Money Assistance Virginia – Help paying bills, rent, loans & more
According to Poverty USA, Virginia is ranked number 9 in the United States of America in terms of the poverty levels of its residents. 11.7% of the people living in Virginia are living at or below the poverty level. Because of this, Virginia has organized a multitude of different programs that are aimed at fighting poverty and making sure that the residents of Virginia have resources available to them.
Below are multiple ways to get financial help in Virginia. Services that include help paying bills, rent, food/groceries, personal loans, debt relief and as mentioned various government benefits and support agencies across Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Arlington and all other cities in Virginia.
Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Virginia collecting Social Security may qualify for more financial assistance through SSI. For those whose only income is Social Security and you are in need of a loan, there may be specialist lenders who will assist. Learn more about SSI and other social security loan options here.
Assistance with Utilities: Residents of Virginia who are unable to pay their utility bills have a few options in order to help. The Virginia Department of Social Services has an Energy Assistance (EA) program that offers four types of assistance. Fuel Assistance can help to offset the fuel costs of heating, while Cooling Assistance applies to cooling utility bills and equipment. Crisis Assistance applies to heating emergencies and Weatherization Assistance helps promote energy efficiency and air filtration.
Food Assistance: For individuals and families struggling to buy groceries, Virginia offers a food assistance program called SNAP. The benefits can be used like cash to buy food from participating retailers. SNAP is meant to fight hunger and poverty among low income families. The goal is to allow Virginia residents to have access to food in order to maintain good nutrition.
Loan Help: If you are having problems securing a loan, there are specialty options available through non-profits, government initiatives, credit unions and certain banks. These loans were created specifically to help those on low incomes or with bad credit – Review options here.
Rent and Mortgage: If you are having trouble paying your rent or mortgage, Virginia has a few helpful options. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps apartment owners to offer reduced rental rates to low income tenants in the form of subsidized housing. Public housing is also available and rent is paid in the form of vouchers from the government to the apartment owners. You can find Public Housing by contacting your local Public Housing Agency (PHA). For help paying your mortgage and avoiding foreclosure HUD has made housing counseling agencies available to assist.
Medical Assistance: Virginia offers several medical assistance programs to its residents. Medicaid is available for low income individuals, children under age 19 and pregnant women. The program pays for health coverage to individuals and families in need that wouldn’t be able to afford health insurance otherwise. Eligibility is determined by income, age and family size.
Educational Assistance: Since 1972, Virginia has offered educational assistance to all residents who want to attend private, non-profit universities and colleges. The Tuition Assistance Grant Program (VTAG) is designed to assist residents and make higher education more accessible. Eligibility relies on US citizenship, full-time enrollment and non-religious training. Visit the website for a list of eligible institutions.
Community Action Center: The Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP) encompasses 31 non-profit public and private community action agencies. The goal of the action centers is to help Virginia residents to fight poverty and build self-sufficiency. They aim to also build the strength of families and communities.
Charities: In Virginia, there are many charities who aim to help those in need. Action in Community through Service (ACTS) is an organization whose goal is to reduce hunger and homelessness in Virginia. They offer emergency assistance, child care, transitional housing, a homeless shelter, a free help line and thrift stores. Other helpful charities include Sharing the Warmth, Arlington Food Assistance Center and the United Community Ministries.
Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Virginia, including: Free clothes, furniture, car, school accessories, help with fines, seasonal items & more!
The below services are in general and may not be available in Virginia. However, if not available, many may have partnerships with other organizations through out the state that they can connect you with.
Free Hotel or Motel Vouchers for the Homeless or Emergencies
Those experiencing hardship and are without a roof over their head can access different types of short and possibly longer term accommodation throughout Virginia. Learn more about accommodation assistance in here.
Dealing with tickets or fines
If you have unpaid tickers or fines, avoiding them will only create further financial and credit problems. Learn about ways to get assistance with dealing with fines in Virginia, from requesting a waiver or challenging inaccurate fines. Get the information you need to tackle fines here.
How to get a free laptop or computer
Low income families have a range of organizations that provide free technology assistance such as computers and laptops throughout the country including Virginia. Learn about what free computers and laptop organizations are near you and how to apply here.
Getting a free or low cost car
At any given time there are different organizations that assist low income earners with transportation. Across the country and in Virginia there are different services that assist people with getting a vehicle. Learn more about free cars, how to get one and where to apply.
How to get free gas for emergencies
Gas prices in Virginia like most of the country are extremely high. This can put serious pressure on the family budget. For those dealing with cashflow issues and finding it hard to put fuel in the car, there is help. Learn how to get free gas for emergencies through free gas vouchers.
