About the VA HSS
As part of Virginia’s commitment to ensure the full implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Olmstead decision, the Commonwealth launched an intensive community engagement initiative in January 2015 to increase integrated, community-based housing with supportive services in communities with the largest number of individuals impacted by the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement. The Commonwealth of Virginia is actively working to increase access and availability of integrated, independent housing options for individuals with developmental disabilities.
This initiative, Virginia Housing and Supportive Services (VA HSS), consists of four Regional Implementation Teams that have developed and executed local action plans to increase the number of Virginians with developmental disabilities living in integrated, independent community settings:
- The Northern Virginia Regional Implementation Team includes the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun, and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park
- The Richmond Regional Implementation Team includes the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and New Kent, and the Cities of Petersburg and Richmond.
- The Peninsula Regional Implementation Team includes the Counties of James City and York, and the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg.
- The Southside Regional Implementation Team includes the Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach.
Each Regional Implementation Team (RIT) includes representatives from local Community Services Boards, Public Housing Agencies, private providers of support coordination and home and community based services, private housing providers, self-advocates and families.
The Northern Virginia Regional Implementation Team is focused on educating individuals and families about integrated, independent housing and new housing resources available to people in the Settlement Agreement population; and preparing individuals to use these new housing resources. In addition, the Northern Virginia RIT has encouraged local public housing agencies to offer rental assistance to this population and worked with agency staff to help individuals more easily navigate how to access these subsidies.
This Website is a prototype Housing Resource Guide supporting the Northern Virginia region. Read more about it!