More Rent Assistance on the Way in Virginia, Northam Says

WI Web Staff February 17, 2021

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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam talks about how he was raised during an interview in the Governor's Mansion February 09, 2019 in Richmond, VA. He and Attorney General Mark R. Herring have admitted to using blackface in the past. And, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax denies sexually assaulting two women. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images) — **FILE** Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced this week that struggling renters will receive at least another $160 million in relief as part of $524 million the state received under the most recent COVID-19 assistance package from Congress.

Northam added during a press conference Tuesday in Arlington, that the state of Virginia will also release additional dollars into the statewide Rent Relief Program on an as-needed basis.

“I urge eligible households to act quickly and work with their landlords to seek rental assistance through this program,” said Northam in alluding to funds that will be overseen by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Meanwhile, as a new Virginia law requires landlords to help tenants obtain rental assistance before they can proceed with an eviction, the commonwealth established a statewide rent and mortgage relief program in June 2020 using funds from the federal CARES Act passed in March, DCist reported.