The backlog for publicly-subsidized housing in Fairfax County swelled by nearly 1,000 applicants in just one month, dimming the possibility of some residents escaping the county’s mile-high home prices.
The waiting list for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and the county’s rental program has grown to 13,173 households, up from 12,226 in June, according to figures provided by the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
Paula Sampson, the department’s director, cites rapid growth in real estate prices, pressure on the rental market, stagnant federal funding and population growth as reasons behind the increase.
It’s unclear, however, why the queue jumped so suddenly over the past month, especially with reports of a cooling housing market.
The waiting list has fluctuated greatly over the past few years. Nevertheless, it has trended upward, growing from only 8,758 households in 2000.
“It’s clear that we would be able to fill almost anything we were able to build, simply because the demand is so high,” said Bob Eiffert, a Fairfax County housing official.
Eiffert said he sees the expanding waiting list as an “indicator of the need for affordable housing in the community.”
Unlike some other jurisdictions, Fairfax County’s waiting list is constantly open, and ranks cases based on a number of factors, not just when the application was received.
“We really feel we have to address the most serious situations first,” said Sampson.
Priority on the list is given to those who live and work in Fairfax County and spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing expenses, said housing department spokeswoman Kristina Norvell. Only rarely does the county reach those who rank in lower priority on the waiting list, she said.
