With the adaptive reuse of an RC Cola bottling warehouse, Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) created Gosnold Apartments, which opened in December 2006 as the first permanent supportive housing development for homeless adults in the region and the first regionally-supported efficiency apartments for homeless single adults in the nation.

The localities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth provided funding and rental subsidies. Based on each locality’s contribution, forty-two units are reserved for homeless adults from Norfolk, twelve from Virginia Beach, and six from Portsmouth.

Gosnold is located near a bus route and potential places of employment. Each of the sixty efficiency units contains a bed, dresser, table, chair, kitchenette, and full bathroom. Ten of the units are completely accessible. The building has an extensive security system, two gated courtyards, and off-street parking – plus Property management and support services are onsite.

Total development costs are $5.6 million. Project financing includes the syndication of Low Income Housing Tax Credits by Enterprise, city funds from Norfolk, HOME and CDBG funds from Virginia Beach, HOME funds from Portsmouth, HOME loan funds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and grant funds from The Norfolk Foundation and United Way of South Hampton Roads. Rental subsidies have been provided by the HUD Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program. The HUD rental subsidy will pay the balance of the $543 monthly rent (all utilities are included). Residents pay 30% of their income as rent, with a minimum rent payment of $50 per month. For more information, please contact Gosnold Apartments at (757)622-1162.

Virginia Supportive Housing's first residence opened in 1992 to serve 47 single homeless adults. Initial investment in this first facility, New Clay House came from a variety of sources including individuals, corporations, private foundations, faith communities, government grants and tax credits.

New Clay House features 47 rooms for single adults who pay a minimum of $25, or 30% of their income up to $430 per month. Located in the Carver Neighborhood, it has been home to over 170 individuals since it opened. The support services located in the building are unique to Virginia Supportive Housing and are a critical part of promoting the agency mission to initiate and promote the transition from homelessness to productivity and independence. Since 1999, an impressive 97% of the residents who have moved out and were capable of living independently are doing so. In addition, two former New Clay House residents are now full-time employees of VSH. In 2001, VSH formulated outcome measures to show how effective our blend of housing and support services is in empowering our residents to become more independent.

In 1996, Virginia Supportive Housing opened its second supportive residence which houses 39 formerly homeless adults. Support services are provided by VSH staff. Like New Clay House, residents pay 30% of their income with a minimum of $50 per month, up to a maximum of $389 per month.

Support services, vital to the success of New Clay House and South Richmond SRO residents, are provided through the Resident Achievement Program (RAP). This comprehensive program emphasizes employment, literacy and recovery from substance abuse. The goal of RAP is to assist residents in maintaining their housing and maximizing their independence. Services are provided by one full-time social worker and several social work interns who provide direct services while accessing existing resources in the community. The social work staff work with each resident individually to determine their needs and goals. An individual service plan is developed for each resident that emphasizes realistic levels of self-sufficiency. The core components include literacy, recovery, and employment.

The Resident Achievement Program meets the needs identified by providing residents with realistic, appropriate services to help them become more self-sufficient and maintain their housing. As previously stated, residents who are able to get their GED, are encouraged to do so and are recognized when they do. Residents who are able to obtain gainful employment will be able to start saving money and keep their housing or find more traditional housing. The recovery component also enables residents to address their substance abuse issues so they can maintain their housing and become more productive.

In addition to the three components described above, RAP also identifies other residents' needs, provides appropriate services either on-site or by referral in the community, and seeks sources of funding for services that are not available in the community. These highly specific needs often provide access to funding sources not ordinarily available to Virginia Supportive Housing. Examples include funding for residents to visit their families, funding for residents to take computer classes at a local college, and health care funding targeted at obtaining dentures, medication or transportation to/from health care providers.