The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It administers housing, community development, homelessness, building regulation, fire regulation, and broadband programs in Virginia. The department is part of the executive branch of state government and operates under the Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. DHCD is headquartered at 600 East Main Street in downtown Richmond, Virginia.
History and organization DHCD was established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1977. Under the Code of Virginia, the department is led by a director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the General Assembly. The department is under the authority of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Tamarah Holmes was appointed director in 2026.
Programs and responsibilities DHCD administers state and federal programs involving housing, homelessness services, community development, economic revitalization, broadband, building codes, and fire regulations. It works with local governments, planning district commissions, nonprofit organizations, private-sector entities, and federal agencies.
Housing and homelessness The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission has identified DHCD as Virginia's lead state agency for housing programs, while Virginia Housing serves as the state's housing finance agency. DHCD's housing-related work includes affordable housing development, homelessness services, eviction reduction, housing rehabilitation, and local housing planning. The department also has duties related to manufactured-home communities. In 2024, Virginia Mercury reported that DHCD had received 146 notices of intent to sell or purchase manufactured-home parks since 2020.
Community development DHCD administers programs for downtown revitalization, community planning, infrastructure, and local economic development. These include the Virginia Main Street Program, Community Development Block Grant programs, the Industrial Revitalization Fund, and other grant programs for local governments and community organizations. In 2023, Cardinal News reported on state revitalization awards connected to DHCD programs in Lynchburg and Martinsville, including funding for mixed-use buildings and housing preservation in downtown areas.
Building and fire regulation DHCD supports the administration of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and related building and fire regulations. The Uniform Statewide Building Code applies to the construction, maintenance, repair, renovation, and change of use of buildings and structures in Virginia. The Board of Housing and Community Development adopts and amends the code, while local governments generally enforce it. Building-code issues involving DHCD have been covered in state housing-policy reporting. In 2022, Virginia Mercury reported on proposals related to multifamily building design and stairway requirements.
Broadband DHCD's Office of Broadband administers Virginia's state broadband programs and serves as the state's point of contact for broadband-related activities. Its work includes broadband infrastructure grants, mapping, line-extension assistance, broadband adoption, and digital opportunity programs. The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, or VATI, is a state broadband grant program administered by DHCD. It supports broadband expansion to unserved areas through partnerships between local governments and internet service providers. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission has described the program as a way to supplement construction costs by private-sector providers working with local governments. In 2024, Virginia awarded $41.6 million in VATI grants, including awards for localities in Southwest and Southside Virginia. DHCD also administers Virginia's participation in the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). Virginia was allocated about $1.48 billion through the program, which is administered nationally by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. In 2025, Cardinal News reported that federal rule changes affected Virginia's BEAD process and that DHCD later issued updated award and location recommendations. The outlet later reported that federal approval allowed Virginia to proceed with plans to connect about 133,000 residences, businesses, and community buildings to high-speed internet service. DHCD maintains broadband mapping resources, including the Commonwealth Connection broadband availability map. In 2023, Cardinal News reported that DHCD worked with Virginia Tech's Center for Geospatial Information Technology to compare Virginia broadband data with the federal broadband map. The review helped the state identify additional broadband-deficient locations and increase its expected BEAD allocation. The Office of Broadband has also been designated to lead Virginia's digital opportunity planning under federal digital equity programs. Another DHCD program, the Line Extension Customer Assistance Program, helps low- and moderate-income residents connect homes that require additional construction to reach existing broadband networks. Stafford County and Loudoun County have described the program as assistance for broadband line-extension, or "long drop", costs.
See also Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Virginia Housing Community Development Block Grant Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
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