Coordinated Homeless Intake & Access (CHIA)

What is CHIA?

CHIA is a community homeless information phone line serving the City of Lynchburg and the four surrounding counties: Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell.*

*If you need resources for another area, please visit the community resource map.

Should You Call CHIA?

Literal Homelessness (Unsheltered)*:

You are sleeping somewhere not meant for human habitation

  • Sleeping outside

  • Sleeping in a vehicle

  • Sleeping in an abandoned building/storage unit

Imminent-Risk of Homelessness:

You will lose your home/place to stay in the next 14 days

  • Facing eviction, already had court hearing

  • You have been staying with friend/family member, but their lease does not allow long-term guests

  • Household is self-paying for hotel and out of funds

*CHIA is required to abide by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definitions of homelessness.

What Can CHIA Offer?

  • Safety screening

  • Emergency hotline or shelter resources*

  • Listen to your concerns about your housing, timeline/deadline, and solutions you have tried or plan to try

  • Problem solve with you. Offer information, resources, and programs most appropriate for your specific housing situation

  • Referrals for you to access emergency shelter, homeless prevention, or street outreach (must be eligible)

  • Follow-up and revisit solutions as needed

*CHIA is not a hotline and does not operate 24 hours a day. If you need immediate assistance, please review the “Additional Resources”, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.

Contact Information/Hours:

If you are experiencing or facing unsheltered homelessness, please call CHIA:

  • CHIA is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm unless otherwise specified.

  • If CHIA is not able to answer your call, leave a voicemail to receive a call back.

 

Additional Resources

  • 211 Virginia is a free, confidential, and accessible service that connects people to information about:

    • Rental Assistance

    • Utilities Assistance

    • Home Repair

    • Affordable Housing

    • Shelter

    • Employment

    • Healthcare, and more!

    To reach 211, please dial 211 or chat with them using this link.

  • Understanding the notice you received from your landlord is very important. Only a judge can evict you from a property.

    Please visit this website to learn more about the eviction timeline.

  • If you have questions about your rights as a tenant or the court process, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified legal resource:

    Virginia Legal Aid

    Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME)

    • If you feel you have faced housing discrimination, request assistance by visiting HOME’s website.

  • The Salvation Army of Lynchburg has activated their overnight Warming Shelter, located in their Center of Hope building, at 2215 Park Avenue, Lynchburg VA 24501.

    Shelter Hours

    • The warming shelter will be open every night from December 1st to March 31st.

    LOW-BARRIER: ALL ARE WELCOME

    Shelter Schedule:

    Hot Dinner: served every night, begins at 4:30pm

    Shelter Intakes: begins at 6:00pm

    Guests are Dismissed: 8:00am*

    *subject to change based on weather

  • If you are actively fleeing domestic violence or assault, the following hotlines are free, confidential, and available 24/7:

    Bedford County:

    City of Lynchburg, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania County (northern part of county):

    Statewide:

  • The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached 24/7 by calling or texting 988. This lifeline serves anyone, anywhere, who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide, a substance use crisis, or another mental health crisis.