Five nonprofit organizations received a boost from the City of Waynesboro’s vitality fund to assist residents facing economic hardships in an effort to build a more resilient community.
Waynesboro City Council allocated one-third of its vitality fund budget, or $100,000, to partners who will help residents with home repairs, rental and utility assistance, food and stabilization services and case management. The funds will also support shelter services for unhoused residents.
The initiative, called ONE Waynesboro (Opportunity, Navigation, Empowerment), is designed to help with wrap-around services focused on housing and food insecurity. Eligibility is open to Waynesboro residents meeting economic criteria, with a focus on those most in need.
The announcement comes on the heels of a federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1; Democrats are fighting for an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire on Dec. 31. Without an extension, the tax credits will expire on Dec. 31. On average, households enrolled in the Virginia Insurance Marketplace are expected to pay $500 more per month without the tax credits. Open enrollment for the ACA begins on Saturday. The hardest hit by the change will be individuals earning $40,000 or less.
As a result of the government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits have been delayed throughout the nation. Virginia will provide SNAP recipients with a weekly food assistance payment via existing electronic benefit transfer cards to fill the gap. Most households receive approximately $170 in benefits each month.
It’s likely that households that rely on SNAP were already feeling the pinch when it comes to reduced help from the federal government. Republicans in Congress voted earlier this year to reduce spending for SNAP by $267 billion over 10 years, meaning less money for recipients even when the government is open and running normally.
“ONE Waynesboro represents our commitment to empowering residents with the tools and support they need to stabilize, survive and thrive,” said Terry R. Short, Jr., Waynesboro City Council member and liaison for ONE Waynesboro.
“By partnering with trusted local organizations, we’re filling critical gaps left by evolving changes in state and federal funding, serving as a hand up for individuals and families during their most challenging of times.”
ONE Waynesboro aims to address the emergency needs of the community while also working to build lasting economic security. The initial funds have been allocated to five nonprofits: Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta, HERO, the River City Bread Basket, Embrace Waynesboro and Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry.
The Community Action Partnership of Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro, or CAPSAW, is working with the city to track the funds and capture the impact of the $100,000 allocation. A report will be presented to Waynesboro City Council next May.
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Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta called the funding “a game-changer” for homeowners unable to afford home-repair costs.
“We’ve encountered too many situations where a family desperately needs a new roof, electrical system upgrades, or foundation repairs — work that simply can’t be done by volunteers,” said Sharon Coplai, executive director of Renewing Homes. “This program allows us to bridge that critical gap and ensure that no homeowner falls through the cracks.”
HERO said it hears from Waynesboro families regularly who are desperate – facing eviction or utility cutoffs.
“Every day we hear from Waynesboro residents who are struggling to make ends meet and turn to us because they’ve run out of options,” said Sarah Mendonca, director of HERO.
The remaining $200,000 allocated for the vitality fund will be set aside in a capital reserve fund, Short told AFP.
“A goal would be, over time, to acquire property to facilitate a public-private partnership affordable housing project,” he said.
ONE Waynesboro initial recipients
- Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta, $30,000: Will expand eligibility to serve more working families, completing approximately 10-12 projects to keep homes safe, livable and energy-efficient
- HERO of Waynesboro, $20,000: Will provide direct support to about 60-70 households, preventing evictions and utility shutoffs while connecting families to longer-term resources
- River City Bread Basket, $20,000: Will distribute groceries to at least 400 households and offer mini-grants for employment and training supports, such as gas cards and childcare assistance
- Embrace Waynesboro, $15,000: Will serve as the coordination hub, offering intake, referral tracking and ongoing support through office hours at the Waynesboro Library and River City Bread Basket
- Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry, $15,000: WARM will enhance staffing for cold-weather operations and year-round shelter for women and children, ensuring safe havens during harsh weather
Virginia: Did you know?
- There are more than one million renter households in Virginia, paying an average rent of $1,500 per month.
- Evictions are up in 2025 compared to previous years with nearly 106,000 eviction proceedings so far this year in Virginia, representing approximately 13 percent of renters in the state.
- Due to unemployment and a lack of affordable housing in the state, homelessness is rising in Virginia.
- According to the Virginia Housing Alliance, more than 6,700 people in Virginia are homeless on any given night.
Waynesboro: Did you know?
- Waynesboro’s food insecurity rate is higher than the state average, according to Feeding America
- Waynesboro has 3,173 SNAP recipients, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services
- The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves 171,200 guests per month on average including nearly 30,000 seniors and more than 54,000 children
CAPSAW completed a community needs assessment in 2024 looking at Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County.
Among the findings:
- 12,695 households in the CAPSAW region, or 25.18 percent of the population, live in cost-burdened households with more that 30 percent of income going toward housing
- Waynesboro has the highest percentage of cost-burdened residents at 34.12 percent
- Home prices rose 79 percent in Waynesboro from 2014 to 2022; Staunton was higher at 85 percent.
- 12.07 percent of people in Waynesboro are uninsured
- Low health literacy rates are high in Waynesboro at 21.8 percent
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Crystal Graham
