The Virginia Plan to Increase Independent Living Options (VPIILO) serves as the Commonwealth’s roadmap for expanding access to independent, integrated housing opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Established in 2013 to fulfill the requirements of the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement, the Plan continues to guide interagency collaboration among the members of the Commonwealth’s Permanent Supportive Housing Steering Committee and its executives through an Interagency Leadership Team (ILT).

The VPIILO is developed and implemented through a coordinated interagency and stakeholder structure that includes the Permanent Supportive Housing Steering Committee and the Integrated Housing Advisory Committee (IHAC). Together, these entities identify priorities, track progress, and ensure that the Plan remains responsive to evolving needs and opportunities.

The Plan defines “independent living" as housing that is affordable, accessible, and community-based, and where individuals with developmental disabilities lease or own their homes without service participation being a condition of tenancy. It also affirms the Commonwealth’s commitment to ensuring that at least ten percent of adults who receive (or are eligible to receive) a Developmental Disability (DD) Waiver are living independently.

To achieve these outcomes, VPIILO establishes four overarching goals:

1. Increase Affordability of Independent Living;
2. Expand Housing Options;
3. Build Understanding and Awareness of Independent Living Opportunities; and
4. Ensure Effective Access to housing and related supports.

Each goal is supported by strategies and measurable action items that assign lead responsibilities, outline timelines, and identify resources and performance indicators. Quarterly reporting and ongoing data review through DBHDS’s Quality Management System ensure transparency and accountability.

Since inception, Virginia has made substantial progress. The number of adults with developmental disabilities living independently has grown from 341 individuals in 2013 to 2,305 individuals as of Fiscal Year 2025 – a total of 9.8% of the target population. This progress has been made possible through targeted rental assistance programs, including DBHDS’s State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), Virginia Housing’s HUD Section 811 PRAC initiative, and Public Housing Authority partnerships, which together now support thousands of individuals with extremely low incomes in securing affordable, accessible homes.

Additionally, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Leasing Preference established by Virginia Housing has generated more than 805 units placed in service statewide designated for individuals with DD, and 26.7% of those units already leased by individuals with developmental disabilities. Regional variation in utilization highlights the ongoing importance of adequate DD Waiver service availability and housing support services such as Community Housing Guides (CHGs), which provide pre- and post-tenancy support to promote successful community living.

The 2025 update to the Plan, attached as an appendix to this report builds on this foundation, setting the stage for the next phase of system improvement and expansion.