Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program

What are Emergency Housing Vouchers?

The American Rescue Plan Act allowed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate additional housing vouchers to Public Housing Authorities operating Housing Choice Voucher Programs in areas where populations have the greatest need. The Emergency Housing Vouchers were created to help pay rent for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

What is the eligibility criteria?
An Emergency Housing Voucher is a specialized housing voucher subsidy for individuals or families that meet one of the following four categories:

• Homeless
• At risk of homelessness
• Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the household’s homelessness or having a high risk of housing instability
• Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.

How do I apply for an Emergency Housing Voucher?
To qualify for an Emergency Housing Voucher, a individual or family must be assessed and referred by an Arlington County Homeless Services case worker within the Department of Human Services (DHS). The registration process is currently closed.

How many Emergency Housing Vouchers does Arlington County have?
Arlington County was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 36 Emergency Housing Vouchers to be made available to qualified, eligible residents. There are a very limited number of vouchers available. Not all registrants will be accepted or receive a voucher.

I am currently homeless and staying in an Arlington County shelter, do I need to call and register?
Please work with your shelter case manager to inquire about these resources. If you are connected to an Arlington County shelter registration may have been made on your behalf through your case manager. DHS is working closely with all Arlington County shelters to receive referrals.

Are current Housing Choice Voucher applicants on the waitlist eligible for an Emergency Housing Voucher?
Yes. Current Housing Choice Voucher waitlisted applicants are eligible to receive an Emergency Housing Voucher if they qualify. If you are deemed ineligible for an Emergency Housing Voucher it will not jeopardize your status on the program’s waitlist. Other vouchers may still be available to you.

Do I have to be a resident of Arlington County to apply for an Emergency Housing Voucher?
No. You do not have to be a resident of Arlington County to apply. Housing Choice Voucher Program Vouchers are open to anyone that may qualify for the program.

When will Emergency Housing Vouchers be available?
The registration process is currently closed. It will be publicly advertised on this website when the registration process is opened again.

Where can I find more information?
Information about Arlington County’s Housing Choice Voucher program and future announcements about Emergency Housing Vouchers can be found on the County’s website linked here.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations

This information will be made available in alternative formats upon request to ensure reasonable accommodation, accessibility for hearing, visual, and other communication-related disabilities, language accessibility or other requirements in accordance with Section 504 regulations, and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).