: Senior Bingo (Casa Chirilagua)
• October 23, 2024: Senior Services of Alexandria Ambassadors Briefing (virtual)
• October 16, 2024: Senior Services of Alexandria Monthly Speaker Series (Westminster Presbyterian Church)

The HMP established a goal of creating "new affordability" in 2,000 units through 2025. New affordability is gained through the construction of new committed affordable housing and the preservation and improvement of existing housing resources to enhance affordability, accessibility, safety, health, and energy efficiency. The following activities are counted towards the HMP goal:

• construction of new committed affordable rental and homeownership units, including committed affordable units resulting from the conversion of obsolete commercial buildings into housing
• preservation of existing committed affordable units
• conversion of existing market-rate housing into committed affordable housing
• improvements to existing low- to moderate-income homeownership units through the Home Rehabilitation Loan Program and Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria projects
• improvements to existing low-income rental units through the Rental Accessibility Modification Program
• support to first-time homebuyers in the form of downpayment and closing-cost assistance

Progress towards the HMP goal is tracked through the:

• Housing Key Indicator Dashboard; and
• NEW! FY25 HMP Quarterly Progress Report.

To learn about City housing programs and recent projects, visit our Affordable Housing and Publications pages. 

A number of implementation tools are identified for further study and consideration in the HMP.  Since 2014, the City Council has approved the following tools:

• an amendment to grandfather parking requirements for affordable housing projects that undergo a substantial renovation;
• an increase in the level of predevelopment funding provided to facilitate affordable housing through secured, repayable loans;
• a reduction in parking requirements for new affordable housing projects;
• an increase from 20% to 30% in bonus density for affordable housing;
• an amendment to create the Residential Multifamily Zone (RMF) to promote the creation and preservation of deeply affordable housing;
• an update to the Housing Contributions Policy to address cases pursuing additional density, senior housing projects, and commercial to residential building conversions;
• an amendment to permit Accessory Dwelling Units; and
• an amendment to permit Co-Living Units.

The HMP planning process was designed to ensure participation by stakeholders through: a series of 15 public meetings; a bus tour of the City's existing affordable housing stock; and an allocation exercise which gave stakeholders the opportunity to consider future housing needs and locations.

The HMP Advisory Group was composed of the City's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) plus an additional five appointees, including both public sector and private sector representatives. This group was charged with providing feedback on data presented and developed goals and objectives to guide the creation of the implementation plan.

On November 30, 2012, the City of Alexandria released its draft Housing Master Plan and the draft Housing Master Plan At a Glance for public review and comment. Two town hall meetings were held to receive questions and comments on the Plan. The first meeting was held on January 24, 2013 at Samuel Tucker Elementary School. A second Town Hall meeting was held on February 11, 2013 at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School. Following a 90-day comment period, the Planning commission and City Council held work sessions on the draft plan. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Revised Draft Housing Master Plan on December 3, 2013.