Back to Basics: Virginia's Housing Ladder

How Virginia's housing shortages trap households at every income level.

Read the article here:  https://housingforwardva.org/news/fwd-b21-housing-ladder/

U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2024 Poverty Data

The U.S. Census Bureau has released data related to poverty levels, income, and health insurance coverage for 2024. The official poverty rate fell 0.4 percentage points from 2023 levels, and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) remained flat at 12.9%.

Learn more here: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/income-poverty-health-insurance-coverage.html

Virginia Sun Bucks Benefits Expungement Timeline

"Have you used your Virginia SUN Bucks yet?" 

That’s a question you could pose to your customers who received 2025 Virginia SUN Bucks. That’s because Virginia SUN Bucks benefits expire four months after being issued to customers. For example, clients who received their SUN Bucks in mid-July have until about mid-November to use the benefit.

Customers should receive what's called an expungement letter 30-45 days before any remaining benefits are removed from their account and returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service reminding them to use the benefit. Please know that if SUN Bucks were added to a customer’s SNAP EBT card, those benefits are automatically used before their regular SNAP funds. 

If customers are not sure if they’ve used all of their SUN Bucks, you can advise them to check their account balance at www.ConnectEBT.com.  

Additionally, for questions about pending SUN Bucks applications (the last day to apply was Aug. 30), customers can contact the Virginia SUN Bucks Call Center at 866-513-1414 Monday through Friday from 9:15 a.m. - 6 p.m. until Sept. 30.

Learn more here: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/sunbucks/

Virginia faces significant infrastructure upgrades to deal with federal Medicaid eligibility requirements

According to a state study, Virginia's decentralized Medicaid processing system will struggle to handle the paperwork tied to new work requirements. Learn more in this Cardinal News story.

Read the article here: https://cardinalnews.org/2025/08/27/state-needs-significant-infrastructure-upgrades-to-deal-with-federal-medicaid-eligibility-requirements/

Upcoming Webinars and Trainings

• NCAP Energy Awareness Month and Wx Day Toolkit Webinar, September 25 at 10am: October is Energy Awareness Month, and the 30th is Weatherization Day. This webinar will show you how to use the NCAP toolkit to amplify the impacts of weatherization in your communities.
• Learn more and register here: https://communityactionpartnership.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a5DtTiXCRVmyuKNpOxkjZA#/registration
• TechSoup Webinar: Strategic Technology Planning for Nonprofits, September 30 at 1pm: Learn how to operate more efficiently, secure funding, and ultimately make a greater difference in the communities you serve.
• Learn more and register here: https://events.techsoup.org/events/details/techsoup-techsoup-events-and-webinars-presents-strategic-technology-planning-for-nonprofits/
• Wipfli in-person training on OMB Uniform Guidance and Head Start, October 21-23 at Wipfli's Minneapolis office.
• Learn more and register here: https://www.wipfli.com/events/np-omb-uniform-guidance-and-head-start-october-2025
• R3PIC Webinar Series, December 4th and 10th - Providing Effective Feedback: a two-part series that will guide you through the foundational principles of giving constructive and impactful feedback, followed by a deep dive session that takes you beyond theory and into real-world applications.
• Learn more and register here: https://members.thecaap.org/ap/Events/Register/G9F2vX1INCxCK

VACAP and Virginia CASH Campaign Bonfire and Lands' End Stores

Show your Virginia Community Action Partnership or Virginia CASH Campaign pride with items and apparel. Items available through Bonfire include shirts, outerwear, flags, mugs, tote bags, and notebooks. Lands' End has a wider array of shirts, polos, jackets, and other accessories.

Access the Bonfire store here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/virginia-community-action-partnership/

Access the Lands' End store here: https://business.landsend.com/store/vacap/

Upcoming VACAP Member Events

• TAP 60th Anniversary, October 6: Total Action for Progress (TAP) will hold a journey through 60 years of community action at a Night at the Museum themed event in Roanoke, VA.
• Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-at-the-museum-a-journey-through-60-years-of-action-tickets-1454550793579
• Tri-County CAA 60th Anniversary, October 17: Tri-County CAA will celebrate 60 years of legacy in South Boston, VA.
• Learn more and register here: https://tricountyva.org/celebrating-60-years-of-legacy/
• Wytheville Stuffed Strut 5K, November 27: benefitting the Open Door Cafe in Wytheville.
• Learn more and register here: https://www.strutwytheus.org/