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Iglesia Santa Maria in Fairfax County is exploring how its underused land can serve its growing Latino congregation and the surrounding community. With VEREP’s guidance, support from St. Mary’s Church in Arlington, and funding from Trinity NYC, the parish is undertaking a feasibility study to assess the viability of building affordable housing while preserving its vital ministries and community partnerships.

As its neighborhood transformed from suburban to urban, Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington faced new challenges in parking, attendance, and financial stability. With support from a Virginia Housing pre-planning grant through VEREP, the church is exploring redevelopment options that align with its mission, address community needs, and ensure long-term sustainability.

In 2024, Epiphany Episcopal Church in Oak Hill (Herndon) undertook a thoughtful process to reimagine its preschool ministry. Facing declining enrollment, staffing challenges, and financial strain, the parish engaged in structured discernment with outside support. The result was a new model for preschool partnership that strengthened the parish’s finances, maintained its ministry identity, and fostered meaningful connections with preschool families.

St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville is addressing aging facilities and growing repair needs through a bold redevelopment plan. With guidance from parishioner input and a partnership with the UVA Foundation, St. Paul’s aims to restore its historic sanctuary, build new parish spaces, and lease office space to support its long-term mission to the University of Virginia community.

St. James United Methodist Church in Alexandria turned a challenging decision about its property into an opportunity to both support affordable housing and expand its ministries.

Central United Methodist Church (CUMC) in Ballston, Arlington, transformed its historic property into a new church facility and 144 affordable housing units through faith, persistence, and partnership.

Fairlington Presbyterian partnered with Wesley Housing to turn part of its parking lot into 81 affordable homes—while keeping its campus and mission thriving.

Faced with financial instability and an aging facility, Church of the Resurrection in Alexandria paused its rector search to engage in deep discernment. What emerged was a bold, Spirit-led decision to lease church land for affordable housing—and in doing so, build a new sanctuary, strengthen their mission, and live more fully into their name.

Facing crumbling infrastructure and rising costs, St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville turned its prime location into an opportunity to live more fully into its founding mission. Through bold visioning, strategic partnership with the UVA Foundation, and faith in future generations, the parish is transforming outdated space into a sustainable, accessible, and missional hub for ministry and community life.

Arlington Presbyterian Church’s journey began with heartbreak and ended in transformation. By letting go of their building and embracing community-centered redevelopment, they became co-creators of Gilliam Place: a vibrant, mixed-use space with 173 affordable apartment homes and a new worship home for APC. Their story is one of faith, bold action, and deep neighborhood commitment.

VEREP has received a new Virginia Housing grant to help congregations in the Diocese of Virginia discern faithful, mission-driven uses for their church property.

U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner has introduced new legislation aimed at making housing more affordable for Virginians.

VEREP has received a $225,000 grant from Virginia Housing to expand mission-driven real estate work, supporting churches in affordable housing and community redevelopment.

Virginia Diocesan Homes is now Virginia Episcopal Real Estate Partners (VEREP), expanding its mission to support churches in reimagining property for housing and community impact.