Arlington County reports 10,000-unit housing shortfall for lowest-income renters | The Locally Times
The number of extremely low-income households grew 21% in two years while affordable unit supply rose 6%.
This gap affects essential workers, including childcare providers and home health aides. ## Housing Supply and Income The June 2026 report shows the number of renter households in the lowest-income bracket increased 21% over the past two years. During that same period, the supply of housing units affordable to these families grew 6%, adding fewer than 100 units to the market. Most affordable units in Arlington target households earning 60% to 80% of the AMI, which ranges from $98,000 to $164,000 for a four-person family. Essential service workers often earn between $33,000 and $40,000 annually. ## Committed Affordable Units Only 1.4% of Arlington’s committed affordable housing units are priced at the 30% AMI level, or roughly $1,100 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. While these households represent 15% of all county renters, they have access to only 164 committed affordable units. The Arlington Community Foundation proposes a policy requiring 10% of all units funded through the Affordable Housing Investment Fund to be priced for 30% AMI households. ## County Budget Actions In 2023, the county supported the redevelopment of the Barcroft Apartments, which reserved 134 of the 1,335 units for households earning 30% AMI or less. The County Board allocated $1 million in the 2024 budget for rent buy-down programs. The 2025 adopted budget included a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, which the county identified as a funding source for affordable housing and eviction prevention. ## Key Questions **How many units are available for the lowest-income renters?** There are 164 committed affordable units currently priced for households earning 30% or less of the Area Median Income. **What is the county doing to address the shortfall?** The county uses rent buy-down programs and redevelopment requirements, such as those at the Barcroft Apartments, to increase the stock of deeply affordable housing.