Governor Ralph Northam announced $2.2 million in Homeless Reduction Grants through the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF) for 30 projects in Virginia. The selected projects will result in targeted efforts to reduce homelessness around the Commonwealth. The grants will support 16 rapid re-housing projects, 12 existing permanent supportive housing projects, and the pre-development of two permanent supportive housing projects.
Successful efforts by the Governor and the General Assembly to increase the Virginia Housing Trust Fund allowed 16 additional projects totaling $1.1 million in funding to be awarded this fiscal year. Additional affordable housing construction loans will also be made possible with the increased funding which will be announced in the coming months.
“Virginia is focused on targeting our funds toward systematic strategies that have been proven successful in reducing homelessness, like rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing,” said Governor Northam. “We know that having a stable, safe, and affordable place to live is key to achieving positive educational outcomes, securing a good job, and leading a healthy, productive life—with this funding, we are working to strengthen our communities and ensure that no Virginian is left behind.”
Since 2010, overall homelessness in Virginia has decreased 34 percent, and homelessness among families has decreased 44 percent. Homelessness among veterans has decreased 48 percent since 2011, and in 2015, Virginia became the first state in the country to functionally end veteran homelessness. These successes have been driven by the leadership of the Governor’s Coordinating Council on Homelessness, collaboration between state and local partners, and the allocation of funding to support a systematic approach at the community level. Resources to address homelessness in Virginia are administered through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Homeless Solutions Program, which is a combination of state and federal funds.
“The Virginia Housing Trust Fund is a key resource in our efforts to reduce homelessness and make affordable housing more readily available for all,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “Housing is the foundation to building and sustaining healthy and vibrant communities for all Virginians.”
At least 80 percent of the funds allocated to the VHTF must be used to provide loans that reduce the costs of affordable rental housing and homeownership. Up to 20 percent may be used for grants to reduce homelessness. Eligible activities of the Homelessness Reduction Grant pool include rapid re-housing, support services for permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless, and pre-development of permanent supportive housing projects for chronically homeless individuals or families.
The applications were reviewed, evaluated and scored, and $2.2 million was allocated for 30 projects. The increase in the Housing Trust Fund in the state budget allowed all projects meeting the scoring threshold to be funded.
2019 Homeless Reduction Grant Awardees
| Organization | Project/Activity | Award | Communities Served |
| Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) | ACTS Permanent Supportive Housing Supportive Services | $41,525 | Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and Prince William County |
| Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Inc. (A-SPAN) | The A-SPAN Supportive Housing Project | $35,000 | Arlington County |
| City of Chesapeake | Homeless Youth Rapid Re-Housing Project | $100,000 | Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties |
| City of Hampton | Youth Homelessness | $100,000 | Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and James City and York counties |
| Cornerstones | Rapid Re-Housing Plus | $100,000 | Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church |
| Council of Community Services | Housing Trust Fund Rapid Re-Housing Project | $35,000 | Cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem and Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke counties |
| Doorways for Women and Families | Doorways for Women and Families Housing Trust Fund Fiscal Year 2019 | $25,000 | Arlington County |
| ForKids, Inc. | ForKids Bridge Rapid Re-Housing | $50,000 | Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Isle of Wight and Southampton County |
| HomeAgain | Single Individuals Rapid Re-Housing Initiative | $100,000 | City of Richmond and Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, New Kent, Charles City, and Powhatan counties |
| Mercy House, Inc. | Mercy House Rapid Re-Housing Program | $100,000 | Cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester, and Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties |
| Micah Ecumenical Ministries | Fredericksburg Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing | $51,500 | City of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties |
| Micah Ecumenical Ministries | Fredericksburg Continuum of Care Rapid Re-Housing Program | $77,250 | City of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties |
| Miriam’s House | Community First Rapid Re-Housing | $100,000 | Cities of Bedford and Lynchburg, and Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties |
| New Hope Housing –Alexandria | Alexandria Housing First Apartments Program | $55,000 | City of Alexandria |
| New Hope Housing – Arlington | Arlington Permanent Supportive Housing Project | $100,000 | Arlington County |
| New Hope Housing – Fairfax | Fairfax County Housing First Permanent Supportive Housing Program | $55,000 | Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, and Fairfax County |
| Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) | NVFS Greater Prince William Rapid Re-Housing and Stabilization Services | $100,000 | Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and Prince William County |
| People Inc. | King’s Housing Trust Fund | $10,000 | City of Bristol and Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell, and Washington counties |
| People Inc. | Hope Center | $91,410 | Prince William County |
| Samaritan House, Inc. | Rapid Re-Housing | $100,000 | City of Virginia Beach |
| Shelter House | Shelter House Rapid Re-Housing 2019 | $100,000 | Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church |
| St. Joseph’s Villa | Continuation of the Petersburg High School Housing Stability Pilot Program | $62,725 | City of Petersburg |
| St. Joseph’s Villa | Fiscal Year 2019 St. Joseph’s Villa Housing Trust Fund | $55,000 | Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Emporia, and Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex counties |
| Steps, Inc. | Heartland Local Planning Group/Steps, Inc. | $13,590 | Amelia, Buckingham, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward counties |
| Virginia Supportive Housing | 2019 The Crossings | $82,000 | City of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson counties |
| Virginia Supportive Housing | 2019 Gosnold and Church Street | $100,000 | Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties |
| Virginia Supportive Housing | 2019 Cloverleaf and Crescent Square – Virginia Beach | $100,000 | City of Virginia Beach |
| Virginia Supportive Housing | 2019 New Clay and South Richmond Studios – Richmond | $100,000 | City of Richmond and Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, New Kent, Charles City, and Powhatan counties |
| Virginia Supportive Housing | Cool Lane Apartments | $100,000 | City of Richmond and Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, New Kent, Charles City, and Powhatan counties |
| Virginia Supportive Housing | 2019 Heron’s Landing – Chesapeake | $60,000 | Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties |
| TOTAL | $2,200,000 | ||
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