10/02/2024
Which City agencies and groups are involved in housing in Alexandria in partnership with the Office of Housing? Learn about the range of City departments and agencies, City Council appointed Boards and Commissions, and numerous task forces and groups dedicated to supporting the housing and service needs of Alexandria residents and workers.
City Agencies & Departments
The Department of Community and Human Services Office of Community Services (OCS) provides services including homeless services, eviction prevention resources, and foreclosure prevention resources. To request OCS services, please call 703.746.5700 or text 703.346.5599.
The Office of Human Rights was established to combat discrimination, increase equal opportunity and protect human rights for persons who live, work, or visit in Alexandria and enforces the Alexandria Human Rights Code.
The Department of Planning and Zoning works closely with communities to carry out the City Council's priorities, fostering amenity-rich, service-oriented and equity-balanced neighborhoods; protecting historic and cultural resources; and supporting diverse and creative businesses.
Code Administration assists stakeholders with compliance related to Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building and Maintenance Codes (USBC), and the City Code nuisance and development provisions. The Maintenance Code Division assist in maintaining a safe, healthy and livable quality of life by maintaining the City's housing stock through proactive inspections and other means.
The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) responds to a variety of health-related issues facing Alexandrians. AHD leads the Healthy Homes Initiative, which works to ensure all Alexandrians have healthy and safe, hazard-free housing.
The City Attorney’s Office provides legal advice to City Council, Boards and Commissions, the City Manager and City Departments. The City Attorneys are responsible for drafting ordinances, contracts, deeds, leases, and other legal papers. The office defends the City in civil court in actions taken against it and initiates cases to enforce the City’s laws and actions.
The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) is a public-private partnership that promotes the City of Alexandria as a premier location for businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and cutting-edge institutions of science and learning. AEDP promotes Alexandria by showcasing the transportation capabilities, workforce, location, scale, and livability to help .
The Office of Climate Action leads efforts in a variety of areas such as energy efficiency, high performance buildings, renewable energy, climate change mitigation and reporting, electric mobility, business assistance, community engagement, and advocacy.
Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority was established in 1939 to operate public housing for income-qualified households. It administers certain federal housing programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher Program. While ARHA is not a formal entity of the City government, City Council appoints ARHA’s board of commissioners and provides some funding to ARHA in support of its efforts to modernize its housing stock. To learn more about ARHA’s redevelopment activities, visit the ARHA projects website.
Boards & Commissions
The Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee (AHAAC) advises City Council on issues regarding the preservation and creation of affordable housing, makes recommendations on policies governing the City's Housing Trust Fund (HTF) and Housing Opportunities Fund, and conducts other activities related to affordable housing in the city.
The Landlord-Tenant Relations Board conciliates landlord-tenant complaints, and recommends and reports to City Council on legislation and policy in landlord-tenant relations.
Task Forces & Work Groups
The Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness is a diverse group of homeless service providers, local government agencies, and community stakeholders working together to make homelessness rare and brief in the City.
Eviction Prevention Task Force (EPTF) is a multi-agency partnership that works to reduce evictions, lessen their impact on residents, and develop long-term strategies. The Task Force includes representatives from several departments and organizations, including DCHS, the Office of Housing, the Sheriff’s Office, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, property managers, and emergency financial providers.
The ARHA Redevelopment Work Group enables coordination and communication between the City Council, the Planning Commission, and the ARHA Board of Commissioners to help develop a coordinated affordable housing strategy for Alexandria that includes the goal of sustaining and improving public and publicly assisted housing within the City of Alexandria.
The Hoarding Task Force is an interagency team whose mission is to coordinate all City actions related to severe hoarding cases in the City of Alexandria.
