Tenants facing eviction in Alexandria have a new resource available.
The city’s General District Court launched an eviction diversion program on July 1, giving residents being evicted three chances to pay back rent to their landlords.
The program resulted from new Virginia laws from Del. Adele McClure (D-2) and state Sen. Mamie Locke (D-23) on setting guidelines for eviction diversion programs. The laws require any general district courts with eviction diversion programs to provide eligibility and other program information to tenants facing an unlawful detainer.
Tenants that qualify for the program must pay 10% of what they owe at their eviction hearing in court and be able to pay the balance of what they owe in three equal installments. They will also have to swear under oath that they have sufficient income to make monthly rent payments.
“The Eviction Diversion Program gives tenants who are facing eviction for nonpayment of rent an opportunity to pay past-due amounts on a structured, court-ordered payment plan while remaining in their homes,” the city said in a release. “If the tenant successfully completes the plan, the eviction case is dismissed.”
As of April, 469 writs for eviction were issued across the city this year, an 18% decrease for the same period in 2025. There were also 1,150 summonses issued to residents, a 32% decrease over last year, according to city data.
Tenants are eligible for the program if they:
- Appear in court at the first court hearing and ask the Judge to be referred to the Eviction Diversion Program
- Pay at least 10% of the total amount due to their landlord at the hearing
- Have income or funds sufficient to complete the payment plan
- Not owe outstanding rent under a payment plan from the last 12 months
- Not have defaulted on a rent payment plan in the last 12 months
- Not have participated in an eviction diversion program in the last 12 months
Alexandria residents seeking rental assistance may also contact the Department of Community and Human Services at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) or 703-746-5700, or see resources online.
