Gosnold Apartments

In another act of Making Homelessness History, VSH’s Gosnold Apartments in Norfolk became the nation’s first regionally supported studio apartments for homeless single adults when it opened in 2006.

The $6 million development–an adaptive reuse of a former RC Cola bottling warehouse–also became the first permanent supportive housing community for homeless adults in the Hampton Roads region. VSH received the “Best Housing Development” award at the 2007 Governor’s Housing Conference for Gosnold Apartments.

The localities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth each provided funding and rental subsidies. Based on each locality’s contribution, 42 of the 60 units are for homeless adults from Norfolk, 12 are for Virginia Beach and six are for Portsmouth.

In addition to the contributing localities, funding sources include low-income housing tax credits, a loan from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and grants from private foundations. Rental subsidies are provided by the HUD Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program. Residents pay 30 percent of their income in rent, with a minimum rent payment of $50 per month.

VSH offers on-site supportive services to help residents stabilize, retain their housing and reclaim their lives.

In January 2023, VSH announced plans for a renovation and expansion of Gosnold Apartments.