Housing

For many of our localities, housing is a central issue in planning for the future. The CSPDC has been instrumental in assisting localities in developing housing programs and administering housing projects which provide safe, decent, affordable housing for low and moderate-income households, as well as first-time homebuyers in the Region. See below for more information about our PDC Housing Development Program, Regional Housing Study, and First Time Homebuyers Program. 

Announcement: In July 2023, the CSPDC received a $1.71 million allocation through Virginia Housing's Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) Program to provide a 1% interest rate for qualified first-time homebuyers using Virginia Housing loan products.

For more information on how to access these funds, please see below and contact Olivia Raines at olivia@cspdc.org. 

PDC Housing Development Program

In July 2021, Virginia Housing announced $40 million in grants to Virginia’s 21 Planning District Commissions towards the creation of new housing initiatives through the PDC Housing Development Program. Through this opportunity, the CSPDC will work closely Virginia Housing and the region’s housing delivery partners including local governments, housing authorities, non-profit organizations, developers, and other groups working to address the need for affordable housing.

The program will promote regional approaches to planning and development, bring together local housing partners, and support housing projects that create new affordable housing units. The CSPDC was awarded $2 million in funding to support to the creation of new affordable rental and homeownership housing units throughout the region, and is positioned to provide gap funds to various affordable housing development efforts. Specifically, the CSPDC will facilitate the development of at least 20 affordable units by July 1, 2024.

Updates and information regarding the PDC Housing Development Program will be posted to this page. In March 2022, the CSPDC announced $1.66 million in award offers to provide gap funding to affordable housing developers across the region that submitted applications through a Request for Proposals process. The funds will assist in the construction of 60 new units of affordable housing in the region, including 35 units for homeownership and 25 for rental. Gap funding was offered to 7 applicants representing 4 localities; Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Rockbridge County. The selected projects are as follows: 

 

CSPDC Regional Housing Study

In Spring 2022, the CSPDC was awarded a $200,000 Community Impact Grant from Virginia Housing to complete a regional housing study. The study process is currently underway, and will conclude in Spring 2024. The first year of the study will focus on data gathering and analysis and stakeholder engagement, and will result in an interim data report. In year two, the CSPDC will work to develop regional, partner-based, locality-specific recommendations and strategies.

The CSPDC will be working with the Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR), the Commonwealth’s official housing research agency, to complete the study. VCHR has a successful track record of analyzing regional housing data, and has led several PDC-wide housing studies. VCHR’s strategies and recommendations will be developed in partnership with HousingForward Virginia, a statewide housing policy and research agency.

Resources related to the study, including study updates and presentations, will be posted under Resources on the right hand side of this page. Additionally, public-facing documents such as the final study report will be posted to this site. For questions about the housing study, contact Olivia Wright at olivia@cspdc.org.

Regional First-Time Homebuyers Program

The CSPDC offers two programs that benefit low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers in the region:

  1. Down Payment Assistance: Through a state program administered regionally by the CSPDC, this program offers down payment and closing cost assistance to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers in the region. Since it began in 1998, the program has served more than 250 households in the area.
View the First-Time Homebuyer DPA Brochure
View the 2023 Income Limits (see '80% DPA' line for your purchase area)
View the 2022-2023 Sales Price Limits

2. Interest Rate Reduction: Through Virginia Housing's Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) Program, the CSPDC received an allocation of $1.71 million to assist income-qualified homebuyers receive a 1% interest rate reduction for eligible Virginia Housing loan products. Home sales price must be $330,000 or below to qualify. Virginia Housing-approved lenders should reach out to the CSPDC directly to determine a client's eligibility.

View the 2023 Income Limits (see '120% SPARC' line for your purchase area)

To receive assistance through either program, homebuyers must work with a Virginia Housing-approved lending institution. To find eligible lenders, visit here.