Homeless Services

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness or is at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Information Line at 434-207-2328 (please leave a voicemail with your name, housing situation, best phone number, and time for a return call.

The City of Charlottesville and the Office of Social Equity partner with local nonprofits to provide compassionate care and resources to our unsheltered community members. However, the city does not offer direct services for unsheltered persons and families.

The City and our nonprofit partners participate in the continuum of care approach to homelessness. This approach promotes community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness and works with key partners such as the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH), PACEM, Salvation Army, and The Haven to coordinate together to provide critical services, minimize the trauma associated with homelessness and dislocation, and support self-sufficiency among individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness is complex and challenging, and the cause of homelessness includes the national housing crisis, a lack of housing for extremely low-income community members, unemployment, and the erosion of some social safety net programs. Further, people often experience homelessness due to the loss of a job or a health care crisis that forces them to choose between rent and an expensive prescription or need medical care.

OSE has created a helpful guide to the terms and concepts surrounding the homelessness continuum of care:

OSE Glossary of Key Terms & Concepts in Homelessness (PDF)

FAQs

Who is considered homeless?

Federally, HUD has four categories of homelessness that our community partners use to provide care and resources.

Literally Homeless: Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning: (1) Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation; or (2) is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or (3) Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.
Imminent Risk of Homelessness: An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that: residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance; no subsequent residence has been identified, and the individual or family needs more resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing. This includes individuals and families who are within 14 days of losing their housing, including housing they own, rent, are sharing with others, or are living in without paying rent.
Homeless Under Other Federal Statutes: Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age or families with Category 3 children and youth who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition but who: Are defined as homeless under the other listed federal statutes; have not had a lease, ownership interest in permanent housing during the 60 days prior to the homeless assistance application; have experienced persistent instability as measured by two moves or more during in the preceding 60 days; and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time due to special needs or barriers.
Fleeing or Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence: Any individual or family who: is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence; has no other residence; and lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing. For the purposes of this category, “Domestic Violence” includes dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or family member that either takes place in, or they are afraid to return to, their primary nighttime residence (including human trafficking).

I am currently experiencing homelessness or will be homeless soon. Who in our community serves those experiencing homelessness?

OVERNIGHT SHELTER

CHARLOTTESVILLE CORPS SALVATION ARMY

Location: 207 Ridge Street | Charlottesville
Leadership: Majors Mark & Jennifer Van Meter
Website: Salvation Army, Charlottesville Corps
Phone: (434) 295-4058
Email:charlottesvilleVA@uss.salvationarmy.org
High Barrier Congregate Thermal Shelter: Open 365 days per year, provided the client meets program requirements.
Soup Kitchen: Open 365 days a year, providing meals to the public on Monday-Saturday for 8a Breakfast and 5:15p Supper. On Sunday, they provide 9:15a Brunch and 4:00p Supper.

PACEM: PEOPLE & CONGREGATIONS ENGAGED IN MINISTRY

Location: Shelter provided within the City and Albemarle County at various faith community buildings
Leadership: Cameron Moore - Interim Executive Director (as of 10/2024); Cindy Chambers - Operations Manager
Website: PACEM
Email: info@pacemshelter.org
Low Barrier Congregate Thermal Shelter: Shelter opens Fall to Spring annually.
2024-2025 Season: begins November 2, 2024 – April 2024. Guests should arrive 5:30-7pm
To access shelter, call the
- Men’s Shelter Line at 434-465-1392
- Women’s Shelter Line at 434-465-7521

SHE: SHELTER FOR HELP IN EMERGENCIES

Location: Outreach Center 1415 Sachem Place, Suite 101 | Charlottesville / Shelter confidential to protect survivors
Leadership: Anna Mendez - Executive Director
Website: Shelter for Help in Emergency
Phone: (434) 293-8509 (24-hour Hotline) | 434-963-4676 (community outreach center)
Email: info@shelterforhelpinemergency.org
Offers emergency, temporary housing to victims of domestic violence.
- Survivors should call 24-hour hotline for victims and survivors – 434-293-8509

DAY SHELTERS

THE HAVEN

Location: 112 West Market Street | Charlottesville
Leadership: Owen Brennan - Executive Director
Website: The Haven
Phone: (434) 973-1234
Email: operations@thehaven.org
Day Shelter
Day Shelter provides breakfast, showers, availability to access a mailing address, laundry services, computer access, and storage bins (if available)
- Open Hours are Monday-Thursday: 7a-12p/ 1p-5p; Friday: 7a-5p (lunch served); Saturday: 7a-12p, and Sunday: 7a-12p (lunch served)

I need help staying in the housing I have. Who in our community provides homelessness prevention services?

CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY RESOURCE HELP LINE & PATHWAYS PROGRAM

Website: Community Resource Hotline
Phone: 833-524-2904
Open Monday-Friday, 9 to 5 pm
Para Español – marque 434-373-0930, 9 am a 5:00 pm, de lunes a Viernes
Program provides rental/mortgage/utility bill assistance to eligible households in Charlottesville in partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville.

THE HAVEN

Website: Homeless Information Line (HIL) and Coordinated Entry System (CES)
Phone: (434) 973-1234
Individuals should call the Homeless Information Line at 434-207-2328 (please leave a voicemail with your name, housing situation, best phone number, and time for a return call) to be screened for housing support if:
- They are within 14 days of losing your rental unit AND have a lease or new lease prospect OR
- They are doubled up with friends or are living in a motel AND have a lease prospect
Calls are being returned within three business days between the hours of 8:00am-8:00pm (as of 12/2024).

I need access to other services to help me with basic needs. Who in our community provides help for basic needs?

CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE SOCIAL SERVICES

Website:Social Services
Phone: (434) 970-3400
Supportive Services:
- You can apply for help by coming to their office in person by mailing a paper application (mail to: Charlottesville Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 911, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Blank applications may be printed from the Virginia Department of Social Services.) or online through CommonHelp for the following programs:
  - Child Care Services
  - Energy Assistance (Cooling, Heating, or Crisis)
  - Financial Assistance Programs
  - Medicaid
  - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Formerly known as food stamps)
  - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANIF)
- Public computers are available in the lobby of the City Hall Annex to access CommonHealth, or you may also use the computers at any public library.
- Paper applications can be printed from the Virginia Department of Social Services website or picked up at their offices. You can request an application be mailed to you by calling 434-970-3400.
Eligibility Requirements:
- You can check your eligibility for services by using an online screening tool, but they include:
- You must live in Virginia
- You must be a U.S. citizen or meet certain requirements if you are an immigrant
- You must meet the specific requirements of each program for which you are applying

FOOD SUPPORT

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
- Website: BRAFB
- Visitors can access a variety of groceries, typically including produce, meat, dairy, and shelf-stable items.
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
- Website: Loaves & Fishes
- Visitors can receive food items like fresh produce and frozen meat up to twice a month at several distributions every week
- Grocery Pickup is held the following days and times on a first-come, first-served basis and visitors will need to bring their own bags for loose groceries.
  - Wednesdays: 2-4pm
  - Thursdays: 6:30-8:30 pm
  - Saturdays: 10:00-12 pm
- Visitors can schedule an appointment for a Tuesday Pickup in advance online from Wednesday at 12:00 a.m. through the Monday before at 11:50 p.m. online only. You must bring your own bags for loose groceries.
Emergency Food Network
- Website: Emergency Food Network
- Visitors can call the Emergency Food Network (EFN) once a month to order a three-day food supply for your family.
- Call (434) 979-9180 between 9 am -12 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday morning. Then, come to the distribution site at 900 Harris St. between 1:30 and 3:30 pm that same day to pick up your food.

TRANSPORTATION

Charlottesville Area Transit
- Websites:
  - How to Ride
  - Bus Schedules
- CAT is currently fare-free (as of 12/2024)
Jaunt
- Website: How to Ride - Jaunt
- Jaunt is a curb-to-curb demand-response service. Jaunt also provides ADA paratransit service in the City of Charlottesville and urban Albemarle.
- First-time riders should call 434-296-3184 and select option 1 any time between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to set up their client profile.
  - Rides can be scheduled online using the website above or by phone (dial 434-296-3184 and select option 1 any time between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with information on the street address of their pick-up point, their desired pick-up time, the time of the appointment they are going to (if applicable), as well as the name and address of their end destination.
  - Riders must cancel at least 2 hours in advance
- Jaunt is currently fare-free (as of 12/2024)
MicroCAT
- Website: MicroCAT
- MicroCAT is an on-demand public rideshare service that provides access to rides in Pantops and the US-29 Corridor area. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available.
- All rides are fare-free.
- Hours of Operation (as of 12/2024)
  - Monday-Saturday: 6:30 am to 9 pm
- Riders can book rides by either downloading the MicroCAT app on their cell phones

Has our community nonprofits presented any information on the state of the homeless?