Hampton Roads gets $1.5M boost to reduce evictions
The City of Norfolk and two Hampton Roads nonprofits will receive more than $1.5 million in state funding as part of an effort to reduce evictions across the commonwealth.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday that $2.9 million in funding will go toward the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot. Through the program, seven projects will support eviction protection services in 48 communities across the commonwealth, according to a release from the governor’s office.
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula received just over $850,000 for eviction prevention and diversion services. A court navigator program will aid residents, particularly in areas with higher eviction rates in Hampton and Newport News.
ForKids in Chesapeake and Portsmouth was awarded nearly $462,000 for eviction prevention and diversion services. That includes financial assistance, case management and tenant and landlord education. Four positions will be created: Two eviction prevention specialists and two court navigators, according to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
The City of Norfolk was awarded $200,000 to expand solutions based on the city’s Eviction Action Plan. This includes rental and child care assistance, and navigation services for court. Two new eviction prevention navigators will be hired for the Norfolk Eviction Prevention Resource Center.
Other groups that received funding serve the Richmond, southwest Virginia and the Charlottesville and Martinsville areas. In total, Hampton Roads will receive $1,512,000.
“Safe, stable housing is an essential component for strong families,” Youngkin stated in a release. “This pilot program tests to find the most effective wraparound support services and assistance for Virginians that face housing uncertainty.”