Virginia's Homeless Programs 2020-2021 Program Year — Report to House and Senate Committees
Summary
Virginia's Homeless Programs 2020-2021 Program Year, a report to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees. It states that it reports on the administration of the State's homeless programs in compliance with HB 1800, Budget Item 113 B of Virginia Acts of Assembly, 2021 Special Session I. The Executive Summary states that the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers homeless assistance resources of approximately $17 million annually in state and federal funding. It also states that the rate of homelessness per 10,000 people on average in Virginia is 6.8, compared with a national average of 18.
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“Virginia's Homeless Programs 2020-2021 Program Year — Report to House and Senate Committees.”
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Virginia’s Homeless Programs
2020-2021
Program Year
A Report to the
House Appropriations
And
Senate Finance and Appropriations
Committees
Main Street Centre
600 East Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………….3
WHAT THE DATA SHOWS……………………………………………………………4
HOMELESS DATA INTEGRATION PROJECT……………………………………7
HOMELESS PROGRAMS……………………………………………………………….8
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program……………………………….9
Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS….……….20
Virginia Housing Trust Fund……………………………………………..22
PILOT PROJECTS TO STABLY HOUSE YOUTH………………………………...27
COVID-RELATED FUNDING…………………………………………………………..29
CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………………………..31
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 1800,
Budget Item 113 B of Virginia Acts of Assembly, 2021 Special Session I.
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. DHCD continues to be a crucial resource to communities across the
commonwealth allowing persons who are homeless to access non congregate shelter,
quarantine when necessary, obtain personal protective equipment, gain information on
COVID vaccines, and obtain and maintain permanent housing during the COVID
pandemic. This past year has been unprecedented in the resources, challenges, growth,
and changes DHCD and homeless service providers have faced to meet the needs of the
most vulnerable residents in Virginia. It has been established without doubt – Housing is
Healthcare, and to that end, DHCD is a leader among state agencies to ensure our system
is aligned and coordinated to make the solution fit the crisis.
The Homeless and Special Needs Housing Unit (HSNH) established an internal plan for
supporting its community partners with the overarching goal of “Functionally Ending
Homelessness in Virginia.” Functionally ending homelessness means that every
community will have a comprehensive response in place that ensures homelessness is
prevented whenever possible, or if it cannot be prevented, it is a rare, brief, and one-time
experience (United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2018).
The intent of the internal document is to outline support and technical assistance HSNH
will deliver to its community partners and the short, medium, and long-term activities
necessary to achieve these outcomes in Virginia’s effort of functionally ending
homelessness.
- Goal 1: Improve HSNH program administration activities to include increased
oversight of grantees, build better relationship with grantees and communities,
and meet the technical assistance needs of grantees and communities to provide
a greater service to our providers.
- Goal 2: Help communities and providers access new funding sources and engage
new partners to assist in their efforts to functionally end homelessness.
- Goal 3: Address the affordable housing gap especially for residents who are
homeless by informing, partnering, and engaging with the Affordable and Special
Needs Housing (ASNH) unit and Community Development colleagues.
DHCD administers the Commonwealth of Virginia’s homeless assistance resources. These
resources include approximately $17 million annually in state and federal funding.
Additionally during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, DHCD managed unprecedented state
Housing Trust Fund resources and federal COVID-related funding totaling over $60
million.
In the spring of 2020, DHCD released the bi-annual competitive Virginia Homeless
Solutions Program (VHSP) grant application that combined state and federal funding
sources (HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant and Housing Opportunities for Persons with
3
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. These funds were
renewed in the spring of 2021.
What the Data Shows
DHCD’s strategies continue to show measured success. Currently, the rate of
homelessness per 10,000 people on average in Virginia is 6.8, and remains the fourth
lowest in the nation (Statista, 2021). This is compared with a national average of 18.
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.
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
sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks,
abandoned buildings, or on the street.
This count provides a 24-hour snapshot of people 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 2021 numbers reported here are preliminary, as HUD has not released the official
PIT numbers upon the writing of this report. Additionally, the 2021 PIT was conducted
during the COVID -19 pandemic and HUD allowed for multiple exemptions. CoCs
(continuum of care) in Virginia made direct requests to HUD for exemptions and the
following occurred that impacted 2021 PIT reports: Two CoCs did not report any
unsheltered numbers and the unsheltered counts of two CoCs did not include demographic
or sub-population information.
The 2021 PIT data showed a two percent decrease since 2020 in the number of persons
who are experiencing homelessness and since 2010, there has been a 34 percent
decrease. Also since 2010, there has been a 49 percent decrease in households with
children and a 20 percent decrease in chronic homelessness identified during the point-
in-time count. However, between 2020 and 2021, Virginia saw a 36% (from 778 to 1057)
increase in individuals who are chronically homeless, and a 274% (from 38 to 142)
increase families (total persons in household) who are chronically homeless. It is believed
that due to a seven percent increase of persons in emergency shelter and the increased
attention to health conditions due to COVID-19, previously unknown disabilities were
reported thus increasing the number of persons who were identified as chronically
homeless. This increase may be an anomaly with the way PIT counts were conducted in
2021, additional investigation along with comparison to the 2022 PIT will be conducted.
4
In addition, since 2011, there has been a 63 percent decrease in veteran homelessness.
This requires additional comparison to 2022 due to a decrease of 13% between 2020 and
2021, possibly due to the limits of the unsheltered count in 2021.
Total Persons Homeless
Virginia Point-in-Time Count
January, 2021
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 2021
Total
9080 8816 8424 7625 7020 7001 6268 6067 5975 5780 5957 5812
Persons
Households w/ Children
Virginia Point-in-Time Count
January, 2021
49% decrease since 2010
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
HH w/
Children 1181 1145 1094 984 883 890 737 631 660 651 621 599
5
The January 2021, point-in-time count identified 5,812 individuals (4,191 households) as
experiencing homelessness (1). Approximately, 82 percent of these individuals were in
emergency shelters, nine percent were in transitional housing programs, one percent
were in safe haven shelters, and eight 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.
Sub-population data is only captured on the adult population in the PIT count annually.
In the 2021 PIT count, there were 4,496 adults. Of these adults, 26% were chronically
homeless (2), six percent were veterans, 14% were survivors of domestic violence, 14%
had a substance use disorder, and 26% has a serious mental illness.
Individuals may fall into multiple subpopulations. For example, an individual may be a
veteran who also experiences serious mental illness.
SUB-POPULATIONS
POINT-IN-TIME, 2021
TOTAL ADULTS: 4,496
Veterans
8% Individual Chronic
26% Homelessness
Adult Survivors of
Domestic Violence
26%
Adults Substance Use
Disorder
Adults Serious Mental
14%
Illness
14%
(1) 2021 PIT count numbers are preliminary- The 2021 numbers reported here are preliminary, as HUD has
not released the official PIT numbers upon the writing of this report. Additionally, the 2021 PIT was
conducted during the COVID -19 pandemic and HUD allowed for multiple exemptions. CoCs in Virginia
made direct requests to HUD for exemptions and the following occurred that impacted 2021 PIT reports:
Two CoCs did not report any unsheltered numbers and the unsheltered counts of two CoCs did not include
demographic or sub-population information.
(2) 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.
6
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,
2019 through October, 2020. These outcomes include projects not funded by DHCD.
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 233 days. This is an
increase of one-hundred and fourty-eight percent increase from the previous
year.
2. Returns to Homelessness (after 2 years) – Of the 10,270 persons who exited
homelessness to permanent housing, 2,187 (21%) returned to homelessness
over a two-year period.
3. Annual Homeless Count - There were 17,493 individuals who entered into the
homeless services system. This is an eight percent decrease from the previous
year.
4. First Time Homeless -There were 13,019 individuals were experiencing
homelessness for the first-time, which is a ten percent decrease from the
previous year. Of all individuals who entered into the homeless services system,
70 percent were experiencing homelessness for the first time.
5. Exits to Permanent Housing – Of all the individuals who exited the homeless
services system, 48 percent exited to a permanent housing solution. This is a
eight percent increase from the previous year.
Homeless Data Integration Project (HDIP)
The work of the development and implementation of the HDIP continued during 2020-
2021. The Homeless Data Project Manager was assigned to multiple inter-agency
committees addressing housing and health. Having a tool to integrate Homeless
Management Information System (HMIS) data is key to data driven decisions and
matching/integrating multi-system data to address system coordination and most
importantly, equity and justice.
March of 2021 saw the hire of a homeless data integration specialist to help support the
HDIP. Advisory Council meetings continued to be held, and the Steering Committee
voted in officers to fulfill roles within the committee. DHCD’s Homeless Data Project
Manager and the data specialist continued to work closely with Green River, a
consultant hired by DHCD to assist with HDIP, on the beginning stages of test
implementation for the HDIP. User roles within the database were codified and
procedures were drafted for system use.
7
Drafts of key documents for the HDIP such as data sharing agreements, user
agreements, and participation agreements have been developed and will be finalized in
the near future. A draft of a policies and procedures document is in progress and will be
approved upon completion by all the necessary parties.
Question and Answer sessions were held virtually for every Contiuum of Care (CoC) and
Local Planning Group (LPG) in the state to ensure that everyone who may see use of this
system in the future would know what they were buying into. The general response was
positive, and the turnout for the sessions was representative of the sizes of CoCs and
LPGs being addressed. The feedback garnered from those meetings was presented to
Green River and to the Advisory Council for the purpose of planning next steps.
Homeless Programs
DHCD administers approximately $17 million annually for homeless assistance programs.
This includes approximately $13 million in state general funds that leverage
approximately $4 million in federal funds to address the issues and needs of those
experiencing homelessness in Virginia.
DHCD received $3 million in federal funding from HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
program and approximately $1 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 has received unprecedented funding for the state’s homeless crisis response
system through a combination of state and federal COVID relief funds. These funds were
to be used first, to ensure all individuals and households experiencing homelessness have
access to safe, 24/7, emergency shelter (congregate and non-congregate), and second, to
assist households maintain or obtain permanent housing and receive the housing-focused
supportive services necessary to retain permanent housing.
Administered Homeless Programs 2020-2021 Program Year Allocation
Programs Sources Allocation to Grant End Date
DHCD
HSNH- Virginia Homeless Federal- HUD and State- $16,060,733 06//2021
Solutions Program General Funds
- General Homeless Services State $9,001,820.00
Funds
- General Homeless State $4,050,000.00
Prevention Funds
- Emergency Solutions Grant Federal $3,008,913.00
(ESG)
Housing Opportunities for Federal $1,087,223 06/2021
Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA)
Housing Trust Fund –Homeless State $8,300,000 12/2021
Reduction Grant
CHERP (ESG-CV) Federal $30,977,115.00 09/2022
8
CHERP- Non-Congregate Shelter State $8,800,000.00 12/2021
CHERP- (CDBG) Non-Congregate Federal $20,000,000.00 3/2022
Shelter
Total Federal/State $81,642,114.00
Virginia Homeless Solutions Program
The Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP) is approximately $16 million, comprised
of 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.
VHSP Service Providers
Service Providers Location Award
Accomack-Northampton Planning
$28,744.00
District Commission Accomack
ACTS - Action In Community Through
$244,046.79
Service Prince William
AIDS Response Effort, Inc. Winchester $180,487.00
ARCH Roanoke Gate City $57,611.00
Arlington County Government Arlington $66,328.52
Arlington Street Peoples Assistance
$186,971.08
Network, Inc Arlington
Bay Aging Urbana $108,497.00
Bridges to Independence Arlington $68,807.00
CARITAS Richmond $244,586.55
Carpenter's Shelter Alexandria $543,779.00
Choices, Council on Domestic Violence
$67,477.00
for Page Co., Inc. Luray
City of Alexandria, a municipal
$416,901.37
corporation of Virginia Alexandria
City of Charlottesville Charlottesville $539,333.00
City of Hampton Hampton $1,060,591.00
City of Roanoke Roanoke $65,376.18
Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc. Tazewell $28,838.00
Commonwealth Catholic Charities Norfolk $36,587.00
Commonwealth Catholic Charities Petersburg $38,973.00
Cornerstones (formerly Reston
$191,106.37
Interfaith ) Reston
Council of Community Services Roanoke $391,638.00
County of Loudoun Loudoun $259,792.00
9
Culpeper Community Development
$52,861.00
Corp. Culpeper
Doorways for Women and Families Arlington $225,837.60
Eastern Shore of Virginia Housing
$154,035.00
Alliance Accomack
Empowerhouse (formerly RCDV) Fredericksburg $169,467.00
ESCADV Accomack $34,831.00
Family Crisis Support Services, Inc. Norton $356,083.00
Family Resource Center, Inc. Wytheville $80,135.00
First Step: A Response to Domestic
$40,272.00
Violence Harrisonburg
ForKids,Inc Portsmouth $21,600.00
ForKids,Inc Norfolk $717,792.00
George Washington Regional
$59,500.00
Commission Fredericksburg
Gloucester United Emergency Shelter
$37,000.00
Team Gloucester
Hanover Safe Place Hanover $143,852.00
Harrisonburg Redevelopment and
$59,391.00
Housing Authority Harrisonburg
Help and Emergency Response, Inc. Portsmouth $197,196.00
Helping Overcome Poverty's Existence,
$335,984.00
Inc. Wytheville
HomeAgain Richmond $198,975.21
Homeward Richmond $299,938.00
Housing Families First Richmond $227,765.14
Judeo-Christian Outreach Center Virginia Beach $131,406.00
LGBT Life Center Norfolk $153,279.00
LGBT Life Center Virginia Beach $69,126.00
Lynchburg Community Action Group Lynchburg $189,534.00
Mercy House, Inc. Harrisonburg $396,175.00
Micah Ecumenical Ministries Fredericksburg $340,804.00
Miriam's House Lynchburg $131,507.00
New Hope Housing, Inc. Arlington $187,169.00
New Hope Housing, Inc. Fairfax $226,830.00
New River Community Action, Inc. Radford $252,474.00
New River Family Shelter Christiansburg $43,813.00
Northern Virginia Family Service Prince William $334,493.07
Northern Virginia Family Service Fairfax $89,037.10
Operation Renewed Hope Foundation Prince William $48,781.17
People Incorporated of Virginia Abingdon $260,081.00
People Incorporated of Virginia Culpeper $277,483.00
10
Portsmouth Volunteers for the
$34,211.00
Homeless, Inc. Portsmouth
Project Horizon Lexington $29,759.00
PWC DSS Homeless Services Prince William $63,554.00
Quin Rivers, Inc. dba Thrive Virginia New Kent $77,866.00
Rappahannock Refuge, Inc. dba Hope
$479,088.00
House Fredericksburg
Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional
$84,500.00
Commission Culpeper
Samaritan House, Inc. Virginia Beach $198,726.00
Shelter House, Inc. Fairfax $191,982.00
Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter Shenandoah $191,856.00
Southside Survivor Response Center,
$35,000.00
Inc. Martinsville
St. Joseph's Villa Richmond $300,000.00
St. Joseph's Villa Petersburg $120,000.00
StandUp For Kids, Hampton Roads Virginia Beach $44,986.00
STEP, Inc. Rocky Mount $195,292.00
STEPS, Inc. Farmville $125,016.00
STOP Inc. Norfolk $148,275.92
STOP Inc. Portsmouth $80,108.00
StreetLight Community Outreach
$54,045.00
Ministries Woodbridge
The Daily Planet Richmond $32,712.00
The Improvement Association Emporia $56,324.00
The Laurel Center Winchester $68,017.00
The Planning Council Norfolk $178,026.00
The Salvation Army of Central VA Richmond $65,000.00
Tri-County Community Action Agency $76,490.00
South Boston
Valley Community Services Board Staunton $59,461.00
Valley Mission, Inc. Staunton $52,422.00
Virginia Supportive Housing Norfolk $56,160.00
Volunteers Of America Chesapeake Loudoun $171,751.00
Women's Resource Center of the New
$166,144.00
River Valley Radford
YWCA Central Virginia Lynchburg $25,750.00
YWCA Richmond Richmond $103,900.00
YWCA South Hampton Roads Norfolk $131,104.00
Total
*Total does not include admin
allocated to DHCD $15,068,504.07
11
Emergency Shelter
Funding for emergency shelter totaled $2.5 million through the VHSP renewal application
process.
During 2020-21 program year, emergency shelter providers receiving VHSP served 8,757
persons (6,165, households) through emergency and seasonal shelters. Of the 6,165
households, nineteen percent (19%) or 1,195 were households with children and eighty-
one percent (81%) or 4,970 were households with only adults.
The table and charts below provide additional details on the populations served by
emergency shelters.
Twenty-six percent (26%) of persons in emergency shelter were children under the age of
18.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Emergency Shelter Operations 2020-2021
Total Individuals: 8,757
7% 12%
Age: Under 5
10%
4% Age: 5-12
8% Age: 13-17
59%
Age: 18-24
Age: 25-61
Elderly (62 and Over)
Age: Unknown
Four percent (4%) of adult individuals receiving VHSP-funded shelter services report
veteran status. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of adults are victims of domestic violence.
Other significant challenges and barriers to housing include serious mental illness (17%),
chronic substance abuse (8%), and other disabilities (22%), which are self-reported unless
used as a documented disability for permanent supportive housing or other permanent
housing that requires disability documentation. Of the households without children who
were served in emergency shelter, eleven percent (11%) were chronically homeless. Of
the total individuals in households with children, one percent (1%) are chronically
homeless (family chronic homelessness includes adults and children).
12
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Emergency Shelter Operations 2020-2021
Sub-populations
OTHER DISABILITY 1953
SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL 1574
CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 730
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES (HOUSEHOLDS… 99
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS… 1026
ELDERLY (62 AND OLDER) 595
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 2651
HIV/AIDS 66
VETERANS 356
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
*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 that exited shelter, forty-five percent (45%) exited to a permanent
destination (market rate rental, Section 8, supportive housing, permanent placement
with family and friends). Twenty-two percent (22%) exited to a temporary destination
(jail/prison, institution, or to temporary housing provided by family/friends). Twenty-two
percent (22%) exited to another homeless location, and eleven percent (11%) exited to
an unknown destination.
Virginia Homeless Soultions Program (2020-2021)
Type of Exit Destination from Emergency Shelter
Total Household Exits: 4,442
11%
Homeless
22%
Temporary
Permanent
45% 22%
Unknown
The racial division for those in emergency shelter stood at fifty-four percent (54%) Black
or African American, zero percent (0%)* Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander,
thirty-nine percent (39%) White, five percent (5%) Multi-racial, one percent (1%) Asian,
and one percent (1%) Other.
*Note: 0% does not reflect that there are no people in this category and is only indicative of a not
statistically significant number when compared with the whole.
13
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Emergency Shelter 2020-2021
Black or African-American
Race
Native Hawaiian or Other
5% Pacific Islander
White
39% 54%
Multi-Racial
Asian
Other
The Ethnic make-up of those in emergency shelter stood at eighteen percent (18%)
Hispanic or Latino/a/X.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Emregency Shelter 2020-2021
Ethnicity
NON-HISPANIC/LATINO 8202
HISPANIC OR LATINO 520
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000
Rapid Re-housing
Funding for rapid re-housing totaled $6.8 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. Rapid re-
housing funding 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, eighty-two percent (82%) of households exit to
permanent housing including seventy-four percent (74%) without any on-going subsidy.
14
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of households during fiscal year 2020-21 received up to three
months of financial assistance. Another twenty-seven percent (27%) received between
four and nine months of financial assistance and fifteen percent (15%) needed and
received more than ten months of financial assistance. Six percent (6%) 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. Forty-five percent (45%)
received case management up to 3 months while, eleven percent (11%) needed and
received case management for longer than one-year.
Forty-four percent (44%) of those who were rapidly re-housed were children under the
age of 18.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Rapid Re-Housing 2020-2021
Total Individuals: 3,721
Age: Under 5
4% Age: 5-12
19%
Age: 13-17
45%
18% Age: 18-24
7% Age: 25 and over
7%
Elderly (62 and older)
Age: Unknown
Thirty-three percent (33%) of adults served by rapid re-housing programs are victims of
domestic violence. Twenty-one percent (21%) are affected by serious mental illness, six
percent (6%) by chronic substance abuse, and nineteen percent (19%) by other
disabilities, which are self-reported unless used as a documented disability for permanent
supportive housing or other permanent housing that requires disability documentation.
15
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Rapid Re-housing 2020-2021
Sub-populations
OTHER DISABILITY 502
SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL 567
CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 175
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES (HOUSEHOLDS… 71
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS… 244
ELDERLY (62 AND OLDER) 134
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 895
HIV/AIDS 24
VETERANS 83
0 200 400 600 800 1000
*Note sub-populations only include adults (except chronically homeless families) An adult may be
counted in one or more categories.
Of households who exited rapid re-housing, eighty-two percent (82%) exited to a
permanent destination (market rate rental, Section 8, supportive housing, permanent
placement with family and friends). Seven percent (7%) exited to a temporary destination
((jail/prison, institution, or to temporary housing provided by family/friends). Six percent
(6%) exited to a homeless destination (other shelter or place not meant for human
habitation) and five percent (5%) exited to an unknown destination.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Type of Exit Destination from Rapid Re-Housing
Total Exits: 1,172
Homeless
5% 6% 7%
Temporary
Permanent
82% Unknown
16
The racial division for those in rapid-rehousing stood at sixty-one percent (61%) Black or
African American, zero percent (0%)* Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, thirty-
two percent (32%) White, five percent (5%) Multi-racial, one percent (1%) Asian, and
one percent (1%) Other.
*Note: 0% does not reflect that there are no people in this category and is only indicative of a not
statistically significant number when compared with the whole.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Rapid Re-Housing 2020-2021 Asian
Race
5% American-Indian or Alaska
Native
Black or African-American
32% Native Hawaiian or Other
61% Pacific Islander
White
Multi-Racial
Other
The Ethnic make-up of those in rapid re-housing programs stood at fifteen percent
(15%) Hispanic or Latino/a/X.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Rapid Re-Housing 2020-2021
Ethnicity
NON-HISPANIC/LATINO 3452
HISPANIC OR LATINO 253
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
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
17
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 2020-21 program year, prevention funding
provided assistance to 1781 individuals (747 households). Five hundred and eighty-nine
exited prevention services and of those, over 95.7% were prevented from
homelessness.
Forty-six percent (46%) of those who received homeless prevention services were
children under the age of 18. Twenty-one percent (21%) had a serious mental illness and
five percent (5%) were veterans.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Prevention 2020-2021
Subpopulations
OTHER DISABILITY 222
SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL 143
CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 21
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES (HOUSEHOLDS… 2
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS… 3
ELDERLY (62 AND OLDER) 48
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 198
HIV/AIDS 4
VETERANS 30
0 50 100 150 200 250
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Virginia Homeless Solutions Program
Prevention 2020-2021
Total Individuals: 1,781
3% 15% Age: Under 5
Age: 5-12
42% 21% Age: 13-17
Age: 18-24
10% Age: 25 and over
9%
Elderly (62 and older)
Age: Other
*Note sub-populations only include adults (except chronically homeless families). An adult may
be counted in one or more categories.
The racial division for those who received homeless prevention services stood at forty-
seven percent (47%) Black or African American, zero percent (0%)* Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacific Islander, forty-seven percent (47%) White, four percent (4%) Multi-racial,
one percent (1%) Asian, and one percent (1%) Other.
*Note: 0% does not reflect that there are no people in this category and is only indicative of a not
statistically significant number when compared with the whole.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Prevention 2020-2021
Race
Race: Asian
4%
Race: American-Indian or Alaska
Native
47% Race: Black or African-American
47%
Race: Native Hawaiian or Other
Pacific Islander
Race: White
Race: Multi-Racial
19
The Ethnic make-up of those who received homeless prevention services stood at six
percent (6%) Hispanic or Latino/a/X.
Virginia Homeless Solutions
Prevention 2020-2021
Ethnicity
NON-HISPANIC/LATINO 1471
HISPANIC OR LATINO 307
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA)
HOPWA funds are available to support 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.
HOPWA Project Sponsors 2020-2021
Service Housing Support Funded
Sub-grantee (Project Sponsor) Area(s) Activities Services Amount
Page, Short term rent. Case
AIDS Response Effort, Inc. Shenandoah, Tenant based management/
Winchester rental assistance Food bank $92,087.00
Tenant based
rental assistance,
Short term rent,
Support Case
City of Charlottesville Roanoke $288,172.00
services, management
Permanent
Housing
Placement
Tenant based
rental assistance, Case
Commonwealth Catholic Charities Norton $128,144.00
Short term rent, management
Support services
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Tenant based
rental assistance,
Roanoke, Short term rent,
Covington, Support Case
Council of Community Services $200,000.00
Salem, Clifton services, management
Forge, Vinton Permanent
Housing
Placement
Tenant based
rental assistance,
Short term rent,
Case
Fredericksburg Area HIV/AIDS Support
Fredericksburg management/ $134,157.00
Support Services services,
Transportation
Permanent
Housing
Placement
Tenant based
rental assistance,
Page,
Short term rent,
Rockbridge,
Support
Rockingham,
services,
Harrisonburg Community Health Shenandoah, Case
Permanent $72,972.00
Center Care Management Buena Vista, management
Housing
Lexington,
Placement,
Staunton,
Housing
Waynesboro
information
Services
Case
Short term rent.
management,
Lynchburg Community Action Tenant based
Lynchburg Transportation, $83,199.00
Group, Inc. rental assistance,
Food/Foodbank,
support services
Support Group
Tenant based
rental assistance,
Short term rent,
Pittsylvania Community Action Support Case
Pittsylvania $115,000.00
Inc. services, management
Permanent
Housing
Placement
Total
*Total does not include admin
allocated to DHCD $1,113,731.00
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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DHCD administered a federal allocation of $1,113,731 in HOPWA funds through eight
project sponsors across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The project sponsors served a
total of 191 unduplicated households with housing assistance. The services they received
included:
Short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance (STRMU) - 98 households
Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) - 85 households
Supportive services - 191 households
An additional 120 family members, of whom nine, also had HIV/AIDS benefited from
HOPWA housing assistance.
Of those eligible households that received HOPWA assistance, 87 percent had extremely
low incomes (0-30% AMI), 18 percent had very low incomes (31-50% AMI), and six percent
had low incomes (51-80% AMI).
Housing Trust Fund - Homeless Reduction Grant
At least 80 percent of the funds allocated to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund 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 Homeless Reduction Grant (HRG) include rapid re-housing,
rental assistance and support services for permanent supportive housing for persons
experiencing chronic homelessness, innovative and pilot projects focusing on addressing
the permanent housing needs of older adults and youth experiencing homelessness, and
pre-development of permanent supportive housing projects for individuals and families
experiencing chronic homelessness.
Thirty-eight applications were submitted by 23 organizations under FY21 Housing Trust
Fund Homeless Reduction Grant competitive cycle and awards totaling over $6.4 million
were funded. The applications were reviewed, evaluated, ranked and scored according
to the requirements of the program.
Awards follow:
RRH – Rapid Re-Housing
PSH – Permanent Supportive Housing
INN – Innovative projects for specific groups experiencing homelessness who have been
historically underserved (Older Adults or Youth)
Pre-dev – Pre-development of Permanent Supportive Housing
Project/ Communities
Organization Project Name Activity Award Served
Arlington Street The A-SPAN
People Assistance Supportive County of
Network, Inc. Housing Project PSH $ 125,000 Arlington
Counties of Essex,
Bay Aging Older Gloucester, King
Bay Aging Adults INN $ 300,000 and Queen, King
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Innovation Pilot William, Lancaster,
Project Mathews,
Middlesex,
Northumberland,
Richmond, and
Westmoreland
Bridges to
Bridges to Independence- County of
Independence HTF-21 RRH $ 619,030 Arlington
Permanent
Supportive
Housing (PSH)
Carpenter’s Shelter Project PSH $ 124,330 City of Alexandria
Commonwealth
CCC Youth Street
Catholic Charities
Outreach 2021 INN $ 100,000 City of Richmond
Cornerstone’s
HTF FY21 RR and
Cornerstones Innovation RRH $ 100,000 County of Fairfax
Counties of
Alleghany,
Botetourt, Craig,
and Roanoke.
Cities of
Covington,
Roanoke, and
Housing Trust Salem, Towns of
Council of Fund Homeless Clifton Forge,
Community Reduction Grant Fincastle, and
Services 2021 RRH $ 140,000 Vinton
Doorways for Doorways
Women and Housing Trust County of
Families Homes Fund 2021 RRH $ 63,000 Arlington
Cities of Norton
and Fate, Counties
of Dickenson, Lee,
Scott, and Wise,
Towns of
Appalachia, Big
Stone Gap,
Clintwood,
Duffield,
Jonesville,
Family Crisis Nicklesville,
Support Services, Pennington Gap,
Inc. FCSS HTF-HRG RRH $ 179,623 Pound, St. Charles,
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St. Paul, Weber
City, and Wise
Cities of
Chesapeake,
ForKids Rapid Franklin, Norfolk,
Rehousing for and Suffolk,
Parent Youth Counties of Isle of
and Young Wight and
ForKids, inc. Adults 2021 RRH $ 171,207 Southampton
HomeAgain
Single and
Seniors Rapid
HomeAgain Rehousing RRH $ 260,000 City of Richmond
City of Richmond,
Counties of
Charles City,
Chesterfield,
Goochland,
Hanover, Henrico,
GRCoC Homeless New Kent, and
Older Adults Powhatan, Town
Homeward Coalition INN $ 253,750 of Ashland.
Cities of
LGBT Life Center-
Chesapeake,
YOUTH Home
Norfolk, and
SVHC 2021
LGBT Life Center RRH $ 191,145 Suffolk
Cities of
Harrisonburg,
Staunton, and
Waynesboro,
Counties of
Mercy House Augusta and
Mercy House, Inc. HTF RRH $ 200,000 Rockingham
City of
Fredericksburg,
FY21 FrCoC Counties of
Permanent Caroline, King
Supportive George,
Micah Ecumenical Housing Program Spotsylvania, and
Ministries (Micah) PSH $ 380,070 Stafford
City of
FY21 FrCOC Fredericksburg,
Rapid Re- Counties of
Micah Ecumenical Housing Program Caroline, King
Ministries (Micah) RRH $ 92,700 George,
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Spotsylvania, and
Stafford
Cities of Bedford
and Lynchburg,
Counties of
Amherst,
Appomattox,
Bedford, and
Campbell, Towns
of AltaVista,
Amherst,
Appomattox and
Miriam’s House Community First RRH $ 150,000 Brookneal
New Hope Housing, NHH Alexandria
Inc. City PSH 2021 PSH $ 61,800 City of Alexandria
New Hope Housing, NHH Arlington County of
Inc. SP PSH 2021 PSH $ 100,000 Arlington
Counties of
New Hope Housing, NHH Fairfax PSH Arlington and
Inc. 2021 PSH $ 60,000 Fairfax
Cities of Manassas
and Manassas
Park, County of
NVFS Prince Prince William,
William Area Towns of
Rapid Re- Dumfries,
Housing and Haymarket,
Northern Virginia Stabilization Occoquan, and
Family Service Services RRH $ 80,000 Quantico
People
Incorporated of
Virginia HTF- Bristol PSH PSH $ 38,149 City of Bristol
The Planning
Council SVHC Cities of Norfolk
Innovative and Suffolk,
Planning Project Counties of Isle of
for Homeless Wight,
The Planning Older Adults Southampton and
Council 2021 INN $ 717,836 Chesapeake
SHI Housing
Trust Fund City of Virginia
Samaritan House Homeless RRH $ 263,500 Beach
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Reduction Grant
2021
Shelter House Cities of Fairfax
Rapid Rehousing and Falls Church,
Shelter House Project 2021 RRH $ 300,000 County of Fairfax
Cities of Colonial
CACH Youth Heights, Hopewell,
St. Joseph’s Villa Project INN $ 253,122 and Petersburg
City of Richmond,
Counties of
Charles City,
St. Joseph’s Villa Chesterfield,
Goochland,
Hanover, Henrico,
New Kent, and
Powhatan, Town
Flagler PSH PSH $ 97,983 of Ashland
Continuation of
the Petersburg
St. Joseph’s Villa High School
Housing Stability
Pilot Program INN $ 100,000 City of Petersburg
Thomas Jefferson
Coalition for the
Homeless/Piedmon TJACH PSH pre- City of
t Housing Alliance development Pre-dev $ 100,000 Charlottesville
Cities of Buena
Vista, Lexington,
Staunton, and
Waynesboro,
Counties of
Augusta, Bath,
Highland, and
Valley CSB Rockbridge,
Unaccompanied Townes of
Valley Community Homeless Youth $147,537 Craigsville and
Services Board 2021 INN Monterey
Virginia Beach
Community Cedar Grove
Development Community
Corporation Resource City of Virginia
Specialist PSH $ 25,540 Beach
Virginia VCU SSW –
Commonwealth Building Shared
University Housing Model INN $ 69,666 City of Richmond
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for
LGBTQ/Parentin
g Youth 2021-
2022
Virginia Supportive 2021 Cloverleaf
Housing and Crescent
Square- Virginia City of Virginia
Beach PSH $ 100,000 Beach
Virginia Supportive 2021 Gosnold
Housing and Church
Street Station-
Norfolk PSH $ 100,000 City of Norfolk
Virginia Supportive 2021 Premier
Housing Circle PSH Pre- City of
development Pre-dev $ 100,000 Charlottesville
Virginia Supportive 2021 South Bay
Housing Apartments –
Portsmouth PSH $ 55,000 City of Portsmouth
City of
OARS (Older Williamsburg,
Williamsburg Adults Returning Counties of James
House of Mercy to Stability) INN $ 107,795 City and York
Cities of
Chesapeake,
YWCA-SHR Rapid Norfolk,
YWCA South Re-housing Portsmouth, and
Hampton Roads Expansion 2021 RRH $ 96,202 Suffolk
*Total does not include admin allocated to DHCD TOTAL: $6,423,985
Housing Trust Fund - 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.
During the 2020-2021 grant year, 69 individuals (17 households) were served and 41 (10
households) exited the program to permanent housing. To date the Petersburg Pilot
Project has assisted 163 individuals in 44 households of which 118 individuals (34
households) have secured permanent housing.
27
The Petersburg Pilot Project has connected several households with permanent housing
and much needed stabilization supports. One household in particular entered the pilot
program with her partner and six children. The individual experienced homelessness for
over a year prior to receiving assistance through the pilot project and securing part-time
employment. Through the Petersburg Pilot Project, the household and her family were
able to secure temporary housing and ultimately secured permanent housing.
Moving From Foster Care to Adulthood
In 2016, the Virginia General Assembly established the Fostering Futures program to
provide extended foster care supports for up to three years for those aging out of foster
care. While transitioning to adulthood, in addition to other supports, participants in the
Fostering Futures program receive $720/month to cover basic living expenses. Program
participants may choose to remain in the foster family home or live independently while
working on school/employment goals. In 2019, DHCD established Moving from Foster
Care to Adulthood Rental Assistance Pilot to provide up to three years of tenant based
rental assistance (TBRA) to Fostering Futures program participants. This pilot was
implemented in two high cost markets (City of Richmond and City of
Charlottesville/Albemarle County) to help stabilize housing options for participants during
this critical transition period.
In Charlottesville, the Department of Social Services and The Haven partnered to
administer the Moving from Foster Care to Adulthood pilot. The Charlottesville project
has served 11 individuals to date. One youth recently achieved a positive outcome in the
Pilot Project as she had previously held a Fostering Futures stipend for a year at her initial
housing location. However due to difficulties in the living situation, the client spent a vast
majority of her time at her mother’s home where their relationship suffered. The Moving
from Foster Care to Adulthood Pilot Project was able to assist the client in locating and
securing permanent housing where the client feels safe.
In Richmond, St. Joseph’s Villa partners with the Department of Social Services to
administer the Moving from Foster Care to Adulthood Pilot Project. To date the project
has served 12 individuals (11 households). One client has successfully obtained
permanent housing through the pilot project and has since been able to pursue higher
education. The project participant entered the Moving from Foster Care to Adulthood
Pilot Project just weeks before their 21st birthday in December 2020. Program staff were
able to quickly locate the project participant permanent housing within two days. After
being housed the project participant was accepted into a four-year university where he
is pursuing a degree in engineering. He plans to renew his lease as he has secured an
exciting job opportunity that will provide increased financial independence. The Moving
from Foster Care to Adulthood Pilot Project provided the project participant with the
gift of peace of mind through a stable home where he no longer had to worry about
where he would be sleeping each night, but rather has time to focus on his future.
28
COVID-Related Funding
The Homeless and Special Needs Housing unit administered the COVID Homelessness
Emergency Response Program (CHERP) to first, ensure all individuals and households
experiencing homelessness have access to safe, 24-7, emergency shelter during this
health pandemic. The second goal of the COVID Homelessness Emergency Response
Program helps households maintain or obtain permanent housing and receive the
housing-focused supportive services necessary to retain permanent housing.
DHCD supported CoC/LPG strategies and homeless service programs aligning with state
and federal goals to ensure communities and individual service providers meet the
needs of those experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding
sources supporting CHERP include State COVID-Relief funding and the Emergency
Solutions Grant stimulus funding (ESG-CV), authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This federal funding was used to prevent, prepare
for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) among individuals and
families who are experiencing homelessness or receiving homeless assistance. The funds
also supported additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities
to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. No matching funds were required.
CoC Localities COVID-Related Funding
Greater Richmond Charles City, Chesterfield, $8,687,632
Goochland, Hanover,
Henrico, New Kent,
Powhatan, and the City of
Richmond
Southeastern Virginia City of Chesapeake, City of $4,970,220
Homeless Coalition Franklin, Isle of Wight, City
of Norfolk, Southampton,
and the City of Suffolk
Blue Ridge Alleghany, Botetourt, City $679,017
of Covington, Craig,
Roanoke (City and County),
and the City of Salem
Virginia Beach City of VA Beach $2,676,459
Fredericksburg Regional Caroline, City of $3,058,806
Fredericksburg, King
George, Spotsylvania, and
Stafford
Central Virginia Amherst, Appomattox, $534,048
Bedford (City and County),
Campbell, and City of
Lynchburg
29
Thomas Jefferson Area Albemarle, City of $1,931,253
Coalition for the Homeless Charlottesville, Fluvanna,
Greene, Louisa, and Nelson
Greater Virginia Peninsula City of Hampton, James $2,798,746
Homelessness Coalition City, City of Newport News,
City of Poquoson, City of
Williamsburg, York
Portsmouth City of Portsmouth $980,384
Western Virginia City of Harrisonburg, City $2,383,621
of Winchester,
Rockingham, Clarke,
Frederick, Page,
Shenandoah, and Warren
Arlington City of Arlington $2,492,907
Fairfax Fairfax (City and County), $5,946,542
City of Falls Church
Loudoun Loudoun County $861,387
Alexandria City of Alexandria $1,912,906
Prince William Prince William County $3,574,959
Balance of State (BoS) – Local Planning Groups
LENOWISCO Lee, Scott, Wise, City of $573,831
Norton
Cumberland Plateau Buchanan, Dickenson, $1,516,084
Russell, Tazewell,
Washington, and City of
Bristol
Hope Inter-Agency Council Bland, Carroll, Grayson, $951,890
on Homelessness Smyth, Wythe, and City of
Galax
New River Valley Housing Giles, Floyd, Montgomery $378,770
Partnership (including Christiansburg
and Blacksburg), Pulaski,
and City of Radford
Foothills Housing Network Culpeper, Fauquier, $2,782,604
Madison, Orange, and
Rappahannock
Valley Homeless Augusta, Highland, Bath, $2,961,899
Connection Rockbridge, cities of
Staunton, Waynesboro,
Lexington, Buena Vista
30
West Piedmont Better City of Danville, Franklin, $303,797
Housing Coalition Henry, Martinsville,
Patrick, and Pittsylvania
Southside Brunswick, Charlotte, $263,253
Halifax, and Mecklenburg
Heartland Amelia, Buckingham, $788,231
Cumberland, Lunenburg,
Nottoway, and Prince
Edward
Northern Neck/Middle Lancaster, Westmoreland, $1,082,948
Peninsula Housing Northumberland,
Partnership Richmond County, Essex,
Gloucester, Mathews,
Middlesex, King and
Queen, King William
Crater Area Coalition on City of Colonial Heights, $689,928
Homelessness Dinwiddie, City of Emporia,
Greensville, City of
Hopewell, City of
Petersburg, Prince George,
Surry, and Sussex
Community Partners of the Accomack and $43,017
Eastern Shore Northampton
*Total does not include admin allocated to DHCD $42,030,518
Much of the early COVID-relief funds were used for non-congregate sheltering. Due to
differing grant cycles, all funds have not been spent or reported on at this time. Based
on a final reporting of early funding, 4,573 households (6,367 individuals) received non-
congregate shelter. Of these 13% (603) households were sheltered directly from a place
not meant for human habitation via street outreach.
Early funds were also used in congregate shelters to implement COVID-19 safety
protocols in order to maintain or expand the congregate shelter. Funds were used for
meals, cleaning supplies, PPE, no-touch sanitizer and soap dispensers, opening seasonal
shelters, de-density of shelters, testing kits and testing cost, thermometers, essential
staff salaries, portable barriers, person storage bins, hospital grade cleaning services,
and transportation.
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
31
authorities. It is 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
homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia has achieved significant results:
Overall homelessness decreased by 36 percent
Family homelessness decreased by 49 percent
Veteran homelessness decreased by 63 percent (since 2011)
Youth homelessness decreased by 62 percent (since 2013)
Chronic homelessness decreased by 20 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 stay which was required by the “Stay and Home” or “Stay Safer at Home” orders
issued by Governor Northam.
Moving into FY22, DHCD will work with the Governor’s Coordinating Council on
Homelessness and Housing Vulnerable Populations to create a blueprint to end
homelessness and looks forward to working with its partners to implement the strategies
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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