Benefit Programs

Auxiliary Grant

Auxiliary Grants provide a cash payment for aged, blind, or disabled individuals who reside in a licensed Assisted Living Facility (ALF). The auxiliary grant payment makes up the shortfall between an individual's income and the state rate charged by the ALF.

Burial Expenses

The Burial Expenses Program is a cash assistance program providing funds to indigent residents of Norfolk for assistance with burials and cremations. Based on the qualifications of the relative or another person who claims the deceased citizen, the claimant may receive the benefit of a vendor payment paid directly to participating Funeral Homes to assist with final burial expenses.

Child Care

The Child Care Assistance Program aids eligible families in the arrangement and/or purchase of child care for their children.

Emergency Assistance

Emergency Assistance provides a cash payment through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to help alleviate emergency situations specifically related to:

• Natural disaster or fire
• A reduction in a labor force caused by an energy shortage
• Total loss of family income in the winter months due to severe weather conditions

This assistance is limited to $500 in a 12-month period.

Energy Assistance (Fuel, Crisis, or Cooling)

Fuel Assistance - This program helps low-income households with their urgent heating needs, such as: 

• Buying fuel for heating
• Paying energy bills

Applications are accepted from the 2nd Tuesday in October to the 2nd Friday in November.

Crisis Assistance - This program applies benefits to heating emergencies, such as: 

• Connection or re-connection fees
• Imminent utility cut-off
• Inoperable or unsafe heating equipment
• Lack of heat

 Applications are accepted from November 1 to March 15 for: 

• Heating equipment repair or replacement
• Heating equipment - supplemental (example: fuel tanks)
• Security deposit (primary heat expense)

 Applications are accepted from the 1st workday in January to March 15 for: 

• Heating fuel (primary)
• Utility bills (primary heat expense)

Cooling Assistance - This program helps low-income households with payment of:

• The electric bill to operate cooling equipment
• Repair or replacement of cooling equipment

Applications are accepted from June 15 to August 15. 

Food Assistance (SNAP)

SNAP formerly Food Stamps is a nutrition program administered nationally through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and in Virginia operated at the local departments of Social Services under the supervision of the State Department of Social Services.

Eligible households receive a plastic Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card with a magnetic stripe and a personal identification number to access SNAP benefits for the purpose of purchasing any food or food product for human consumption.

Your household may qualify for expedited service and receive SNAP within seven days if you are eligible, and your monthly household income is less than $150 and your household resources are $100 or less, or your monthly household income plus your household resources are less than your shelter bills.

Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS)

Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) provides low-cost health insurance (with nominal premiums and co-pays) for uninsured children.

Health Care coverage (Other)

Medicaid provides full or limited medical coverage for eligible individuals.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The TANF program provides monthly or one-time cash assistance to families with related children. There are state and federal limits on the number of months assistance can be received.

Juvenile Services

Juvenile Court Liaison

Find out what programs and services are available to meet the needs of youth in the juvenile justice system. 

Juvenile Detention Center

The Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center provides programs and services to meet the needs of youth who are detained. 

Education & Workforce

CARES T.E.A.M.

Career and Readiness Employment Services

• Transition forward
• Engage more
• Achieve independence
• Move beyond

Re-Entry

Re-Entry focuses on the key barriers to successful reentry including:

• Employment and Education
• Financial Obligations and Resources
• Housing
• Physical and Mental Health/Substance Abuse
• Social Reintegration

SNAP-Education & Training (SNAP-ET)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAPET) is a volunteer program designed to assist Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in finding employment.

Virginia's Initiative for Education & Work (V.I.E.W.)

The essential function of the Workforce Development Center is to promote employment throughout the City of Norfolk. This is accomplished through the work of the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work (VIEW) program.

VIEW provides job readiness, job search, and job development / placement services. Child care, transportation, and other services are included to give a participant the best opportunity to enter and remain in the workforce. You must be receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in order to participate in the VIEW program. Most residents who receive TANF are mandated to enroll in VIEW. Non-mandatory recipients can volunteer to participate.

Local Programs

Disabled Veteran Real Estate Tax Relief

Armed forces veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled are eligible to apply for real estate tax exemption on their primary residence, regardless of income. If the veteran dies on or after January 1, 2011, his or his spouse may become eligible for real estate tax relief as long as he or she remains in the home and does not remarry.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will provide the proper notification to eligible veterans of their disability status.

General Relief

The General Relief Program (GR) is an optional local program designed to provide assistance to children who are living with unrelated adults.

Applications may be picked up and dropped off at:
Norfolk Human Services
741 Monticello Ave
Norfolk, VA 23510

For additional information, call 757-664-6035.

Home-Based Childcare Network

Norfolk's Department of Human Services offers licensure for Family Day Care Homes, better known as Home-Based Care, located in the home of the provider for up to 12 children under the age of 13 for which the provider receives compensation, including the provider’s own children and any children who reside in the home. A Family Day Care home where the children in care are all related to the provider by blood, adoption, or marriage shall not be required to be licensed, unless the provider receives compensation.

PowerUp! Partners & Discounts

The PowerUp! program is designed to increase access to Norfolk’s many arts, entertainment and cultural amenities by offering free or discounted admission and/or membership fees to low-income residents.

Senior Real Estate Tax Relief

The Real Estate Tax Relief/Deferral Program is administered by the Department of Human Services for Norfolk homeowners who are 65 and older or totally disabled.