The Housing division of Neighborhood Development Services works to promote and support affordable housing development and preservation. This division focuses on implementing the Affordable Housing Plan and Affordable Dwelling Unit Program, managing the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund (CAHF), administering the CAHF and Housing Operations and Program Support grant programs, and developing housing programs that promote equity and anti-displacement strategies.

In 2021, the City of Charlottesville adopted an Affordable Housing Plan. This plan was the first major milestone in the Cville Plans Together process, with an updated Comprehensive Plan following in late 2021. These two plans informed the City's zoning ordinance update, with the City's Development Code adopted in 2023. The City's Housing programs and resources support implementation of the Affordable Housing Plan.

The City’s Affordable Housing Needs Assessment in 2018 informed the City’s policies included in the Affordable Housing Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and affordable housing requirements. The assessment found a need for 3,318 affordable housing units in 2017 and 4,020 by 2040. The 2021 Affordable Housing Plan found that more than 2,700 renter households in Charlottesville pay more than 50 percent of their income on rent and utilities. These figures highlight the need for more housing construction and more affordable units.

The City and its partners have multiple housing resources, including the community resource hotline, homeless information hotline, housing resources guide, and state resources hotline (211).