Help in Virginia
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 20 places in Virginia, most of them in Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, plus 9 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people leaving homelessness (15) and leaving an abuser (13).
Virginia Statewide Hotline (Family Violence & Sexual Assault)
Confidential 24/7 hotline for anyone in Virginia dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or intimate partner violence, including friends and family trying to help. Advocates connect callers to local shelters and advocacy programs. Call, text, or use the online chat.
211 Virginia
Free, confidential referral line for food, housing, health care, and other community resources anywhere in Virginia. Dial 2-1-1 or text to reach a specialist; the online resource database is available around the clock.
VADOC Reentry Resources
State corrections department page that walks people leaving Virginia prisons through the first steps: birth certificate, Social Security card, then DMV ID, plus housing options (Community Residential Programs, Oxford House, VARR recovery residences), Virginia Works employment help, benefits, and the regional Reentry Councils. Ask your probation officer about residential program openings.
Fostering Futures and Education and Training Voucher (ETV)
Fostering Futures lets Virginia youth stay in extended foster care from 18 to 21. The ETV program adds up to $5,000 a year for college or vocational training through age 25 for anyone who was in foster care or Fostering Futures after 18 (or adopted/KinGAP after 16). Start with the local department of social services that handled your case.
Virginia Refugee Resettlement Program
State refugee office that funds resettlement agencies across Virginia to help refugees and people with similar status find housing, work, and community support. Direct services come from the agencies (Commonwealth Catholic Charities, IRC Richmond and Charlottesville, Catholic Charities Arlington, Church World Service, ECDC, Lutheran Social Services); employment help runs through the RSSEP referral form.
Office of Vital Records
Where Virginians order certified birth certificates. Walk in to the Richmond lobby with a completed application, photocopy of your ID, and $15 per copy, or order by mail or online. Drop-off requests must arrive by 2 p.m. Records go only to the person named or immediate family.
Virginia ID Card
State photo ID for Virginia residents who do not have a driver's license. Bring original documents: one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, and your Social Security number if issued. Costs $2 per year ($10 minimum, $16 maximum).
CommonHelp
Virginia's online application for SNAP food assistance, Medicaid and FAMIS health coverage, TANF cash assistance, child care, and energy assistance. Apply, renew, check status, or report changes online, or call the Enterprise Call Center for help with the application.
CARITAS
Richmond nonprofit with emergency shelter, The Healing Place long-term residential recovery program for men and women (no cost), recovery residences, and the six-week Works job-readiness program for people with serious employment barriers. Shelter beds are assigned only through coordinated entry; call the Homeless Connection Line.
The McShin Foundation
Peer-run recovery organization in Richmond with a recovery community center open every day of the year, a 45-day residential program, recovery residences, a women and children's home, and a judicial recovery program for people coming through the courts. Call or fill out the online intake form to begin.
Daily Planet Health Services
Community health center with three Richmond clinics that takes patients regardless of housing, income, or insurance. Offers primary care, dental, behavioral health and substance use counseling, medication-assisted treatment, medical respite, Safe Haven, and mobile outreach. Pre-register online to become a patient.
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
Free civil legal help for low-income people in the Richmond, Petersburg, and Charlottesville areas, including housing and eviction, consumer and medical debt, and public benefits such as SNAP. Call the office nearest you during business hours.
Virginia Legal Aid Line (866-LEGLAID)
Single statewide number that routes Virginians to the legal aid office serving their area for free civil legal help. The valegalaid.org site also has self-help guides and a tool to find your local office.
Safe Harbor
Richmond-area program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking, with a confidential shelter, a dedicated human trafficking program, counseling, court accompaniment, protective order help, and referrals. Shelter location is not published; call the 24-hour helpline.
Union Mission Ministries
Faith-based emergency shelter in Norfolk open 24 hours a day with separate men's and women's shelters. Guests get meals, clothing, showers, laundry, case management, job-readiness and life-skills classes, and help applying for benefits. Call ahead to check bed availability.
ForKids Housing Crisis Hotline
Regional hotline in South Hampton Roads for families with children who are homeless or about to lose housing. Staff assess the situation, connect callers to shelter or housing assistance, and can refer to more than 400 community resources. Phone intake only, weekdays.
Samaritan House
Virginia Beach nonprofit serving people fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking as well as families experiencing homelessness across Hampton Roads. Provides emergency and permanent housing, case management, counseling, legal advocacy, medical help, children's programming, transportation, and job training. Shelter addresses are not published.
Doorways
Arlington's provider for people leaving domestic violence, sexual assault, or homelessness. A 24-hour hotline staffed by advocates is the entry point for safehouse, shelter, counseling, and housing programs; interpretation is available in any language. Shelter locations are confidential.
Shelter House
Operates Fairfax County's family shelters (Fair Ridge, Katherine K. Hanley, Eleanor U. Kennedy), the Mondloch adult shelters in Alexandria, and Artemis House, the county's domestic violence shelter. Every shelter uses rapid rehousing with rental assistance and case management. Shelter placement goes through county coordinated entry, not the shelters directly.
Coordinated Services Planning
Fairfax County's front door for emergency help: one phone line screens for shelter, emergency food, rent assistance, clothing, health care, and employment resources and connects callers to county and nonprofit programs. Specialists speak several languages including Amharic, Cantonese, Dari, Filipino, and Spanish.
National lines that work in Virginia
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential treatment referral for substance use and mental health. Finds local programs that take your insurance or none.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 confidential hotline for survivors of trafficking and people who suspect it. Connects to vetted local services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential help for anyone affected by domestic violence. Advocates connect you to local shelters and legal help.
Start right where you are
Each program has a step-by-step checklist for the first 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days, so you always know your next step.