City of Richmond
Housing & Community Development
Main Street Station
1500 East Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219
Eviction Diversion and Homeless Services
Eviction Prevention Assistance:
*The City's Eviction Diversion Program (EDP): The current organization that administers the City's Eviction Diversion Program, HOME, Inc., will cease the administration of the EDP program on March 29, 2024. The city is deeply appreciative of HOME, Inc's collaboration the past 5 years as it relates to the EDP.
While the City selects a new partner to administer the EDP, the City's Family Crisis Fund will work to assist households needing assistance. Please utilize one of the three access points that is provided by the Family Crisis Fund.
Access Points:
(1) The Office of Community Wealth Building (OCWB) 804-646-0258
(2) Housing Resource Line at 804-422-5061
(3) Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People at 804-788-0050
If you have questions, please contact the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) at 804-646-1766.
*Governor Northam has signed the Budget Bill (HB 7001) which restores, clarifies, and strengthens the state eviction protections in effect from January through June 2021. It will remain in effect through June 30, 2022. Review the details on pages 16-17 of the linked PDF.
Click here to review the Tenant Rights to Avoid Eviction One Pager- as of 8/10/21. This document sets forth the new Virginia eviction protections, the Virginia Rent Relief Program, and the new CDC eviction protections.
City of Richmond Eviction Diversion Program (EDP)
Richmond’s Eviction Diversion Program, administered and ran by H.O.M.E. Inc., assists Richmond residents to achieve housing stability and prevent unnecessary evictions by providing financial assistance to pay past due rent to their landlord. This program is only available to residents who rent in the City of Richmond, and landlords who own rental properties in the City of Richmond. This program requires the landlord’s participation. The Eviction Diversion Program is a resource that provides help to bring a tenant’s outstanding rent to a zero balance within three months or less.
To take part in the program, the landlord must agree to participate AND the tenant must:
- Appear in court on the hearing date and time written on the Summons for Unlawful Detainer (Civil Claim for Eviction) and request to have the case referred to the program
- Pay at least 35% of the amount due on the hearing date
- Contact the landlord to confirm the total amount due on the date of the hearing
- Have the capacity to make payments within the payment plan and continue to pay ongoing rent
- Provide an explanation to why they were unable to make rent payments
- Renter must have a good rent payment record by:
- Not having an unlawful detainer dismissed by paying to redeem the lease pursuant to VA Code §55.1-1250 within the last 6 months,
- Not participating in an eviction diversion program in the last 12 months.
If you are a Richmond resident and believe you qualify for this program, click the following URL and complete the application: https://www.rvaevictions.org/
If you do not have access to a computer, or if you have questions about the program, you can call 1 (833) 633-8428. Press 4 once your call goes through.
Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP)
The Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program, overseen by the State of Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and ran by Action in Community Through Service (ACTS), supports and ensures housing stability across Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program assists Virginia residents through financial assistance for owed rent or mortgage payments past due beginning on April 1, 2020 and onward. To find out if you’re eligible, follow this link and answer the four questions to determine if you are eligible for assistance: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/rmrprmrp
For more information about ACTS and its programs please go to their website at http://actsrva.org/
ACTS is currently not receiving direct calls. Those who are interested in learning more or applying for assistance can leave a message at 804.644.2401 or submit an inquiry via their online form.
Homeless Services:
The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care is the Richmond region’s broad group of stakeholders and service providers whose mission is to end homelessness. Homeless service organizations that provide emergency shelter programs, rapid re-housing services, permanent supportive housing services, pandemic response programs, and services for individuals who are currently homeless/houseless or for individuals facing a housing crisis operate within the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care’s network. The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care covers the City of Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Hanover, the City of Ashland, Powhatan County, Goochland County, New Kent County, and Charles City.
How to Access Homeless Services Through the Coordinated Entry System
If you are facing a housing crisis, and need to access the homeless services provided by the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care partners, you must be referred through the Coordinated Entry System, which is operated through the following access points:
Homeless Crisis Line (HCL)
The Homeless Crisis Line, which is administered and operated by the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, facilitates access to resources and shelter alternatives for those who are three days or less away from losing their housing. The service is also available to those already experiencing homelessness. The Homeless Crisis Line operates through the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC), and is available to call Monday through Friday from 8:00AM – 6:00PM. https://www.connectva.org/groups/homeward/
If you are facing an eviction and need access to resources, please call the Homeless Crisis Line at (804) 972-0813.
Domestic Violence Crisis Lines (804-612-6126) – this phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This line is for any person or family looking for help with a domestic violence situation in their household.
Shelter Providers in the Greater Richmond Region:
The City Of Richmond IS NO LONGER SPONSORING A COLD WEATHER OVERFLOW SHELTER.
In order to access emergency shelter support and services, you must be referred to a shelter through either the Homeless Crisis Line (804-972-0813), the Domestic Violence Crisis Line (804-612-6126), or through a referral from a Coordinated Outreach team member. Referrals are given out based on bed availability and length of time on the waitlist. If you need assistance through emergency shelters in the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care’s network, do not go directly to the shelters expecting to be assisted. You must receive a referral through the Coordinated Entry
The following organizations provide emergency shelter services in the Richmond region:
- CARITAS (Men & Women Shelters)
- Daily Planet Health Service (Shelter for individuals seeking medical or mental health services)
- Hanover Safe Place (Domestic Violence Shelter)
- HomeAgain (Men, women, and family shelters)
- Housing Families First (Family Shelter)
- Goochland Cares
- Liberation Veterans Services (Veteran’s Shelter)
- Safe Harbor (Domestic Violence Shelter)
- Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (Short-Term Transitional Units)
- Salvation Army (Men & Family Shelter)
- YWCA (Domestic Shelter)
- Greater Richmond Continuum of Care Non-Congregate Hotel Program (Pandemic Response Program)
Coordinated Street Outreach
Coordinated Street Outreach services are provided for individuals and families who are living in places not meant for human habitation. Outreach workers build trust and work with the homeless individuals to provide them case management, connections to mainstream services, and connections to homeless services in the Richmond region. The City of Richmond Department of Social Services, Daily Planet Health Services, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, and St. Joseph’s Villa all have coordinated outreach teams that provide this essential service, and connections to other homeless services, to the greater Richmond Region. The Coordinated Street Outreach team assists individuals gain referrals for services like emergency shelter assistance.