Governor Northam Announces $2.2 Million in Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grants

Funding to assist 30 permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing projects across the Commonwealth

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today 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

Contact Information

For Immediate Release: April 17, 2019
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Alena Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov | Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development: Amanda Love, Amanda.Love@dhcd.virginia.gov