Contact Us
Phone
Email
City of Richmond
Housing & Community Development
Main Street Station
1500 East Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219
Introducing the City of Richmond Faith & Housing Initiative
Like most cities in the United States, Richmond faces an affordable housing crisis. More than 20,000 affordable units are needed to accommodate expected growth scenarios in the River City, making the development of additional housing a top priority for current and future residents.
Mayor Danny Avula has charged City leaders to think creatively about housing development, a key pillar in his Housing Plan. One solution is to build housing on faith-owned properties — underutilized land and/or buildings that can be adapted or redesigned for housing.
A new state law which takes effect on January 1, 2027 will pave the way for institutions of faith to develop affordable housing on their properties, and the City of Richmond will be ready.
About the Program
The initial two-year program, facilitated by national sacred/civic placemaking nonprofit Sympara , will support faith communities with education and technical assistance, leading a pilot cohort of 12 area congregations through a 12-month process, from plan development and funding to navigating the City’s regulatory process.
At the conclusion of the two-year pilot, the City will have developed and documented a roadmap which congregations may follow to develop housing on their property, and cohort participants will have made considerable progress towards the same.
How to Get Involved
Starting in January 2027, the City will lead a cohort of 12 area congregations on a 12-month peer-learning experience to help them discern their calling to housing, engage neighbors and other community stakeholders in visioning, and prepare for the multiyear journey with developers, funders, and programmatic partners.
If selected, each congregation is asked to prepare a team of six leaders, including clergy and neighbors. The cohort will kick off with a daylong Saturday gathering, followed by monthly 90-minute lunch sessions on a weekday, and conclude with another Saturday gathering. The cohort experience will include; theological reflection, faith-rooted community development, asset-mapping, site analysis, market and financial feasibility, and individual coaching, to name a few.
Virtual Information Sessions
- November 4, 2026, 12p - 1p ET | RSVP to [email protected]
- November 6, 2026, 12p - 1p ET | RSVP to [email protected]
Application
Applications are now open for interested congregations. Apply today at go.rva.gov/ApplyFaithHousing
Applications close on November 30, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Evaluation Criteria
The purpose of the application is to determine a congregation’s readiness to embark upon the multiyear journey of housing development. Applications will be judged by:
- Developable Property: excess land and/or buildings that can be redesigned or reconstructed to make room for housing
- Leadership Capacity: passion, skill, and bandwidth in clergy and laity
- Social Capital: community relationships that can be leveraged
- Expansive Mission: a commitment to reimagine the nature of spiritual community with neighbors of other faiths and no religious affiliation
Learn more in the linked Cohort Overview.
Documents & Updates
October 20, 2026: Faith & Housing Initiative Launch
- Press Release: City of Richmond Launches Faith & Housing Initiative to Encourage Affordable Housing Development
- Faith and Housing Cohort Overview
