Voucher-Friendly Housing in Norfolk

NRHA serves the city of Norfolk, operating public housing communities — such as Young Terrace, Calvert Square, Oakleaf Forest, and Diggs Town — along with the Housing Choice Voucher program. Some older communities are being redeveloped as mixed-income neighborhoods. Rent in NRHA public housing is income-based, set at roughly 30% of adjusted household income.

NRHA maintains waitlists for public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program, applied for online through nrha.myhousing.com. Waitlists open and close periodically depending on availability and funding. Check current status with NRHA before applying, and never pay to apply.

Virginia protects renters from source-of-income discrimination statewide. Under the Virginia Fair Housing Law (Va. Code § 36-96 et seq.), effective July 1, 2020, landlords generally may not refuse to rent to you simply because you would pay with a Housing Choice Voucher or other lawful assistance. Two important exceptions: landlords who own four or fewer rental properties in Virginia are exempt, and the protection does not apply if the funding source is not approved within 15 days. If a landlord rejects your voucher, you may have a right to file a complaint with the Virginia Fair Housing Office.

Apply through the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) at nrha.us (online at nrha.myhousing.com) when waitlists are open. Rent is based on income (about 30% of adjusted household income); eligibility is generally limited to households at or below local income limits. Call NRHA at (757) 624-8615. Applications are free — never pay to apply.