ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA. — The pilot program has a duration of five years. Full-time county employees earning at or below 80% of the median county income are eligible for a forgivable $20,000 loan for a down payment on a residence in Albemarle County.

The $20,000 loan is forgiven at a rate of 20% per year and is completely forgivable after five years of continuous employment with the county. Full-time county employees earning at or below 60% of the median county income qualify for a one-time rental assistance grant of $2,500 if more than half of their income is spent on rent.

Applications for assistance will be reviewed by a loan committee composed of representatives from the County Attorney’s Office, Human Resources, Office of Housing, and Department of Finance and Budget. Additional eligibility requirements are to be established and program guidelines will be provided to employees as part of the pilot implementation.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development states the median Albemarle County income is $139,800. The median Albemarle County house price is approximately $554,000, while the median rent in Albemarle County is approximately $2,200 per month.

A significant portion of Albemarle County employees earned less than the 80% area median income threshold. Ninety sworn Albemarle County police officers, representing roughly 62% of the force, live outside the county. The starting salary of an Albemarle County police officer is $60,798. Jessica Dimmick, principal transportation planner, said it is a reminder of local housing data that average housing costs have increased.

Rivanna District Supervisor Bea LaPisto-Kirtley emphasized the operational necessity of local residence for emergency personnel. "I think it’s very important, especially for our first responders, police, fire, etc. to live in the county where they service," LaPisto-Kirtley said. "Because when, not if, there’s a disaster, you want them living here."

The board has historically supported affordable housing initiatives, including grants and loans for permanent supportive housing, energy efficiency upgrades, and homeless shelter support. In 2025, the board approved grants and loans from the AHIF for various housing projects.

In 2025, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors increased the real property tax and dedicated a fraction of 0.1 cents to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, increasing the fund’s annual budget for FY2027 by $1.2 million. This financial adjustment provided the resources necessary to launch the five-year pilot aimed at reducing the commute times and housing burdens of county staff.