[Archived] City of Alexandria Greatly Expands Affordable Homeownership Preservation Grant Program

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	May 2, 2006 PIO# 113-06/sjm	Brian Hannigan, Communications Director, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Greatly Expands Affordable Homeownership
Preservation Grant Program

On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, City Council substantially increased the grant amounts, as well as expanded the income qualifications to include more homeowners in the Affordable Homeownership Preservation (AHOP) Grant Program. City Council’s actions more than doubled the amount of grants available to low and moderate income Alexandria households. This is in response to increases in the value of residential property which has resulted in higher real estate taxes.

The City’s AHOP program provides a grant to qualifying homeowners in the form of a credit on a homeowner’s real estate bill. The grant will be applied to the homeowners’ second half real estate tax bill due Nov. 15. Homeowners who meet certain eligibility requirements may be eligible for the City’s AHOP Grant Program. The amount of the grant for 2006 ranges from $200 to $1,200 based on the following chart.

2005 Household Income Ceilings Grant Amount Qualifying Household Size
$0 - $40,000 $1,200 One or More Residents
$40,001 - $55,000 $875 One or More Residents
$55,001 - $72,000 $375 One or More Residents
$72,001 - $87,000 $200 Two or More Residents
$87,001 - $100,000 $200 Three or More Residents

Home Value Ceiling
2006 Property Assessment cannot exceed $527,000

Household Asset Ceiling
2006 Household Assets cannot exceed $50,000
(Excluding house and land, vehicles and retirement plan assets)

The application deadline for the grant is Sept. 1, 2006. Applications will be available to the public in June. To request an application or to obtain additional information on the AHOP Program, please contact the Finance Department, Taxpayer Services Branch, P.O. Box 178, Alexandria, VA 22313 by calling 703.838.4570 or by email at ahop@alexandriava.gov.