Loudoun County Approves $7 Million for Affordable Housing

Loudoun County is investing more than $7 million in two housing projects aimed at making it easier for more people to afford to live in the county.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved $7.07 million in loans and pre-development funding for projects in Ashburn and Middleburg. The funding could ultimately support 78 new rental homes — 72 apartments in the Ashburn area and six future rental townhomes in Middleburg.

The county officially refers to this type of housing as “attainable housing,” and the latest investment is part of a much larger effort to address Loudoun’s unmet housing needs.

So, what exactly did supervisors approve — and who could potentially qualify for these homes?

Affordable Housing in Loudoun County: What Supervisors Approved

The Board approved the funding during its July 22, 2026, meeting, with the county announcing the awards in September.

The largest portion — nearly $6.8 million — will go to SCG Development for a planned 72-unit rental development in the Ashburn area.

Of those homes:

• 8 will be reserved for households earning no more than 30% of Area Median Income, or AMI.

• 64 will be reserved for households earning no more than 60% of AMI.

The county says the development will remain affordable for at least 60 years.

A construction start date has not yet been announced.

The funding comes through Loudoun County’s Attainable Housing Loan Program, which provides financing to developers creating or preserving housing for households at specified income levels.

What Does “Attainable Housing” Actually Mean?

If you don't regularly follow housing policy, “attainable housing” may not be a familiar term.

In Loudoun County, attainable housing generally refers to housing intended to be affordable to households earning no more than 100% of the Area Median Income. For rental projects financed through the county's Attainable Housing Loan Program, households must earn no more than 70% of AMI.

That distinction matters because affordable housing in Loudoun County isn't necessarily limited to households earning what many people would consider a very low income.

Loudoun's housing programs use income limits that vary by household size and program. In a county with high housing costs, that can mean families earning incomes that sound substantial on paper may still qualify for certain housing programs.

It's one reason the conversation about housing affordability in Loudoun is more complicated than the phrase “affordable housing” sometimes suggests.

Middleburg Could Get Six New Rental Townhomes

The second project is much smaller, but its location makes it interesting.

Supervisors approved $287,900 for the Windy Hill Foundation for pre-development work on vacant land the organization owns in Middleburg.

The money will help pay for early-stage work such as architectural design review and site engineering as Windy Hill prepares the property for the potential development of six attainable rental townhomes.

That's an important distinction: the county has not provided construction funding for six completed homes. This award helps move the project through the planning and development process.

Why Is Loudoun County Spending Money on Housing?

The investments are tied to Loudoun County's Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan.

The county adopted the plan in 2021 and set a goal of creating 8,200 new attainable housing units by the end of 2040.

That goal reflects a challenge that reaches beyond the price of an individual house or apartment.

Housing affordability affects whether teachers, first responders and other workers can live near the communities they serve. It can affect whether young adults can remain in Loudoun after leaving home, whether families can find housing that fits their budgets and whether older residents have options if their housing needs change.

And while much of the housing conversation in Northern Virginia understandably focuses on home prices and mortgage rates, the availability and cost of rental housing are part of the equation, too.

What Does This Mean for Loudoun County Residents?

Seventy-eight potential new homes represent a relatively small addition to a county the size of Loudoun.

But the $7 million investment is worth watching because it shows how the county is approaching a much bigger question: how do you create housing for a broader range of incomes in one of Northern Virginia's most expensive housing markets?

The answer increasingly includes a combination of private development, public funding and requirements that certain homes remain affordable for extended periods.

In the Ashburn project, for example, the affordability commitment will last at least 60 years.

And Loudoun's ambitions extend well beyond these two projects. Its long-term target of 8,200 new attainable units by 2040 means residents are likely to see additional housing proposals, funding decisions and development discussions in the years ahead.

Affordable Housing in Loudoun County Is a Story Worth Watching

Housing discussions can quickly become debates about growth, density, traffic, development and neighborhood character.

But there's another side of the conversation: who gets to live here?

As Loudoun continues to evolve, affordable housing in Loudoun County will increasingly be about whether people across a range of incomes can find a place within the community — not simply whether more houses or apartments get built.

These 78 potential rental homes won't solve Loudoun's housing affordability challenge.

But they are another piece of a much larger story about what Loudoun will look like, how it will grow and who will be able to call it home.

Source: Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development.