We believe homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The Planning Council has the knowledge and experience to help homeless service providers maximize funding from federal, state and local governments and foundations to best meet the needs of the most vulnerable households and individuals.

What We Offer

The Planning Council brings together partners across jurisdictional boundaries to offer homeless solutions regionally.

  • Manage client-level database for 40 agencies
  • Facilitate annual federal funding of $5.9 million for 33 homeless programs
  • Coordinate local and regional planning strategies for agencies serving the homeless

Continuum of Care Coordination

As part of the region’s Continuum of Care (CoC), The Planning Council leads local and regional homeless initiatives to promote a systematic approach for preventing and ending homelessness. Focusing on creative solutions, data-driven decision making and collective impact, our Continuum of Care Team works alongside provider agencies, governmental leadership, as well as state and national advocacy groups to implement and roll out best practice programs to prevent and end homelessness.  

To secure financial resources from on an annual basis to support homeless housing and service programs, The Planning Council develops and submits the annual CoC applications to both state and federal funders that total over $12 million.

Are you a homeless solutions provider interested in becoming part of the COC?
Visit one of our local Continuum of Care websites:

  • Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition – www.svhcva.org
    • The SVHC includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton.
  • Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium – www.gvphc.org
    • The GVPHC includes the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg, as well as the counties of James City and York.
  • Portsmouth Homeless Action Consortium – https://www.portsmouthva.gov/502/Homelessness
Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition Click Here
Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium Click Here

Regional Task Force

The Regional Task Force chairs regional outreach initiatives that focus on housing vulnerable homeless populations such as those who are medically vulnerable, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. The Task Force identifies local problems, researches best practices from around the country, and builds support needed to implement regional solutions. Examples of Task Force successes include:

  • Identifying the need for affordable housing with support services for those who experience homelessness and have mental or physical disabilities.   The Task Force partnered with Virginia Supportive Housing in 2006 to develop the nation’s first regionally funded Permanent Supportive Housing program, and has since facilitated the development of 320 affordable apartment units in Hampton Roads
  • Identified substance abuse among those experiencing homelessness as a major barrier to stable housing.   Partnered with The Healing Place of Wake County to replicate this best practice in Hampton Roads.
  • Partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and local Public Housing Authorities to provide housing vouchers for 137 of the region’s homeless veterans.

HMIS Administration

Serving all of Greater Hampton Roads and Lynchburg, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Administrators train end users, analyze and report data generated by homeless assistance providers and encourage the use of data to coordinate service provision, manage operations, and better serve clients.

For a list of agencies participating in the Hampton Roads HMIS, please click here.

Hampton Roads HMIS Policies and Procedures

Hampton Roads HMIS Data Quality Plan

Hampton Roads HMIS ROI (updated April 2018)

Need Data?

Request HMIS Report

Click Here

Sample Reports

Click Here

Investment in Priorities

Click Here
Are you experiencing a housing crisis?

REGIONAL HOUSING CRISIS HOTLINE

(757) 587-4202

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

 

The Regional Housing Crisis Hotline is the starting point for anyone who is experiencing a housing crisis throughout Greater Hampton Roads and in need of shelter, case management, and related services.

Not sure if you are experiencing a housing crisis? Ask yourself these two questions:

  • Are you living on the street or in an emergency shelter?
  • Have you received an eviction notice from your landlord?

If you answer “yes” to either of these questions, please call the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline.  Hotline staff will work to connect you to available services with local providers. An intake specialist will interview you to determine which referral makes the most sense, based on your situation and what’s available in the community.  The Hotline does not provide any direct financial assistance.

For other human service needs, please dial 2-1-1.