Community Need

Arlington is a highly desirable place to live and has experienced rapid growth. However, the County lost 86% of its market rate affordable housing stock from 2000 to 2016. Today, more than 7,500 families and individuals in our community do not have access to homes they can afford.

Housing security is critical for our low-income neighbors to thrive.

All people within our community deserve to have adequate housing options and opportunities. That’s why Arlington County adopted the Affordable Housing Master Plan in 2015 and is promoting housing affordability as a vital focus as our community continues to grow and change.

In fact, the values that are central to the County’s vision – diversity, inclusivity, sustainability – are supported by providing a range of housing affordability. Over the next 25 years, the plan’s goal is to double Arlington’s affordable housing.

 

“For our county, the most pressing moral issue is affordable housing. If we really believe in a diverse and inclusive community, we must act and act now.”

-Jay Fisette, Chair, Arlington County Board

But the need is bigger than Arlington. Our whole regional is experiencing the same dramatic loss of affordable rental homes and apartments:

  • Alexandria City reports losing 90% of their market rate affordable housing.
  • Washington, DC lost 34,000 affordable rental homes between just 2005 and 2013.
  • In metro DC, more than 150,000 households pay over 50% of their income on rent.