Supportive housing has long played a vital role in the housing program of Norfolk, Virginia. It combines affordable housing with a range of services designed to help individuals and families who face various challenges, such as homelessness and disabilities, to live independently. This comprehensive support includes mental health services, job training, and addiction recovery support. Here's a look at some of the key supportive housing options available in Norfolk.
Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) is a not-for-profit organization that provides permanent supportive housing to single adults and families. It operates several facilities in the Hampton Roads region, including Norfolk. Residents have their private apartments and get services like case management, life skills training, employment assistance, and support with medical and mental health needs.
The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) is an essential player in providing affordable housing solutions in Norfolk. Besides public housing programs, NRHA also offers Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), helping eligible Norfolk residents pay for private housing of their choice, amid other services.
Access AIDS Care and The LGBT Center of Hampton Roads have worked together to offer The Haven, the state's first permanent supportive housing program designed specifically for formerly homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. The Haven provides 20 one-bedroom apartments as well as wraparound supportive services.
Supportive housing options in Norfolk also benefit from federal and state subsidies. These subsidies, such as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, assist eligible low-income individuals and families by subsidizing their rent.
Another vital federal program is the Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program. It provides funding for housing authorities to assist non-elderly persons with disabilities. The project includes rental assistance, security deposit assistance, and housing relocation and stabilization services.
At the state level, the Virginia Housing Development Authority administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program in Hampton Roads, including Norfolk. The program offers rental assistance to eligible low-income Virginians, with preference given to those spending more than half their gross income on rent.
Various non-profit organizations provide supportive housing in Norfolk. One of them is ForKids, Inc., an organization that helps families break the cycle of homelessness. Their housing program provides temporary financial assistance for rent and utilities, extensive case management, and a suite of other supportive services.
Another private non-profit, the YWCA South Hampton Roads, offers a rapid rehousing program that promotes housing stability. They provide short-term rental assistance and services to allow individuals and families to move quickly out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
Supportive housing in Norfolk, Virginia, is a multi-dimensional concept, involving various stakeholders, from the local housing authority to state-level organizations and non-profit entities. It is an integrative approach, combining affordable housing with supportive services, to help the vulnerable members of society live independently and securely. If you or anyone you know might benefit from these services, don't hesitate to reach out to these organizations for help.
