Report - Virginia's Homeless Programs 2019-2020 Program Year (Housing and Community Development)
Summary
Virginia's Homeless Programs 2019-2020 Program Year, a report to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees prepared by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The report states that it responds to HB 30, Budget Item 113 B, which asks for the number of emergency shelter beds, transitional housing units and other homeless program measures. It states that DHCD administers approximately $16 million annually in state and federal funding. Its table of contents lists sections on the impact of COVID-19, the Homeless Data Integration Project, the Virginia Homeless Solutions Program, the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and pilot projects to stably house youth.
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Virginia’s Homeless Programs
2019-2020
Program Year
A Report to the
House Appropriations
and
Senate Finance Committees
Main Street Centre
600 East Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………….3
IMPACT OF COVID-19…………………………………………………………………5
WHAT THE DATA SHOWS……………………………………………………………6
HOMELESS DATA INTEGRATION PROJECT……………………………………9
HOMELESS PROGRAMS……………………………………………………………….9
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program………………………………10
Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS….……….18
Virginia Housing Trust Fund……………………………………………..20
PILOT PROJECTS TO STABLY HOUSE YOUTH………………………………...22
CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………………………..23
This report serves as a means to report overall conditions and progress made related to
the administration of the State’s homeless programs in compliance with HB 30, Budget
Item 113 B of Virginia Acts of Assembly, 2020 Chapter 1289.
B. The department shall report to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance, the House
Appropriations Committees, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, by
November 4 of each year on the state's homeless programs, including, but not limited to,
the number of (i) emergency shelter beds, (ii) transitional housing units, (iii) single room
occupancy dwellings, (iv) homeless intervention programs, (v) homeless prevention
programs, and (vi) the number of homeless individuals supported by the permanent
housing state funding on a locality and statewide basis and the accomplishments achieved
by the additional state funding provided to the program in the first year. The report shall
also include the number of Virginians served by these programs, the costs of the programs,
and the financial and in-kind support provided by localities and nonprofit groups in these
programs. In preparing the report, the department shall consult with localities and
community-based groups.
2
Executive Summary
Virginia is a recognized national leader in ending homelessness. The Department of
Housing and Community Development (DHCD) plays an integral role in Virginia’s response
to homelessness by focusing resources to ensure every community in the commonwealth
has the capacity to:
1. Quickly identify and engage people at risk of and experiencing homelessness;
2. Intervene to prevent people from losing their housing and divert people from entering
the homeless services system;
3. Provide people with immediate access to shelter and crisis services without barriers to
entry if homelessness does occur;
4. Quickly connect people experiencing homelessness to housing assistance and services
tailored to their unique needs and strengths to help them achieve and maintain stable
housing; and
5. Use data to make program and system decisions to increase positive permanent
housing outcomes.
DHCD administers the Commonwealth of Virginia’s homeless assistance resources. These
resources include approximately $16 million annually in state and federal funding. In the
spring of 2019, DHCD released a renewal grant application that combined state and
federal funding sources (HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant and Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS/HIV along with State General Funds for homeless assistance and
homeless prevention). In order to apply and receive these funds, communities were
required to submit community-based applications that demonstrate an effective crisis
response system designed to make homelessness, rare, brief, and non-recurring.
DHCD’s strategies continue to show measured success. Currently, the rate of
homelessness per 100,000 on average in Virginia is 70, the fourth lowest in the nation.
This is compared with a national average of 156.
Each year during the last ten days in January, Virginia participates in a national point-in-
time (PIT) count to identify the number of individuals who are sheltered and unsheltered.
This count provides a 24-hour snapshot of those who are experiencing homelessness in
Virginia. DHCD collects, aggregates, and analyzes state-level PIT data to inform grant-
making decisions, best practices, and trends across the commonwealth. The 2020
numbers reported here are preliminary, as HUD has not released the official PIT numbers
upon the writing of this report.
Although the 2020 PIT data show a slight uptick in the number of persons who are
experiencing homelessness, since 2010, there has been a 34 percent decrease. Also, since
2010 there has been a 47 percent decrease in households with children and a 48 percent
decrease in chronic homeless identified during the point-in-time count. Between 2019-
2020, Virginia saw a 5% decrease in persons who are chronically homeless, and a 68%
decrease in families who are chronically homeless. In addition, since 2011, there has been
3
a 57 percent decrease in veteran homelessness with a 55 percent decrease in unsheltered
veterans.
Total Persons Homeless
Virginia Point- in-Time Count -2020
34% decrease since 2010
9500
9000
8500
8000
7500
7000
6500
6000
5500
5000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Series1 9080 8816 8424 7625 7020 7001 6268 6067 5975 5780 5957
Families (household w/ children)
Virginia Point-in-Time Count-2020
47% change since 2010
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Series1 1181 1145 1094 984 883 890 737 631 660 651 621
4
Veterans
Virginia Point-in-Time Count-2020
57% change since 2011
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Series1 931 881 719 620 604 515 478 485 447 395
While DHCD is pleased to report continued annual progress, this year has been like no
other. Beginning in March 2020, so much changed. COVID-19 has had a significant impact
on available services (especially congregate emergency shelters), funding, required safety
protocols, and responsiveness to serve residents experiencing homelessness in Virginia.
The great news is communities have stepped up and new partners have rallied to meet
multiple community needs.
One of the most innovative partnerships was an effort to provide food services to
individuals experiencing homelessness living in non-congregate hotel/motel shelters.
Through an effort between DHCD’s Homeless and Special Needs Housing unit and DHCD’s
Community Revitalization Office, local restaurants worked in conjunction with homeless
assistance organizations to provide food to individuals receiving shelter services. This was
a perfect partnership. Homeless service providers received funding for residents’ meals
and needed a consistent means of delivering food to multiple hotels and motels, and local
restaurants needed revenue to continue to stay in business.
Impact of COVID-19
When Governor Northam enacted Executive Order fifty-five, Temporary Stay at Home
Order due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), DHCD’s Homeless and Special Needs Housing
unit quickly moved to focus on people who were unsheltered and those staying in
congregate homeless shelters. Because of the existence of a state-wide funded homeless
services system, funding was quickly distributed to ensure resources were available to
providers across the commonwealth. This quick deployment of resources was
acknowledged by national organizations and DHCD leadership presented Virginia’s
process to the Council of State Community Development Agencies and the National
Alliance to End Homelessness.
5
The Leadership
On April 3, 2020 Governor Ralph Northam announced $2.5 million in emergency funding
to shelter Virginia’s statewide homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
emergency funding was distributed through the same process DHCD uses to distribute
funds to address homelessness across the state. This funding was used for hotel and
motel vouchers, case management, food, cleaning supplies, and medical transportation.
Along with the funding from the commonwealth, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) agreed to reimburse non-congregate sheltering support to individuals and
families experiencing homelessness who were 65 and older, with other pre-existing
conditions, and have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to the initial funding
provided, DHCD received $6.3 million in funding to continue to assist the vulnerable
populations described. The total $8.8 million is part of the CARES Act COVID Relief Fund
allocated to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
DHCD’s Homeless and Special Needs Housing Unit
At the onset of the pandemic, DHCD's Homeless and Special Needs Housing (HSNH) team
contacted every funded agency, community partner, and the leaders of the Continuum of
Care and local planning groups to determine immediate needs to address the health and
safety of persons in their programs, staff, and volunteers. Short and long term plans were
created to ensure the emergency funding would focus on assisting three priority groups:
1. Persons who were currently experiencing unsheltered homelessness; 2. Persons who
were in shelters that required them to be outside during the day;and 3. Persons who
needed to be isolated because social distancing at the shelter was difficult and they were
at greater risk which included being age 65+, having underlying health conditions, testing
positive for COVID-19 or symptomatic, or having contact with someone who tested
positive for COVID-19.
The Homeless Service Partners
Homeless Service Providers quickly pivoted to focus on the aforementioned priority
groups. Providers strengthened relationships with local hotel/motel providers, initiated
new partnerships and worked with restaurants to ensure that meals would be provided
to persons in the non-congregate shelters. The restaurant partnerships assisted locally
owned businesses during the economic downturn due to the pandemic and ensured
persons received hot meals while following stay at home orders.
What the Data Shows
General data on the number of persons homeless and the outcomes of the CoC’s systems
across the commonwealth are primarily derived from data prior to the impact of COVID-
19.
Every year each Continuum of Care (CoC) across the state participates in the annual point-
in-time count of sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness.
Sheltered persons are individuals (including children and unaccompanied youth) sleeping
in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or using a hotel/motel voucher paid for by an
organization. Unsheltered individuals (including children and unaccompanied youth) are
6
sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks,
abandoned buildings, or on the street.
The January 2019, point-in-time count identified 5,957 individuals (4,551 households) as
experiencing homelessness (1). Approximately 72 percent of these individuals were in
emergency shelters, 11 percent were in transitional housing programs, one percent were
in safe haven shelters, and 16 percent were unsheltered at the time of the count.
Approximately 14 percent of households experiencing homelessness identified during the
point-in-time count included households with dependent children.
Household Type
Point-in-Time Count, 2020
Total Households: 4551
14%
<1 Household w/Children
Households with only Adults
Household only Children
86%
Based on data reported from the 2020 point-in-time count, 17 percent (778) of adults
were chronically homeless. This is based on the HUD definition of chronic homelessness
published in December 2015 as, “a homeless individual with a disabling condition or
family where the head of household has a disabling condition and who has either been
continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of
homelessness that equal a year’s time in the past three years.”
Notably, eight percent of adults who are experiencing homelessness in Virginia were
reportedly veterans and 12 percent were victims of domestic violence. Beginning in 2018,
HUD required a new definition for domestic violence as – actively fleeing domestic
violence or sexual assault. In addition, 22 percent of those experiencing homelessness
have serious mental illness and 14 percent were reported as experiencing substance use
disorder. Individuals may fall into multiple subpopulations. For example, an individual
may be a veteran who also experiences serious mental illness.
(1) 2020 PIT count numbers are preliminary
7
Sub-populations
Point-in-Time, 2020
Total Adults: 4,692
VETERANS 8%
ADULTS CRONIC HOMELESSNESS 17%
ADULTS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC … 12%
ADULTS HIV/AIDS 1%
ADULTS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 14%
ADULTS SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS 22%
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
System Performance Measures
DHCD promotes the importance of homeless services being a coordinated system as
opposed to homeless assistance programs that operate independently. To facilitate this
perspective HUD and DHCD now require communities to measure performance as a
coordinated system. Below are the aggregated outcomes for Virginia from October,
2018 through October, 2019.
1. Length of Time Homeless (from point of entry to move-in date) – The average
number of days a household stays homeless in Virginia is 94.5 days. This is an
increase of less than one percent (.93) increase from the previous year.
2. Returns to Homelessness (after 2 years) – Of the 10,495 persons who exited
homelessness to permanent housing, 2,099 (20%) returned to homelessness
over a two-year period.
3. Annual Homeless Count - There were 19,051 individuals who entered into the
homeless services system. This is less than a one percent increase from the
previous year.
4. First Time Homeless -There were 15,128 individuals who were experiencing
homelessness for the first-time, which is a two and a half percent decrease from
the previous year. Of all individuals who entered into the homeless services
system, 80 percent were experiencing homelessness for the first time.
5. Exits to Permanent Housing – Of all the individuals who exited the homeless
services system, 40 percent exited to a permanent housing solution. This is a
three percent decrease from the previous year.
8
Homeless Data Integration Project (HDIP)
In July of 2019, DHCD’s Homeless and Special Needs Housing unit hired a homeless data
integration project coordinator. Driven by the need for statewide data and analytics on
Virginia’s homeless services system, DHCD worked to procure Green River’s Open Path
software application (procured upon the writing of this report) as the tool to be used for
data anlytics, care coordination, and multi-system data integration and matching. With
the addition of the new position, the unit has made significant progress in the
advancement of this state initative.
Since July 2019, the following milestones have been met towards the implementation of
the HDIP: establishment of a Homeless Data Integaraion Advisory Council; identification
of eight pilot CoCs; creation of pilot data sharing agreement, participation agreement,
and user agreement; pilot CoCs have signed agreements and uploaded data into Open
Path; and the creation of additional operating procedures to advance the project to the
remaining CoCs.
With the assistance of the National Alliance to End Homelessness there was a virtual
gathering of Massachusetts DHCD staff, Texas Homeless Network Executive Director,
Amazon Web Services, and the Actionable Intellignce for Social Policy (AISP) lead
researcher (Dr. Dennis Culhane) who are working on data integration projects. The work
of this group has led to receiving additional support from AISP on organizing the on-going
governance structure that will upate final data sharing policies, privacy notifications, data
use agreements, etc. to ensure the HDIP meets both legal and ethical standards for
statewide implementation.
Homeless Programs
DHCD administers approximately $16.5 million annually for homeless assistance
programs. This includes approximately $12.5 million in state general funds that leverage
approximately $3.8 million in federal funds to address the issues and needs of those
experiencing homelessness in Virginia.
DHCD received $2.8 million in federal funding from HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant
(ESG) program and approximately $1.0 million in Housing Opportunities for Persons with
AIDS (HOPWA) program. The federal ESG program is leveraged along with the State
General Funds to support the homeless services system across the commonwealth
through the Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP). The HOPWA program prevents
homelessness among low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families.
DHCD - Administered Homeless Programs
2019-2020 Program Year Allocation
Program Source 2019-2020 Allocation
Virginia Homeless Solutions Federal- HUD and $15,437,211
Program (VHSP) State- General
Funds
9
General Homeless Service State $8,501,820
Funds
General Homeless Prevention Sate $4,050,000
Funds
Emergency Solutions Grant Federal -HUD $2,885,391
(ESG)
Housing Opportunities for Persons Federal -HUD $1,087,223
with AIDS (HOPWA)
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program
The Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP) is approximately $15.4
million, a combination of state and federal funding for shelter operations, rapid re-
housing and housing stabilization, homeless prevention, coordinated assessment/entry,
community planning costs, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) costs and
administration. VHSP funds require a 25 percent match.
Service Provider Location Award
Accomack-Northampton Planning District
Accomack $27,109.00
Commission
ACTS - Action In Community Through Service Prince William $160,882.00
ACTS - Action In Community Through Service
Prince William $13,218.69
(Smaller Grant)
AIDS Response Effort, Inc. Winchester $105,434.00
ARCH Roanoke Gate City $53,269.00
Arlington County Government Arlington $224,596.00
Arlington Street Peoples Assistance Network, Inc Arlington $235,752.00
Bay Aging Urbanna $60,322.00
Bridges to Independence Arlington $75,000.00
CARITAS Richmond $153,450.00
Carpenter's Shelter Alexandria $565,183.00
Choices, Council on Domestic Violence for Page Co.,
Luray $72,807.00
Inc.
City of Alexandria, a municipal corporation of
Alexandria $424,000.00
Virginia
City of Charlottesville Charlottesville $484,785.00
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City of Hampton Hampton $1,047,754.00
City of Roanoke Roanoke $93,984.00
Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc. Tazewell $30,785.00
Commonwealth Catholic Charities Norfolk $245,916.00
Commonwealth Catholic Charities Petersburg $36,140.00
Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith ) Reston $229,414.00
Council of Community Services Roanoke $365,362.00
County of Loudoun Loudoun $299,820.00
Culpeper Community Development Corp. Culpeper $52,860.00
Doorways for Women and Families Arlington $212,947.00
Eastern Shore of Virginia Housing Alliance Accomack $179,688.00
Empowerhouse (formerly RCDV) Fredericksburg $164,217.00
ESCADV Accomack $34,831.00
Family Crisis Support Services, Inc. Norton $253,615.00
Family Resource Center, Inc. Wytheville $80,135.00
First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence Harrisonburg $38,226.00
ForKids,inc Norfolk $20,000.00
ForKids,inc Portsmouth $720,042.00
George Washington Regional Commission Fredericksburg $50,000.00
Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team Gloucester $18,974.00
Hanover Safe Place Hanover $177,278.00
Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority Harrisonburg $80,265.00
Help and Emergency Response, Inc. Portsmouth $173,848.00
Helping Overcome Poverty's Existence, Inc. Wytheville $315,784.00
HomeAgain Richmond $241,229.00
Homeward Richmond $264,075.00
Housing Families First Richmond $203,484.00
11
Judeo-Christian Outreach Center Virginia Beach $121,406.00
LGBT Life Center Norfolk $114,756.00
LGBT Life Center Virginia Beach $83,126.00
Lynchburg Community Action Group, Inc. Lynchburg $194,534.00
Mercy House, Inc. Harrisonburg $364,668.00
Micah Ecumenical Ministries Fredericksburg $335,554.00
Miriam's House Lynchburg $124,911.00
New Hope Housing, inc. Fairfax $226,830.00
New River Community Action, Inc. Radford $287,512.00
New River Family Shelter Christiansburg $43,813.00
Northern Virginia Family Service Prince William $343,699.00
Northern Virginia Family Service Fairfax $178,313.00
Operation Renewed Hope Foundation Prince William $62,965.00
People Incorporated of Virginia Abingdon $216,122.00
People Incorporated of Virginia Culpeper $277,483.00
Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless, Inc. Portsmouth $44,211.00
Project Horizon Lexington $25,000.00
PWC DSS Homeless Services Prince William $157,793.00
Quin Rivers, Inc. New Kent $99,058.00
Rappahannock Refuge, Inc. dba Hope House Fredericksburg $366,280.00
Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission Culpeper $84,501.00
Samaritan House, Inc Virginia Beach $198,726.00
Shelter House, Inc Fairfax $191,982.00
Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter Shenandoah $184,680.00
Southside Survivor Response Center, Inc. Martinsville $43,745.00
St. Joseph's Villa Petersburg $300,000.00
St. Joseph's Villa Richmond $122,833.00
12
STEP, Inc. Rocky Mount $158,964.00
STEPS, Inc. Farmville $134,387.00
StreetLight Community Outreach Ministries Woodbridge $54,045.00
The Daily Planet Richmond $37,200.00
The Healing Place Richmond $130,200.00
The Improvement Association Emporia $52,324.00
The Laurel Center Winchester $63,672.00
The Planning Council Norfolk $71,492.00
The Salvation Army of Central VA Richmond $46,500.00
Thurman Brisben Center Fredericksburg $91,386.00
Tri-County Community Action Agency South Boston $101,844.00
Valley Community Services Board Staunton $24,213.00
Virginia Supportive Housing Norfolk $56,160.00
Volunteers Of America Chesapeake Loudoun $185,232.00
Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley Radford $166,144.00
YWCA Central Virginia Lynchburg $25,750.00
YWCA Richmond Richmond $93,900.00
YWCA South Hampton Roads Norfolk $111,457.00
*Total does not include admin allocated to DHCD $14,685,851.69
Emergency Shelter
Funding for emergency shelter totaled $2.4 million through the VHSP renewal application
process.
During 2019-20 program year, emergency shelter providers receiving VHSP served 11,450
persons (8,093, households) through emergency and seasonal shelters. Of the 8,093
households, 19 percent or 1,565 were households with children and 81 percent or 6,528
were households with only adults.
The table and charts below provide additional details on the populations served by
emergency shelters.
13
Twenty-six percent (3,021) of persons in emergency shelter were children under the age
of 18.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Emergency Shelter Operations 2019-20
Total Indivicuals: 11,450
Age: Under 5
Age: 5-12
6%1% 12%
Age: 13-17
10%
Age: 18-24
4%
8% 25-61
59%
Elderly (62 and older)
Seven percent of adult individuals receiving VHSP-funded shelter services report veteran
status. Thirty-six percent of adults are victims of domestic violence. Other significant
challenges and barriers to housing include serious mental illness (30%), chronic substance
abuse (22%), and other disabilities (33%), which are self reported unless used as a
documented disability for permanent supportive housing or other permanet housing that
requires disability documentation. Of the households without children who were served
in emergency shelter, twenty-one percent were chronically homeless. And of the total
individuals in households w/children, one percent are chronically homeless (family
chronic homelessness includes adults and children).
Viriginia Homeless Solutions
Emergency Shelter Operations 2019-20
Sub-populations
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS… 1423
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES… 67
OTHER DISABILITY 2757
SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL 2556
CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 1819
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 3072
HIV/AIDS 107
VETERANS 593
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
*Note sub-populations only include adults (except chronically homeless families) and are not
unduplicated. An adult may be in one or more categories.
14
Of households that exited shelter, 35 percent exited to a permanent destination (market
rate rental, Section 8, supportive housing, permanent placement with family and friends).
Sixteen percent exited to a temporary destination (jail/prison, institution, or to temporary
housing provided by family/friends). Eighteen percent exited to another homeless
location, and thirty-one percent exited to an unknown destination.
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (2019-2020)
Type of Exit Destination from Emergency Shelter
Total Household Exits: 6,982
Unknown
Homeless
35% 31%
Temporary
16% 18%
Permanent
Rapid Re-housing
Funding for rapid re-housing totaled $6.7 million through the VHSP application process.
Rapid re-housing continues to be a solution to homelessness designed to help individuals
and families to quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing. It is offered
without preconditions (such as employment, income, absence of criminal record, or
sobriety) and the resources and services provided are tailored to the unique needs of the
household.
DHCD continues to promote rapid re-housing as an effective means to ending
homelessness. By providing resources for the core components of rapid re-housing, such
as housing identification, move-in and rent assistance up to 24 months, and stabilization
case management and services, 81 percent of households exit to permanent housing
including 66 percent without any on-going subsidy.
Sixty-four percent of households during fiscal year 2019-2020 received up to three
months of financial assistance. Another 22 percent received between four and nine
months of financial assistance and three percent needed and received more than ten
months of financial assistance. Eleven percent only needed and received case
management. Case management is an integral part of rapid re-housing. All households
receive case management at least monthly and may continue to receive case
management after financial assistance is no longer necessary. Fifty-four percent received
case management up to 3 months while, five percent needed and received case
management for longer than one-year.
15
Forty-four percent of those who were rapidly re-housed were children under the age of
18.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Rapid Re-Housing 2019-2020
Total Individuals: 4,860
Age: Under 5
4% 17%
Age: 5-12
Age: 13-17
45% 19%
Age: 18-24
8%
7% Age: 25-61
Elderly (62 and older)
Thirty-seven percent of adults served by rapid re-housing programs are victims of
domestic violence. Twenty-seven percent are affected by serious mental illness, nine
percent by chronic substance abuse, and 28 percent by other disabilities, which are self
reported unless used as a documented disability for permanent supportive housing or
other permanet housing that requires disability documentation.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Rapid Re-housing 2019-2020
Sub-populations
OTHER DISABILITY 826
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES (HOUSEHOLDS WITH … 12
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS… 247
ELDERLY (62 AND OLDER) 176
CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 267
SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS 781
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 1079
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
*Note sub-populations only include adults (except chronically homeless families) and are not
unduplicated. An adult may be in one or more categories.
Of households who exited rapid re-housing, 81 percent exited to a permanent destination
(market rate rental, Section 8, supportive housing, permanent placement with family and
friends). Seven percent exited to a temporary destination ((jail/prison, institution, or to
16
temporary housing provided by family/friends). Six percent exited to a homeless
destination (other shelter or place not meant for human habitation) and six percent
exited to an unknown destination.
Virginia Homeless Solutions 2019-2020
Type of Exit Destination from Rapid Re-Housing
Total Exits: 1,678
6% 6%
Uknown
7%
Homeless
Temporary
81% Permanent
Homeless Prevention
The purpose of VHSP’s prevention funding is to prevent homelessness by targeting
resources to those households who will imminently (within 14 days) lose their primary
nighttime residence and have incomes below 30 percent area median income. Eligible
homeless prevention activities include rent and housing stabilization financial assistance,
housing search and placement, stabilization case management and services, and
mediation.
Through VHSP, $4 million in state funds were distributed across the commonwealth for
homeless prevention activities. During the 2019-20 program year, prevention funding
provided assistance to 3,285 individuals (1,196 households). Nine hundred and eighty-
eight exited prevention services and of those, over 99.4% were prevented from
homelessness.
Fifty-one percent of those who received homeless prevention services were children
under the age of 18. Eleven percent had a serious mental illness and 22% were veterans.
17
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Prevention 2019-2020
Subpopulations
OTHER DISABILITY 350
214
CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 33
4
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS… 6
69
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 267
5
VETERANS 436
0 100 200 300 400 500
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program
Prevention 2019-2020
Total Individuals: 3,285
2% 16% Age: Under 5
Age: 5-12
39%
23% Age: 13-17
Age: 18-24
8% 12% Age: 25 -61
Elderly (62 and older)
*Note sub-populations only include adults (except chronically homeless families) and are not
unduplicated. An adult may be in one or more categories.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA)
HOPWA funds are available to meet needed housing assistance for moderate to low
income individuals with HIV/AIDS in Virginia’s non-entitlement metropolitan statistical
areas (EMSAs). The funds through this program were focused on direct housing
assistance and include supportive services for the individuals receiving housing
assistance through the HOPWA program.
DHCD awards HOPWA funds to eligible project sponsors (that operate outside the state’s
EMSAs) following a renewal application process. Currently, the state HOPWA programs
encompass 31,749 square miles.
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HOPWA Project Sponsors
2019-2020
Sub-grantee Service Area(S) Housing Support Funded
(Project Activities Services Amount
Sponsor)
AIDS Response Page, Short term Case $104,032.00
Effort, Inc. Shenandoah, rent. Tenant management/
Winchester based rental Food bank
assistance
City of Roanoke Tenant based Case $240,642.00
Charlottesville rental management
assistance,
Short term
rent, Support
services,
Permanent
Housing
Placement
Commonwealth Norton Tenant based Case $100,876.00
Catholic rental management
Charities assistance,
Short term
rent, Support
services
Council of Roanoke, Tenant based Case $240,754.00
Community Covington, rental management
Services Salem, Clifton assistance,
Forge, Vinton Short term
rent, Support
services,
Permanent
Housing
Placement
Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Tenant based Case $134,157.00
Area HIV/AIDS rental management/
Support assistance, Transportation
Services Short term
rent, Support
services,
Permanent
Housing
Placement
Harrisonburg Page, Tenant based Case $72,972.00
Community Rockbridge, rental management
Health Center Rockingham, assistance,
Shenandoah, Short term
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Care Buena Vista, rent, Support
Management Lexington, services,
Staunton, Permanent
Waynesboro Housing
Placement,
Housing
information
Services
Lynchburg Lynchburg Short term Case $91,256.00
Community rent. Tenant management,
Action Group, based rental Transportation,
Inc. assistance, Food/Foodbank,
support Support Group
services
Pittsylvania Pittsylvania Tenant based Case $129,917.00
Community rental management
Action Inc assistance,
Short term
rent, Support
services,
Permanent
Housing
Placement
$1,114,606.00
DHCD administered a federal allocation of $1,114,606 in HOPWA funds through eight
project sponsors across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The project sponsors served a
total of 227 unduplicated households with housing assistance. The services they received
included:
Short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance (STRMU) - 177 households
Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) - 59 households
Supportive services - 209 households
An additional 114 family members, of whom twelve, also had HIV/AIDS benefited from
HOPWA housing assistance.
Of those eligible households that received HOPWA assistance, 75 percent had extremely
low incomes (0-30% AMI), 16 percent had very low incomes (31-50% AMI), and nine
percent had low incomes (51-80% AMI).
Housing Trust Fund - Homeless Reduction Grant
In addition to VHSP funding, DHCD also administered approximately $2.2 million for the
Virginia Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Homeless Reduction grants during calendar year 2020.
The program achieves the goal of reducing homelessness by providing assistance in the
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form of grants to projects that address service gaps and support state housing policy.
Eligible project types include:
Rapid re-housing programs
Permanent supportive housing (housing stabilization services in PSH for the
chronically homeless)
Predevelopment (permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless)
Calendar Year 2020 Housing Trust Fund- Homeless Reduction Grants
Organization Project/Activity Award
ACTS - Action In Community ACTS - Housing Trust Fund Homeless
$41,525.00
Through Service Reduction Grant 2019
Arlington Street Peoples The A-SPAN Supportive Housing
$35,000.00
Assistance Network, Inc Project
Homeless Youth Rapid Rehousing
City of Chesapeake $100,000.00
Project
City of Hampton Youth Homelessness $100,000.00
Cornerstones (formerly Reston
Rapid Re-housing Plus $100,000.00
Interfaith )
Housing Trust Fund Rapid Re-
Council of Community Services $35,000.00
housing Project
Doorways for Women and Doorways for Women and Families
$25,000.00
Families HTF FY19
ForKids,inc ForKids Bridge RRH 2019 $50,000.00
Single Individuals Rapid Rehousing
HomeAgain $100,000.00
Initiative
Mercy House, Inc. Mercy House RRH Program $100,000.00
FrCoC Permanent Supportive
Micah Ecumenical Ministries $51,500.00
Housing Program (Micah)
FrCoC Rapid Re-housing Program
Micah Ecumenical Ministries $77,250.00
(Micah)
Miriam's House Community First $100,000.00
Alexandria Housing First Apartments
New Hope Housing, inc. $55,000.00
Program
Fairfax County Housing First PSH
New Hope Housing, inc. $55,000.00
Program
Arlington Permanent Supportive
New Hope Housing, inc. $100,000.00
Housing Program
Northern Virginia Family Service
Greater Prince William Rapid
Northern Virginia Family Service $100,000.00
Rehousing and Housing Stabilization
Services
People Incorporated of Virginia King's Mountain Housing Trust Fund $10,000.00
People Incorporated of Virginia Hope Center $91,410.00
SHI Housing Trust Fund Homeless
Samaritan House, Inc $100,000.00
Reduction Grant 18-19
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Shelter House Rapid Re-Housing
Shelter House, Inc $100,000.00
2019
St. Joseph's Villa HTF Pilot Project 12360 FY19 $86,837.00
St. Joseph's Villa FY19 SJV HTF 12364 $55,000.00
Heartland Local Planning
STEPS, Inc. $13,590.00
Group/STEPS Inc.
Virginia Supportive Housing Cool Lane Apartments $100,000.00
2019 Gosnold and Church Street
Virginia Supportive Housing $100,000.00
Station - Norfolk
2019 Cloverleaf and Crescent
Virginia Supportive Housing $100,000.00
Square - Virginia Beach
Virginia Supportive Housing 2019 Heron's Landing - Chesapeake $60,000.00
2019 New Clay and South Richmond
Virginia Supportive Housing $100,000.00
Studios - Richmond
Virginia Supportive Housing 2019 The Crossings - Charlottesville $82,000.00
$2,224,112.00
HTF Rapid Re-housing
The Virginia Housing Trust Fund is able to fill gaps in communities where rapid re-housing
dollars are not adequate to meet the needs of individuals and families. Rapid re-housing
is the primary solution for households experiencing homelessness who are not able to
self-resolve through their own support systems. As a cost effective and client-focused
approach, rapid re-housing effectively ends homelessness for individuals and families at
a quicker rate than either traditional emergency shelters or transitional housing.
HTF Permanent Supportive Housing
While most permanent supportive housing (PSH) units have a long-term subsidy attached
through HUD or the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Services, the supportive services funding is often limited. Virginia Housing Trust Fund is a
means to enhance supportive services for those households with the greatest
vulnerabilities and those who have been chronically homeless.
Pilot Projects to Stably House Youth
Petersburg Youth and Family Housing Stabilization
DHCD has partnered with the City of Petersburg, Petersburg City Public Schools, and St.
Joseph’s Villa to implement a pilot project as part of the Challenged School Initiative. This
project began by targeting students experiencing homelessness (and their families) who
are enrolled in Petersburg City High School and who are chronically absent from school.
Due to COVID-19 the pilot project has adjusted to include Vernon Johns Middle School
along with Petersburg High School and Blandford Academy. The pilot project connects
youth and their families to permanent housing with the goal of increasing school
attendance, improving student performance and chances of graduation once they
achieve housing stability.
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During 2019-2020 grant year, 73 individuals were served and 50 exited the program to
permanent housing. One hundred percent of exits were to permanent housing
destinations. On average, it took 37 days for households to secure permanent housing.
Thirty-five percent of those who exited retained or increased income from program entry
to exit. Additionally, of the 73 individuals who were served 85 percent were connected to
health care services.
Conclusion
DHCD’s Homeless and Special Needs Housing unit continues to work to make
homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. To that end, the unit administers state- and
federally-funded homeless service programs to address housing and stabilization services
for individuals and families at-risk of or experiencing homelessness in the commonwealth.
To administer these funds, partnerships are maintained with communities and an array
of service providers including nonprofits, units of local government, and housing
authorities. These partnerships are paramount for ensuring comprehensive homeless
services are provided effectively and efficiently in accordance with best-practice models
to maximize limited resources.
These efforts have been successful. Since 2010, the increased focus on ending homeless
in the Commonwealth of Virginia has achieved significant results:
Overall homelessness decreased by 34 percent
Unsheltered homelessness decreased by 47 percent
Family homelessness decreased by 47 percent
Youth homelessness decreased by 57 percent (since 2013)
Veterans homelessness decreased by 57 percent (since 2011)
Chronic homelessness decreased by 48 percent
With continued state leadership, willingness, innovation, and funding, ending
homelessness is possible in Virginia. DHCD and its partners across the commonwealth
stepped up when COVID-19 impacted businesses and residents around the state. Due to
the existing relationships and homeless crisis response system structure around the
state, DHCD was able to get additional funding out quickly and a means to communicate
health and safety measures needed to increase the safety of the residents who did not
have a place to be able to meet the “Stay and Home” or “Stay Safer at Home” Governor’s
orders.
Moving into FY 21, DHCD is draftinga blueprint to end homelessness and looks forward to
publishing the strategies and activities while unprecedented funding is available to truly
make a difference in the lives of Virginia’s residents who are experiencing homelessness.
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