Who We Are
Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) is a not-for-profit that transforms lives, transforms communities & provides permanent solutions to homelessness.
Founded in 1988, the then named SRO Housing of Richmond was the first not-for-profit in the Commonwealth with the mission of providing permanent supportive housing to homeless single adults. It took four years, but in 1992 New Clay House opened, becoming the first permanent supportive apartments in Virginia and home to 47 formerly homeless single adults.
In 1999, VSH began serving families. As a result, and in an attempt to more accurately reflect its mission, the Board of Directors changed its name on November 19, 1999 from SRO Housing of Richmond to Virginia Supportive Housing.
VSH continues to successfully serve very low-income homeless individuals and families and those with disabilities.
Our Approach Goes Far Beyond Shelter
We provide permanent housing integrated with appropriate levels of support services to help tenants stay housed and find the support they need to succeed in other areas of life.
- We develop and manage properties specifically for use as permanent housing.
- Tenants can stay as long as they wish, provided they can meet their commitments to pay rent and live within the guidelines of the property.
- We provide on-site case management to help people maintain their housing and become more independent.
- We offer counseling and financial literacy programs that empower tenants to make the changes needed to maintain jobs and move on to market rate housing, if possible.
- We work with landlords who offer affordable housing and connect them to homeless and disabled people who need housing.
96% of our residents obtain a stable income through work or entitlement programs.
We Deliver Results.
Virginia Supportive Housing is the only not-for-profit organization in Central Virginia that takes an integrated approach to ending homelessness by providing both permanent housing and support services to the most under served segments of our population.
The homeless individuals and families we serve represent the very lowest levels of income in our region (generally 30% or less than our area's median income). This financial situation is often compounded by other challenges, including substance abuse, mental illness and physical disabilities.
90% of our residents do not return to homelessness
Our approach saves the public up to $9,000 per individual served.
The cost to the Greater Richmond community of providing temporary housing is approximately $9,500 to $13,500 per person. We spend approximately $4,500 per person, per year to provide permanent, supportive housing to individuals and families.
Accomplishments
For two decades, VSH has been a statewide leader in affordable housing and quality services for many of the community's hardest to serve populations. Three VSH housing developments have received the Virginia Governor's Housing Achievement award:
- New Clay House- the first studio apartments with support services in Virginia;
- Family Apartments- the first affordable rental housing program in the state for homeless families graduating from shelters and transitional housing;
- Gosnold Apartments in Norfolk- the first regional studio apartments with support services in the nation serving formerly homeless individuals from Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth.
To learn how you can get involved, please go to the Donate/Volunteer page.
