The Virginia Eviction Reduction Program (VERP) is a permanent competitive grant program administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Established as a pilot initiative by the Virginia General Assembly during the 2020 Special Session, VERP was made a permanent program through Chapter 164 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly (HB527). The General Assembly directed DHCD to expand the program's work to promote housing stability, identify factors that contribute to eviction filings, and implement interventions that prevent or divert evictions. Through a competitive grant process, DHCD awards funding to eligible nonprofit organizations, units of local government, and planning district commissions to implement coordinated, community-based eviction prevention and diversion strategies across Virginia.
VERP strengthens local eviction prevention systems by supporting collaborative partnerships among housing providers, courts, legal aid organizations, landlords, social service agencies, and other community stakeholders. Using data-driven, evidence-informed strategies, grantees work to prevent evictions before court involvement whenever possible and divert cases after an unlawful detainer has been filed when prevention is no longer possible. In addition to providing targeted financial assistance, court navigation, landlord engagement, and connections to mainstream services, VERP supports local efforts to identify and address systemic barriers that contribute to eviction filings, creating stronger, more coordinated systems that improve housing stability and reduce eviction filings.
