Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond has issued a temporary pause in the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program, effective Jan. 1, 2026, in order to make improvements aimed at strengthening program administration and improving efficiency so that financial assistance can be delivered more quickly and effectively to Richmond homeowners and renters experiencing financial hardship.

"The core mission of the program, to provide critical housing stability support for residents in need, will remain unchanged," said Director of Finance Letitia Shelton. "This pause allows us to improve how the program operates so we can better serve applicants and ensure funds are reaching those who need them most."

In a memo sent to the Finance and Economic Development Committee earlier today, Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II outlined some of the challenges faced in implementing the program, including limited staffing, incomplete submissions, and manual processing constraints.

"Simply put, this pause was not communicated clearly to Richmonders in need," he said. "The best apology is often corrected behavior. The singular focus of the administration is to strengthen program delivery and accountability so that, when the program returns, it is positioned to better meet the urgent needs of our residents."

Among the initial recommendations levied in the memo is one calling for outside support in the program's administration. "Although this program is an important and much needed service to the Richmond community," the memo reads, "it is not a core function for the Department of Finance. Securing the services of an outside vendor would drastically improve the service and free up Finance staff to focus on core services."

The City will continue to review and process applications that were received on or before December 31. Applicants who submitted materials by that date do not need to take any additional action at this time and payments to those qualified will continue.

At the conclusion of the review period, the Department of Finance will announce next steps on the program's reintroduction. Residents are encouraged to monitor the City's website and social media channels for the latest information.

About the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program

Introduced at the end of 2024 for a 2025 rollout, the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program is a first-come, first-serve housing relief program that offers a one-time payment of $1200 for rental or mortgage payment assistance to qualifying applicants. This program is jointly operated by the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Services to provide financial assistance that helps fill the gap for low-income households in the City of Richmond.

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