Funding will support recovery programs and workforce re-entry in Appalachian communities RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced Virginia will receive grants totaling more than $1.1 million through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) INvestments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) initiative for three projects in the Appalachian region of Virginia. INSPIRE is a new initiative focused on addressing substance abuse disorders in Appalachian communities by creating or expanding a recovery ecosystem that will help people get back into the workforce. “As a doctor and as governor, I have seen the impact of the substance abuse crisis, which has significantly affected our entire Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “We need a focused, regional approach to reducing addiction and supporting recovery. The INSPIRE Initiative will help build a more resilient and thriving Appalachia, and I am proud of the strong collaborative efforts of our regional partners throughout Appalachian Virginia to bring this federally supported program to their communities.” In February, Appalachia’s 13 governors elected Governor Northam to serve as ARC’s States’ Co-Chair for 2021. The ARC region of Virginia encompasses 25 counties and eight independent cities. INSPIRE draws on the work and recommendations developed by ARC’s Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC) to address the impact substance abuse continues to have on the region’s workforce in comparison to the rest of the country. Created in May 2019, the SAAC is a volunteer group of leaders from recovery services, health, economic development, private industry, education, state government, law enforcement, and other sectors representing each of the region’s 13 states. The nation’s substance abuse crisis disproportionately impacts Appalachia, where in 2018 the overdose mortality rate for people ages 25–54 was 43 percent higher than the rest of the country. The devastating health impacts of this crisis also have severe economic impacts, keeping many Appalachian people of prime working age from participating in the labor force and contributing to the region’s economy. “Improving the quality of life for all residents of Appalachia remains a priority for the Northam Administration, and we are eager to use this funding from the INSPIRE initiative to address some of the challenges facing our Appalachian communities,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “These three projects will foster a stronger recovery ecosystem, which is paramount for creating stronger communities and robust workforces, as well as fostering economic prosperity.” This announcement is part of $9.4 million awarded to 30 projects to support recovery-to-work efforts and address the substance abuse crisis in the Appalachian region. For more information on the INSPIRE initiative, visit arc.gov/SUD. The following projects in Virginia will receive ARC INSPIRE Grants: Community Recovery Program Expansion $498,961 Counties of Patrick and Henry and the City of Martinsville This project will enable the Piedmont Regional Community Services Board to build upon its current recovery efforts by transitioning the vocational training program from an in-house service to a community-focused service where the Community Recovery Program (CRP) will offer services to community agencies and faith-based organizations. In exchange for the vocational training program providing janitorial and housekeeping services at these agencies, a fee or donation will be requested from the agency or organization receiving the service. This collaboration provides another opportunity for CRP participants to secure real work experience, build skills, and foster funding for the program to sustain the increase in staff.   Project: Amelioration Phase II $371,000 County of Wise This project will identify and develop the substance use disorder (SUD) recovery ecosystem, connecting the 30th Judicial Circuit Drug Court’s established, regulated intake and structured network to Mountain Empire Community College’s new pipeline of workforce development. Funding will support two new positions, both of which will combine and connect all available resources to fully engage and assist program participants from identification and enrollment to completion and employment. This connection will remove barriers that tend to derail the recovery process by helping those in recovery maintain employment through the synchronization of multiple services and providers, offering a more efficient and effective path to SUD recovery.   Project Recovery $300,000 Counties of Alleghany and Craig and the City of Covington This project will create a program to provide participants with one-on-one counseling and support, comprehensive assessments to determine needs, training and skill development, and employment placement. This project will also provide education and awareness to the business community on hiring individuals who have experienced substance abuse and how to provide the support needed for new and existing employees who may have been faced with these challenges. Project Recovery will capitalize on the services and organizations that are established to assist individuals with recovery-to-work and provide holistic, wraparound services to individuals affected by substance abuse with a focus on work readiness, employment, and training.

Funding will assist 38 permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and innovative pilot projects RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced more than $6 million in Homeless Reduction Grants through the Virginia Housing Trust Fund for 38 projects throughout the Commonwealth. The funding will advance 102 targeted efforts to reduce homelessness, which include rapid re-housing, support services for permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless, and the pre-development of permanent supportive housing projects for individuals or families experiencing recurring homelessness. “Housing affordability continues to be a challenge nationwide, and the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us in very stark terms how too many families are at risk of losing their homes,” said Governor Northam. “As we continue to rebuild our economy, we must ensure our most vulnerable Virginians are able to recover and find stability. These grants will help add critical permanent supportive housing units to our stock and fund innovative efforts to reduce homelessness, right now as we weather this public health crisis and into the future.” Governor Northam and the General Assembly invested an historic $55 million in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF) this fiscal year, and the Governor’s budget proposal increases this funding to $70.7 million in the current year. VHTF provides financing for housing construction projects that create or preserve affordable housing units, reduce the cost of affordable housing, and increase homeownership. This funding is a key source of financing for affordable housing initiatives that support moderate-and-low-income families, as well as Homeless Reduction Grants to provide rapid re-housing and longer-term housing solutions for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. “The Virginia Housing Trust Fund is a critical resource in our efforts to reduce homelessness and make safe and affordable housing more readily available,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “This is an invaluable program for targeting our funds toward proven strategies to reduce homelessness and build stronger, more vibrant communities for all Virginians.” While the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout has led to increased homelessness rates in many communities across the Commonwealth, overall homelessness in Virginia has declined 36 percent since 2010, with homelessness among families dropping by 45 percent. Homelessness among veterans has been cut in half 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 efforts that support a systemic 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 combines state and federal funds to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. In 2021, 60 percent of the funding allocated to the VHTF must be used to provide loans that reduce the costs of affordable housing. Given the additional need for immediate solutions to house individuals during the pandemic, up to 40 percent of the VHTF is being used for grants to reduce homelessness. Additional information about Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grants is available here. The following projects will receive Homeless Reduction Grant Awards: The Planning Council $717,836 Isle of Wight, Southampton, and Chesapeake counties, and the cities of Norfolk and Suffolk This innovative planning project will establish a dedicated body within the Continuum of Care to focus on understanding the impact of aging and medical fragility as it relates to homelessness.   Bridges to Independence $619,030 Arlington County This project will provide rental assistance for 25 households experiencing homelessness and fund three staff positions, service location costs, and associated administration costs to support the families in the rapid re-housing project.   Micah Ecumenical Ministries $380,070 Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties, and the city of Fredericksburg This project will expand permanent supportive housing in the Fredericksburg Continuum of Care. The grant will fund two full-time housing case managers to work exclusively with people receiving permanent supportive housing and provide rental assistance for five additional units of permanent supportive housing.   Bay Aging $300,000 Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties This project will fund planning and innovative housing solutions for adults aged 62 and older who are currently experiencing homelessness in the Northern Neck Middle Peninsula Local Planning Group. Additionally, funding will support rapid re-housing expenses, including a housing stabilization case manager, housing stabilization financial assistance, and housing search and placement to connect older adults with permanent housing.   Shelter House $300,000 Fairfax County, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church This rapid re-housing project will support 60 families experiencing homelessness. The grant will fund rental assistance and eligible activities, including security and utility deposits, last month’s rent, utility payments arrears, moving costs, and application fees.   HomeAgain $260,000 City of Richmond This funding will support housing search and placement, housing stabilization case management, housing stabilization financial assistance, rent arrears, and rent assistance to homeless single and older adults. The project will provide the growing population of individuals and seniors experiencing homelessness with supports to obtain and maintain permanent housing.   Samaritan House, Inc. $263,500 City of Virginia Beach This project will support a portion of a rapid re-housing program in service of five anticipated families who are experiencing homelessness. The grant will provide housing identification and location, housing-focused case management services, and move-in and rental financial assistance.   Homeward $253,750 Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan counties, the city of Richmond, and the town of Ashland This project will support staffing to connect older adults currently staying in a pandemic response shelter in the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care with permanent supportive housing. Funding will support policy development and a consumer support council to integrate older adults who have experienced homelessness into the program.   St. Joseph’s Villa $253,122 Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg The Crater Area Coalition on Homelessness will support an expanded youth project built off of research from the Petersburg High School Pilot Program, containing three components: targeted youth outreach, youth housing solutions, and youth-driven system planning. In addition to serving 10 youth in the pilot program, this funding will also support an outreach specialist to serve 10 additional youth.   Mercy House, Inc. $200,000 Augusta and Rockingham counties, and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro This project will sustain and bolster an already existing successful rapid re-housing program. The funding will be used for rental assistance to help families and youth experiencing homelessness access and maintain permanent housing, as well as for staff who will provide stabilization case management and specialized housing search and placement activities.   LGBT Life Center $191,145 Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Suffolk This project will support a full-time case manager to assist 10 youth households in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Funding will also provide housing stabilization case management, housing stabilization financial assistance, rent arrears, and rental assistance.   Family Crisis Support Services Inc. $179,623 Dickenson, Lee, Scott, and Wise counties, the cities of Norton, and the towns of Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, Clintwood, Duffield, Gate City, Jonesville, Nicklesville, Pennington Gap, Pound, St. Charles, St. Paul, Weber City, and Wise This project will support salaries for two full-time and one part-time staff responsible for the development and management of a youth planning group, which will assess the needs of youth aged 18-24 experiencing homelessness in their continuum of care. In addition, funding will be used for rent assistance, rent arrears, and housing stabilization financial assistance to connect youth experiencing homelessness with permanent housing.   ForKids, Inc. $171,207 Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, and the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, and Suffolk This project will support the rapid re-housing of 45 youth parents aged 18-24 experiencing homelessness, enabling them to obtain permanent housing.   Miriam’s House $150,000 Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties, the cities of Bedford and Lynchburg, and the towns of AltaVista, Amherst, Appomattox and Brookneal The Community First project will serve 60 youth and family households experiencing homelessness within the existing re-housing project. The funding will support housing stabilization case management and a housing coordinator dedicated to assisting homeless households locate, obtain, and retain permanent housing. In addition, the grant will support housing financial stabilization assistance, rent arrears, and rental assistance.   Valley Community Services Board $147,537 Augusta, Bath, Highland, and Rockbridge counties, the cities of Buena Vista, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro, and the towns of Craigsville and Monterey This project will support planning for a project targeting unaccompanied LGBTQ+ homeless youth in the Valley Local Planning Group. The grant will help house LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness and will also be used to provide trauma-informed care training to select staff to ongoing supportive services for youth.   Council of Community Services $140,000 Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke counties, the cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem, and the towns of Clifton Forge, Fincastle, and Vinton This project will provide rapid re-housing services to 36 homeless households in the Blue Ridge Continuum of Care’s service area. The grant will support housing stabilization case management, housing stabilization financial assistance, rental assistance, and administrative costs.   Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Inc. $125,000 Arlington County This housing-first project will provide housing and ongoing support for 16 chronically homeless individuals and veterans who have significant barriers for housing placement and retention, including a lack of rental or poor credit history, legal issues, criminal backgrounds, poor health or chronic health conditions, mental illness, substance abuse, and little-to-no-income. The grant will support a project case manager, life skills coach, and housing locator.   Carpenter’s Shelter $124,330 City of Alexandria This grant will fund one full-time case manager to serve 10 chronically homeless individuals with high barriers in the Carpenter’s Shelter permanent supportive housing project.   Commonwealth Catholic Charities $124,330 City of Richmond This youth innovation project will support outreach services to young adults aged 18-24 experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. The grant will fund youth outreach workers who will provide case management services to connect homeless youth with housing resources as well as travel necessary to connect youth with permanent housing.   Williamsburg House of Mercy $107,795 James City and York counties, and the city of Williamsburg The Older Adults Returning to Stability project will connect individuals 50 years of age or older with permanent housing. Funding will provide rapid re-housing for 12 chronically homeless older adults, as well as rental assistance, rent arrears, housing stabilization financial assistance, housing stabilization case management, and administration.   Cornerstones $100,000 Fairfax County This project will fund housing stabilization case management and housing search placement for families and youth-headed households experiencing homelessness. Funding will support two case managers and a housing resource coordinator to connect households with permanent housing.   New Hope Housing Inc. $100,000 Arlington County This project will partially fund the costs of intensive case management and staff for six chronically homeless single adults in a group home. Funding will also support intensive case management in at least three scattered-site apartments. This effort will include Susan’s Place, a permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless single adults who have serious, untreated mental illness and are resistant to treatment, and Just Home, a permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless adults.   St. Joseph’s Villa $100,000 City of Petersburg This funding will support the continuation of the Petersburg Pilot Project that originated as part of the Challenged Schools Initiative and has continued in coordination with the Petersburg City and Schools Initiative. Petersburg High School and the Petersburg Department of Social Services are partners with this project.   Thomas Jefferson Coalition for the Homeless and Piedmont Housing Alliance $100,000 City of Charlottesville This initiative will work in conjunction with Virginia Supportive Housing to provide pre-development efforts in the repurposing of the Red Carpet Inn for permanent supportive housing.   Virginia Supportive Housing $100,000 City of Charlottesville Virginia Supportive Housing, in conjunction with the Thomas Jefferson Coalition for the Homeless, and the Piedmont Housing Alliance, will provide pre-development efforts in the repurposing of the Red Carpet Inn for permanent supportive housing.   Virginia Supportive Housing $100,000 City of Virginia Beach This project will provide housing stabilization services for formerly chronically homeless residents in the Cloverleaf and Crescent Square Apartment programs in Virginia Beach. The grant will fund two full-time staff who will deliver supportive services to 30 chronically homeless individuals at these two properties.   Virginia Supportive Housing $100,000 City of Norfolk This project will provide housing stabilization services for formerly chronically homeless residents in the Gosnold and Church Street Station Studios permanent supportive housing units in Norfolk. The grant will support part-time staff who will deliver supportive services to 45 chronically homeless individuals at these two properties.   St. Joseph’s Villa $97,983 Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan counties, the city of Richmond, and the town of Ashland The Flagler project will provide housing stabilization services and rent assistance for five chronically homeless individuals in need of permanent supportive housing, serving as a bridge for individuals in need of long-term housing supports to maintain permanent housing in the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care.   YWCA South Hampton Roads $96,202 Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk This rapid re-housing project will provide housing stabilization and rental assistance for seven households, prioritizing youth and families between the ages of 18-24. Funding will support two part-time positions, a housing locator and housing case manager, to assist families with obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.   Micah Ecumenical Ministries $92,700 Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties, and the city of Fredericksburg This project will expand housing location capacity in the Fredericksburg Continuum of Care and target individuals 62 years of age or older who are experiencing homelessness. The grant will support a part-time housing case manager, housing locator, rental assistance, and housing stabilization financial assistance for 10 households.   Northern Virginia Family Service $80,000 Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and the towns of Dumfries, Haymarket, Occoquan, and Quantico This project will quickly connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with permanent housing. The grant will provide housing search and placement services, housing stabilization case management, housing stabilization financial assistance, rental assistance, and service location costs to support the rapid re-housing program.   Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work $69,666 City of Richmond This project will develop a shared housing model using private market housing tailored to meet the needs of LGBTQ+, pregnant, and parenting youth aged 18-24. This grant will fund portions of salaries for two professors, a part-time project coordinator, a Master of Social Work intern to assist with program development and evaluation, stipends for youth involvement in focus groups, and travel to present at the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference and the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference.   Doorways for Women and Families $63,000 Arlington County This project aims to serve families, transition-age youth, and survivors of domestic or sexual violence experiencing homelessness. Funding will connect 29 households with permanent housing, provide rental assistance, rent arrears, housing stabilization financial assistance, housing search, and placement and housing stabilization case management.   New Hope Housing Inc. $61,800 City of Alexandria This project will support housing stabilization services for single adults, as well as case management services for 18 chronically homeless individuals in scattered-site apartments.   New Hope Housing Inc. $60,000 Arlington and Fairfax counties This project will provide stabilization services for 80 chronically homeless single adults in two apartment buildings and multiple scattered-site shared apartments. Funding will also support four case managers and three interns to provide 24/7 support and stabilization services.   Virginia Supportive Housing $55,000 City of Portsmouth This project will provide housing stabilization services for the 60 formerly chronically homeless residents in the South Bay Apartments permanent supportive housing program. This funding will support one full-time staff member who will deliver supportive services, as well as cover a portion of costs related to program administration.   People Incorporated of Virginia $38,149 City of Bristol This project will support housing stabilization services in the permanent supportive housing program for single men in Bristol, including a part-time case manager to provide on-site support for individuals in permanent housing units.   Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation $25,540 City of Virginia Beach This project will provide housing stabilization services to support 32 units of permanent supportive housing, including a part-time community resource specialist to assist chronically homeless veterans in the Cedar Grove community obtain and maintain permanent housing.