Housing Stability

HOUSING STABILITY

Because Everyone Deserves a Place to Call Home

Our focus is on long-term solutions that lift families out of poverty and into a forever home.

When families have a place to call home, kids can be kids again. ForKids offers a comprehensive approach to families in need of housing or housing assistance, from emergency shelter and rapid rehousing options to supportive housing for families with disabilities.

Housing Services

If you are in need of any services, call the hotline for screening at

(757) 587-4202

ForKids’ emergency shelter programs provide families with the resources they need to recover from homelessness, stabilize their lives, move into a home, and begin their journey toward self-sufficiency. Sokol Place at The Landmark Center and our Western Tidewater Emergency Shelter program offer shelter and critical services to families experiencing homelessness, allowing us to keep families within their community of support while they work to obtain permanent housing.

ForKids provided emergency shelter to 84 families, including 215 children, facing homelessness last year.

Evictions create long-term barriers to stable housing for families and can be costly for landlords. ForKids identifies at-risk families through our Housing Crisis Hotline and the court system to reduce preventable evictions. The VERP Program offers educational clinics teaching renter rights and budgeting coaching, and for eligible households, financial assistance for rent.

281 households received financial assistance to avoid eviction and maintain their housing.

91% of ForKids families have secured housing in the last year

629 families

served last year (2,062 individuals) in our housing stability programs

52.6%

rents have risen since 2015 (per ODU State of the Region Report as of 12/31/23)

HOW WE WORK

Our Process

We ensure that services are offered to the most vulnerable families in need.

Families are first assessed through the ForKids Housing Crisis Hotline and then referred to shelter and housing services through a coordinated assessment process involving 14 cities across Southeastern Virginia.

It’s Not Just About
Roofs and Walls

Homelessness is a complex and multifaceted issue, and simply housing our families is not enough. To effect lasting change, we must address the root causes of their homelessness. ForKids offers a comprehensive model of assistance that includes the following targeted services:

Housing-focused case management
Life skills training
Employment and financial literacy coaching
Healthcare coordination
Children’s education programming

View All Services

Advocating for Housing Affordability

Southeastern Virginia and other communities nationwide are in the throes of a housing affordability crisis. The ForKids Housing Crisis Hotline has been receiving a record number of calls, including calls from families facing eviction. Many of these are working families who have to choose between which bills they pay. Do they keep the lights on, cover medical costs, or pay their rent? More housing projects, more action from elected officials, and more community support is needed to truly help with the lack of affordable housing in Southeastern Virginia.

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Keeping Families Housed

The Virginia Eviction Reduction Program (VERP)

Evictions create long-term barriers to maintaining stable housing for families and can be costly for landlords. ForKids identifies participants through our Housing Crisis Hotline, as well as the court system, to help families prevent eviction and maintain their current housing.

Through VERP, our team provides timely financial assistance to help families meet their rent payments, as well as costs associated with utilities, transportation, childcare, and medical bills, for up to six months, to avoid eviction.

This assistance is designed with a focus on helping families sustain long-term housing stability, rather than mitigating immediate financial needs. Once housing is secured, ForKids offers VERP participants case-management services that include financial education, connection to resources, employment services, healthcare coordination, and resources for reliable transportation and childcare to reduce barriers that impede housing stability.