VA Provides $2.5M In Funding For Homeless During Coronavirus

Mark Hand
·3 min read

VIRGINIA — Virginia is providing $2.5 million in emergency funding to house the state's homeless population during the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, crisis, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The emergency support will provide temporary housing for about 1,500 residents who are currently homeless or rely on shelters that require them to leave every day.

The emergency homeless funding will also provide housing for individuals in shelters that may need to be quarantined, or where social distancing is not feasible, according to the state. The funding will be used for hotel and motel vouchers, case management, food, cleaning supplies and medical transportation.

“As we battle this unprecedented public health crisis, we must make sure no one is left behind,” Northam said Friday in a statement. “I have issued a statewide Stay at Home order, but we know there are many Virginians with no home to stay in."

Northam said the emergency funding "will ensure people experiencing homelessness have access to immediate housing options and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The number of positive cases of the new coronavirus jumped above 2,000 in Virginia on Friday, with deaths now standing at 46, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The 2,012 positive cases of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease, includes 312 hospitalizations, up from 246 hospitalizations on Thursday.

A shortage of protective gear for front-line health-care workers has been an issue nationwide, and Northam has asked Virginia businesses to donate equipment medical workers need.

In response to the vulnerable homeless population, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide funding to support homeless people who are 65 and older, those with other pre-existing conditions, and those who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

People experiencing homelessness are more likely to have chronic health conditions that go untreated and are among the populations most vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. In recent years, Virginia has seen an increase in the number of older adults experiencing homelessness, the governor's office said.

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Virginia’s housing support system relies largely on the use of congregate shelters, which can lack adequate space for social distancing. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Department of Health have provided guidance to homeless shelters on the best ways to safely serve the homeless population during coronavirus crisis.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is preparing additional housing options for about 10 percent of the 3,890 Virginians currently in shelters to allow space for social distancing and safe quarantine practices as needed.

The Supreme Court of Virginia has suspended eviction proceedings in all district and circuit courts through April 26, the governor's office noted.

Evictions for all Housing Choice Voucher holders have been halted for 120 days. The Virginia voucher program allows prospective tenants to select from a wider range of housing options, as opposed to being limited to designated housing projects. The tenant pays the landlord a percentage of their monthly income towards the rent, with the voucher subsidizing the remainder.

For all mortgages guaranteed by federal mortgage programs, including Virginia Housing Development Authority mortgages, the mortgage provider will defer mortgage payments, principal plus interest, for up to three months for those who have lost income due to COVID-19.

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This article originally appeared on the Fredericksburg Patch