Virginia Housing recognizes the need to create housing that is usable by all people to the greatest extent possible while maintaining aesthetics and affordability. Universal Design has emerged as a set of design features that can integrate seamlessly with a dwelling unit’s design to enhance its usability and marketability. Virginia Housing provides specific incentives for developers wishing to use these features to create spaces that better serve the needs of all people of any age or ability.
Please refer to the
Tax Credit Manual for details on how to obtain points in the tax credit application for Universal Design.
Virginia Housing offers a self-guided, online Universal Design training. Design professionals completing the training will be added to Virginia Housing’s Universal Design Certificate Holder List. The certification is valid for five years from the date of completion. In order to qualify for Universal Design points based upon the Qualified Allocation Plan for Virginia’s Low Income Housing Tax Credits, design professionals must be current certificate holders and their projects are required to meet the Virginia Housing Universal Design Guidelines from the application year. If you are interested in learning more about Universal Design, but do not need to complete the certification, you may access courses individually to learn more. Click
HERE for the online Universal Design training in Virginia Housing’s Partner Education Portal.
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