Problem

 

Since the pandemic housing has become unaffordable for a large minority of the local residents. Migration from urban areas to Warren County have helped drive rent prices up over 20% in the last 2 years with Fair Market Rent (FMR) soaring to 82% above the state average (Rentdata.org). Wage prices have been largely stagnant with the median household income in Warren County is 64,025 per year (2023 US Census). Average yearly rent including utilities cost $30,000.00 per year, that equates to half of all residents spending half of their income on housing which is the definition for severely cost burdened by housing (Virginia Housing Alliance). Virginia has a shortage of 300,000 affordable rental homes with virtually zero affordable production in Warren County for the last 30 years. These factors have substantially contributed to the housing insecurities faced by Warren County families. Many of these families are already in trouble, with countless more only a circumstance away. Unfortunately for these families there are no shelter or transitional housing options to allow them to get back on their feet. Children of these families are the ones who end up as Mckinney Vento students and often times foster care.