Homeless prevention program Hampton Roads.
When faced with a crisis, there are agencies that offer rental assistance as part of the South Hampton Roads Regional Task Force to End Homelessness. A coalition of agencies, churches, and non-profit organizations are focused on stopping evictions and also rehousing the currently homeless. A number of government grant programs can help with paying back rent or other expenses. There are several other emergency resources that may be available in order to make this happen.
The coalition and the prevention services administered are available across a wide region, including Chesapeake, Hampton Roads, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk. Each and every year thousands of low income families or tenants are able to use the assistance from the coalition to stop an eviction. As noted, there may also be funds to pay a security deposit on a new low income apartment or cover moving expenses.
The goal of the program was to keep people housed in their current home or apartment. The emphasis is on homeless prevention, which can include assisting in an emergency with paying rental expenses or providing referrals. Case managers from the various agencies will also intervene on the tenant’s behalf before an eviction notice is served to them. The earlier the process starts, the better.
There are several conditions in place. The financial support is for individuals or families that are residing in one of the counties or cities indicated above and that are facing an emergency. Or it can be someone that is currently living in transitional housing or on the streets. These individuals, and others, may be qualified to get help.
For those residents that are able to enroll, they will be provided with financial aid or a grant to pay rent. Homeowners may also be assisted in some cases with a portion of their mortgage. Rehousing is an option too, and someone that is homeless can get help in locating a new low income unit or transitional housing. Whey they are secure, there may be funds for the security deposit. In some cases other forms of support may be provided, such as a loan to the individual. Every applicant to the program will also be placed into some form of case management or counseling service.
Any type of emergency help paid out is a last resort. So the individual needs to have explored all other options. They also need to of course be very low income and/or homeless.
Any funds paid towards rent to residents in Hampton Roads Virginia will only be for approved housing. So it needs to be affordable and safe to live in. The home needs to meet qualifications as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Another condition is the applicant needs to have an eviction notice from their landlord.
A key component of this is case management as well to ensure future stability. The staff want to be in place to intervening before any type of future eviction occurs and work with the tenant to develop a plan for future stability. So the Regional Task Force will help clients rebuild their credit or maybe find employment. As those can be two major causes of homelessness in the Hampton Roads Virginia area.
How to get homeless prevention and rapid rehousing in Hampton Roads region
To apply for help or get more information, the numbers to call are below. The caller will be given information and a referral to the program. At that point, they will be contacted by a Virginia Certified Housing Counselor that works with Hampton Roads on this Homeless Prevention Program. As with any resource, any rental assistance is very limited and come with restrictions.
- Norfolk Hotline is at 622-5920.
- Virginia Beach tenants should dial Connection Point at 227-5932.
- Southampton or Franklin Department of Human Services runs homeless prevention for that area.
- Chesapeake, call (622-5920)
- In Suffolk or Portsmouth, dial Department of Human Services.
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