For many Arlington families, older adults, and households with disabilities, affordable housing support can make the difference between stability and uncertainty.

That’s why Arlington County is encouraging eligible households interested in the Housing Grants Program to apply now. Direct applications are now open and remain open through Sept. 30, 2026, but the application process will change this fall. Beginning in October, the program will move to a waitlist-based system for new admissions. 

The Housing Grants Program helps eligible households afford rental housing in an Arlington community they can call home. A County-funded program, the Arlington County Housing Grants Program provides a monthly housing grant to eligible households. These grants cover a portion of monthly rent, depending on household income, household size, and rent amount. As demand for assistance continues to grow, Arlington County is implementing a waitlist process designed to preserve the program for the long term while providing a fair and transparent path to future admissions.

For households that may qualify, the message is simple: Don’t wait. Apply before Sept. 30 while direct applications are still being accepted.

Starting Oct. 5, 2026, households seeking assistance will need to join a waitlist. Pre-applications for the waitlist will be accepted through Oct. 19, 2026. Unlike many housing programs, the process will not be first-come, first-served. Every completed application submitted during the registration period will have an equal chance of selection. An automated lottery will be used to select up to 500 households for placement on the waitlist.

Arlington County is also working to ensure households can access help throughout the waitlist registration process. Language assistance, disability accommodations, and additional support resources will be available. Beginning October 5, Arlington Public Library locations will also offer assistance to help households access information and complete waitlist pre-applications. 

The Housing Grants Program continues to serve eligible households, including older adults age 65 and older, working households with children under 18, and households that include a person who is totally and permanently disabled and receiving qualifying disability benefits.

Current program participants are not immediately affected by the new program changes. Residents who currently receive Housing Grant assistance may continue receiving support as long as they remain eligible and complete required annual recertification processes.

For households that may be eligible, applying before Sept. 30 could help avoid the uncertainty of a future waitlist and lottery process. To learn more about the Housing Grants Program, or to apply directly before Sept. 30, visit www.arlingtonva.us/housing-grants, email [email protected] or call 703-228-1350. To learn more about the October 2026 Waitlist, visit https://www.arlingtonva.us/Housing-Grant-Waitlist

Incredibly excited to wrap up an awesome first summer. I’ve learned a lot, and I thought I’d share some of those lessons with you.

1. Hiring a JMU intern is a great idea.

This summer we were lucky enough to hire a young man from Woodbridge named Owen, who is a rising senior at JMU. He was exactly the spark we needed to help us push through our first busy summer season. We’ve already made him a job offer for next summer when he graduates, and we’re hopeful he’ll join us full-time.

2. People are generally helpful and want to see you succeed when you’re first starting out.

Over the summer, I was amazed by how many people wanted to help me get a strong start in my business. There were definitely times when I knew folks might not need a new roof, but they were still kind enough to let me come by, take a look, and give them a free estimate just in case. It was inspiring and motivating to know that there are strangers out there who don’t even know me but still want to see me win.

3. Hard work solves most problems.

From the beginning, I’ve been honest about having a lot to learn in this industry. What I’ve come to find is that even when I don’t know exactly what I’m doing, hard work will still often get me to the right result. When in doubt, just keep pushing. This is something I’ll remember as more hard times come and as we get ready to go through the cold winter season.

4. Working with property managers and realtors can be a win-win for everyone.

This year, we’ve built some great relationships with property managers and realtors. These folks are hardworking and busy, and the last thing they have time to worry about is a roof for their clients. We’ve worked with them to install new roofs, windows, gutters, doors, and siding on multiple occasions.

5. Some folks will slam the door in your face without thinking twice.

Things aren’t always easy in this game, and I don’t want to paint an overly rosy picture without talking about some of the hard stuff too. As a new person working hard to get your name out there, it can definitely be a little daunting when someone yells at you or slams the door in your face. Luckily, most people are warm and will at least talk to you, and we’ve appreciated that as we navigate these bumps along the way.

6. Most homeowners just want transparency and great customer service.

It’s wild how many contractors out there really can’t be trusted. We’ve come to learn quickly that homeowners just want fantastic customer service and transparency throughout the process. If you can honestly show someone how the process is going to take place and hold their hand a little along the way, you can make almost all of your customers pretty happy.

7. Homeowners taught me more than any training could have.

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