Coordinated Homeless Intake & Access (CHIA)

What is CHIA?

CHIA is a community homeless information line for community members experiencing literal or imminent homelessness. CHIA serves the City of Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell.*

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

Definitions:

CHIA is required to follow the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) definitions:

  • Homelessness:

    • A community member is sleeping somewhere not meant for human habitation

    • Examples: Sleeping outside, in a vehicle, or an abandoned building.

  • Imminent Homelessness:

    • A community member will lose their home/place to stay in the next 14 days.

    • Examples: a Writ of Eviction notice from a Sherriff has been delivered to you, you have been staying with someone else and they have given you a deadline to be out, or you can no longer afford to pay for a hotel room.

Contact Information/Hours:

  • CHIA is available by phone, 434-427-2442, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm unless otherwise specified.

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

What Can CHIA Do?

  • Assess safety and provide emergency resources for those fleeing domestic violence*

  • Provide shelter options and information if needed.

  • Listen to the community member’s concerns about their housing, timeline/deadline, and solutions they have already tried or plan to try next.

  • Offer information and discuss programs most appropriate for the housing situation.

  • If appropriate, CHIA will complete a referral for the community member to access emergency shelter, homeless prevention, or street outreach for additional resources.

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

 

Additional Resources

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.