Chesterfield County 5-Year Consolidated Plan Summary of FY26-30 Consolidated Plan for the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The Consolidated Plan is a comprehensive, detailed plan that guides the county’s investment of federal, state and local housing resources over the next five years. It is based on a needs assessment and market analysis that utilizes data from a variety of sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and local real estate data sources, in addition to data gathered through stakeholder and resident input to identify priority needs. The plan lays out goals and strategies for actions that will meet those needs and enhance the lives of members of our community to the fullest extent possible. The Consolidated Plan will be effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.

Needs Assessment and Market Analysis

The county's Department of Community Enhancement began working on the FY26-FY30 Consolidated Plan in August 2024. Staff hired the consultant Root Policy Research for the housing needs assessment and market analysis to get a thorough and accurate depiction of the current needs in the county. Staff also conducted extensive stakeholder consultation and community outreach to supplement the data analysis. Staff spoke with nonprofit organizations and county departments and state agencies that are involved in housing, social services, and community development. Staff also developed a community survey for Chesterfield residents and stakeholders.

Need for housing affordability

There is a significant need for more diverse and affordable rental and homeownership options for residents across all income levels in the county. Since the completion of the county’s previous Consolidated Plan, the county has seen significant losses in rental and purchase affordability for its residents.

The median income renter-households could afford to rent a median-priced unit in 2018 but by 2023 were unable to. Between 2018 and 2023, the county’s median gross rent increased by 28%, more than twice as fast as growth in median renter household income (+12%).

Due to rising interest rates, the income required to afford a median-priced home increased by 86%, more than three times as fast as the simultaneous growth in median household income (+24%).

Recent decreases in affordability of homes for purchase impacts many households in the county’s essential workforce in the ability to afford a home. For example, single-earner public school teachers could have afforded 16% of homes sold in the county in 2018-2019, but only 1% of homes sold in 2023-2024. Two-teacher households could have afforded 79% of homes sold in 2018-2019, but only 42% of homes sold in 2023-2024.

The most widespread HUD defined “housing problem” is housing cost-burdened, or a household spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs. Cost burdened is a particularly important indicator because it indicates how well a household can manage other expenses (childcare, transportation, health care, etc.) and how much disposable income a household has to contribute to the economy. 53% of the county’s low to moderate income renters and 38% of homeowners are cost burdened. 80% of extremely low-income renter households are severely cost burdened (paying more than 50% of their income for housing) and are considered at risk for homelessness.

Gaps in homeownership

Nearly 80% of Chesterfield County households own their homes according to 2023 ACS estimates, but there are significant gaps in homeownership by race and ethnicity.

• Non-Hispanic White and Asian households have the highest homeownership rates (84%). Relative to the homeownership rates of households overall (79%) and non-Hispanic White households (84%), homeownership is disproportionately low for households who are Hispanic (55%), African American (65%), American Indian/Alaska Native (66%), and other races (51%). Homeownership has increased by at least two percentage points since 2017 for all groups studied except for Hispanic households.

Housing instability and homelessness

Housing unaffordability can lead to unstable housing situations and potentially homelessness.

• The county's Department of Social Service’s Assessment and Resource Team received over 4,000 calls from 2023-2024 related to families needing assistance paying rent and utilities or facing eviction.
• The Housing Resource Line, operated by the Partnership for Housing Affordability, received over 300 calls from January-September 2024 from Chesterfield residents needing financial assistance for housing costs.
• There are no shelters for homeless households in Chesterfield County. County residents who lose housing often relocate to surrounding areas including Richmond to access shelters and resources. Based on data from the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GrCoC) Point-In-Time Count, approximately 400 Chesterfield residents experience homelessness each year.
• Rates of homeless youth have been rising in recent years. 933 pre-K to 12th grade children were identified as experiencing homelessness in Chesterfield County in 2022-2023, equating to 1.5% of all pre-K to 12th students. This count is 31.4% higher than the 2021-2022 count of 710 students and 90% higher than the 2020-2021 count of 491 students.
• The county is utilizing federal funding, via the American Rescue Plan, to support housing stability efforts. However, once funding is exhausted, there is no other dedicated source of funding source to address the ongoing need. Currently, $300,000 of ARP funding is allocated for Area Congregations Together in Service's (ACTS) Eviction Prevention Program. Additionally, $300,000 was allocated to Housing Families First to assist 45 households with children transition from temporary and unstable housing situations to permanent rental housing

Access and availability of services, facilities and housing for Special Needs Populations

Special Needs Populations is defined as the elderly, frail elderly, persons with disabilities (mental, physical, developmental), persons with alcohol or other drug addictions and persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, and victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The consistent and urgent needs across various special needs population include the shortage of affordable rental options and homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income households, emergency shelters for persons experiencing homelessness and access to essential services. Based on stakeholder consultations and American Community Survey Census data, there is a need to increase facilities and services for individuals with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic violence and individuals recovering from substance addictions.

Chesterfield has 42,484 noninstitutionalized residents with disabilities, with 14% living below the poverty line, equating to 5,778 individuals needing housing and supportive services. Chesterfield’s Mental Health Support Services (MHSS) provides services to residents diagnosed with a developmental disability. However, there are significant service gaps for individuals with complex needs. Challenges also exist for those in recovery from mental health concerns due to inadequate disability income and a lack of waiver systems for persistent mental illness, complicating access to needed services and supportive housing. SOAR365, which serves individuals with disabilities and operates Camp Baker, faces significant challenges due to increasing demand and insufficient funding, leading to a reduction in service capacity.

In 2023, the Chesterfield Police Department responded to 8,477 domestic violence (DV) service calls resulting in 1,135 arrests and 450 DV offenders were placed on probation. The county’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center (DSVRC) assisted 721 clients in 2024, 45% clients with children. Based on rates from National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) and estimates of annual domestic violence incidences in Chesterfield, approximately 1,138 individuals need housing support due to domestic violence each year. There are currently no shelters for survivors within county limits. The YWCA received $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for rapid rehousing for domestic violence survivors in the county. However, once funding is exhausted, there is no other dedicated source of funding source to address the ongoing need.

An estimated 52,637 county residents experience a substance use disorder. About 21,823 residents need and are not receiving treatment for substance use disorder. Chesterfield MHSS receives about 480-600 referrals for recovery housing a month for individuals released from county jails who are in recovery. Only 5% of the referrals secured housing outside of the county since recovery housing is not permitted in Chesterfield, emphasizing the need for additional housing options.

Public improvements to infrastructure and facilities

Sidewalks, streetlights and similar neighborhood improvements were identified as an unmet need by 65% of survey respondents, making this the most frequently reported public improvement need. Other public improvement needs identified by the survey included improvements to parks/playgrounds (an unmet need according to 26% of respondents) and accessibility improvements to public buildings (an unmet need according to 19% of respondents). Access to reliable public transportation, identified as an unmet need by 51% of respondents, could be improved by providing public improvements such as additional bus stops and bus stop enhancements.

The need to access reliable public transportation was stated in many of the stakeholder consultation meetings, especially with service providers who work with vulnerable populations such as individuals with disabilities, the elderly, or survivors of domestic violence who may not have access to a personal vehicle.

Access to public services and resources

Through engagement with stakeholders combined with analysis of survey findings, the Chesterfield County Department of Community Enhancement identified the following as public service needs in the county.

• Programming for at-risk youth and students aimed to improve educational outcomes.
• Workforce development and financial literacy training programs, such as programs that provide access to low interest vehicle loans and employment navigation.
• Affordable childcare
• Programming to address food insecurity

Consolidated Plan Goals

Five goals and objectives were developed based on the needs assessment

Goal 1: Promote Housing Stability

Reduce homelessness by increasing the number of permanent supportive housing units and by supporting existing collaborative programming that helps reduce homelessness.

Prevent evictions by sustaining partnerships with community-based organizations and fund programs that reduce evictions, such as financial assistance for rent, utilities and legal aid.

Provide home repair services to help seniors age in place, including necessary repair and accessibility modifications. Additionally, provide home repair services to enhance manufactured home park improvements.