Protect Affordable Housing for Herndon’s Working Families

Herndon Town Council

The Issue

Herndon’s working class families are struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads. Half of households earning less than $75,000 spend 50% or more of their income on rent. Black and Hispanic working class families are most likely to be suffering from unsustainable housing costs.

Cost-burdened households are forced to cut back on essentials like education, child care, health care, and nutrition in order to remain housed. High housing cost burden limits economic opportunity, creates disparities in health outcomes, and traps families in a cycle of poverty.

Why is This Happening?

The town of Herndon has, for many years, failed to address this issue. They have not made sufficient efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing. Most of the housing that is currently being built will not be accessible for the working class.

What Can We Do?

New Virginia Majority and its coalition partners are calling on the Herndon town council to adopt an ordinance that would ensure that 40% of all new housing units are affordable for those earning 40% of the area median income or below. This ordinance will ensure that Herndon's working class will be able to afford to live in our town, that they can build a prosperous future for themselves and their children, and remain an essential pillar of our community.

Sign our petition to tell the Herndon Town Council to adopt NVM’s housing ordinance to increase affordable housing for the working class!

To: Herndon Town Council
From: [Your Name]

I am deeply concerned about the growing housing crisis facing working‑class families in Herndon. Too many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads. Half of all households earning less than $75,000 are spending 50% or more of their income on rent. Black and Hispanic working‑class families are disproportionately burdened, facing the highest rates of unsustainable housing costs.

When families have to use so much of their income towards housing, they are forced to cut back on essentials such as childcare, health care, education, and nutritious food. This level of cost burden limits economic opportunity, hurts long‑term health outcomes, and traps families in a cycle of poverty.

For years, the Town of Herndon has not taken sufficient action to address this crisis. The supply of affordable housing has not kept pace with community needs, and most new development remains out of reach for working‑class residents.

We are calling on the Herndon Town Council to adopt an ordinance requiring that 40% of all new housing units be affordable to households earning 40% of the area median income or below. This policy would help ensure that working‑class families can continue to live in Herndon, build stability, and contribute to the community they call home.

Herndon’s working families are essential to the strength and future of our town. They deserve the opportunity to remain here, raise their children here, and thrive here.

We urge you to adopt New Virginia Majority’s proposed affordable housing ordinance.