Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $2 Million in Federal Funding for Housing Counseling Services in Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $2,089,275 in federal funding to Catholic Charities USA and the Virginia Housing Development Authority for housing counseling services. The funding was awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling to provide counseling services to tenants and homeowners to improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership like property maintenance, and financial management and literacy. Housing counseling can help prevent foreclosures, improve finances, and help families create budgets.

“We’re pleased to see this federal funding awarded to ensure Virginians have access to the housing education and counseling they need,” said the Senators. “These services will provide families across the Commonwealth with valuable information so that they can make informed decisions to address their housing needs.”

The funding will be awarded as follows:

• Catholic Charities USA in Alexandria will receive $809,917.
• The Virginia Housing Development Authority in Richmond will receive $1,279,358, which will then be granted out to providers across the Commonwealth.

As a former fair housing attorney, Senator Kaine has long supported efforts to increase affordable housing and homeownership. Senators Warner and Kaine have introduced legislation that would address rising home prices, assist first-generation homebuyers, and close the widening wealth and homeownership gaps.

In September 2021, Senators Warner and Kaine introduced the Low-Income First Time Homebuyers (LIFT) Act, which would establish a new program to help first-time, first-generation homebuyers – predominately Americans of color – by offering new homeowners a 20-year mortgage for roughly the same monthly payment as a traditional 30-year loan. In October 2021, Senators Warner and Kaine also joined their colleagues in introducing the Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021, which would provide federal grants to assist first-generation homebuyers with qualifying expenses toward purchasing their first home, including downpayment costs, closing costs, and costs to reduce the rates of interest.

###