Housing Assistance

Regardless of where you are in your housing journey, there are resources available to support you. Explore the resources below and if you don't see what you're looking for, we're here to help.

Utility bill assistance - Program through Virginia Department of Social Services for emergency assistance with heating or cooling utility bills

Virginia Housing Renter Resources - Information about finding apartments, tenant rights & responsibilities, Housing Choice Voucher program, and housing counselors.

Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia - Resources for renters and homeowners addressing housing stability counseling, housing discrimination, and foreclosure prevention. HOME is focused on central Virginia, so not all their services are available in Buena Vista.

Virginia Housing Rental Unit Accessibility Modification (RUAM) Grants - Tenants may apply for up to $8,000 worth of accessibility improvements to a rental unit, such as ramps, door widening, walk-in showers and grab bars, etc.

Rockbridge Area Rental Assistance Office - Administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) in Buena Vista. As of December 2022 not accepting applications.

Virginia Fair Housing Office | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Utility bill assistance - Program through Virginia Department of Social Services for emergency assistance with heating or cooling utility bills

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) - Provides whole-house weatherization/energy efficiency upgrades up to $8,000. Program is administered locally by Total Action for Progress (TAP); see website for details.

USDA Rural Development Section 504 Single-Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants - Provides loan of up to $40,000 (or grants to those over 62 years) for home repair and maintenance projects.

SERCAP Programs for Homeowners - Multiple programs to provide free or low-cost services for home repair.

Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity - Home repairs for low-income persons and new home construction.

Virginia Individual Development Account - Program offered through multiple nonprofits that provides first-time homebuyer classes and will match buyer cash savings up to 8:1 for a down payment. Currently offered through SERCAP (scroll to bottom of page).

Downpaymentresource.com - Online database of homebuyer assistance programs

Virginia Housing new homebuyer resources

USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Direct Loans and Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loans - Provides below-market rate mortgages with attractive terms to first-time home buyers

Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity - Home repairs for low-income persons and new home construction.