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Inside this Issue
- Save the Date for VACAP Pathways from Poverty to Prosperity Summit - Now Featuring Weatherization Symposium
- VA General Assembly Approves State CSBG Plan
- Governor Spanberger Spotlights Eviction Prevention Protections at CAPUP
- Serve Virginia Volunteer Hub
- OCS Affordable Housing and Supportive Services Demonstration (AHSSD) NOFO
- News: New State Budget Helps 200,000 Virginians Afford Health Insurance
- Virginia DHCD Lead Hazard Reduction Trainings
- Member News:
- Hope Cupit, SERCAP CEO, Appointed to African American Advisory Board
- VACAP Members Attend New ED Summit
- Upcoming Partner and Member Events
- VACAP and Virginia CASH Campaign Bonfire and Lands' End Stores
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Save the Date for VACAP Pathways from Poverty to Prosperity Summit - Now Featuring Weatherization Symposium
October 5-7, 2026
New location:
Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa, Short Pump
12042 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23233
We are excited to announce that the Weatherization Symposium usually held at the Legislative Conference will now be part of the Summit. You'll receive the same valuable Weatherization training and networking opportunities but with a new venue and timing.
Join Community Action colleagues, state and local community leaders, statewide partners, and funders to discuss and share best practices for creating economic opportunities and facilitating upward mobility for the people of Virginia.
The Summit provides an excellent opportunity to maintain and create connections with peers and community partners to continue our important work empowering clients with the tools they need to prosper.
Registration will be available soon.
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VA General Assembly Approves State CSBG Plan
On July 9, the Virginia Assembly's Joint Block Grant Subcommittee unanimously approved the Virginia Community Services Block Grant two-year state plan after hearing impactful testimony from the Virginia Department of Social Services and VACAP members. Thank you to VDSS Commissioner Duke Storen and Deputy Commissioner Kristin Zagar, Fran Inge and the team at OEO led by Matt Fitzgerald and CSBG Program Manager Abby Hanks for the collaborative process with VACAP members on the state plan and the supportive testimony demonstrating the impact of community action in Virginia. We also thanked our other key state partners at DHCD, VDOE, Virginia Housing and Virginia Energy for their investments and collaborative leadership.
Watch the hearing and testimony here: https://www.youtube.com/live/jrmzJboEApY?si=HT_dSUJ6pKy55psB&t=4467
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Governor Spanberger Spotlights Eviction Prevention Protections at CAPUP
Last week, Governor Abigail Spanberger hosted a roundtable event at VACAP member Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People (CAPUP) to focus on the challenges facing Virginia renters, the high cost of housing, and recently enacted legislation to address these problems.
Spanberger joined legislators to hear directly from community leaders and caseworkers about the impact of rising housing costs and the historically high eviction rates in Virginia. To meet these challenges, the Governor has partnered with the General Assembly to secure new housing development funding, has taken steps to protect affordable housing, and has increased funding for the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program.
VACAP and CAPUP expressed our deep gratitude to the Governor and General Assembly from the network and shared our interest in supporting clients through the increased investment and connection to wrap around services and whole family efforts. We are grateful to the Governor, DHCD and Commerce and Trade for the robust input process and leadership on this expanded opportunity. Governor Abigail Spanberger, Del. Sewell, Del. McClure, Del. Price, Senator Bagby, Kate Landers, Governor’s Policy Office, Kristen Dahlman, Deputy Director of Commerce and Dr. Tamarah Holmes (DHCD Director) visited CAPUP and spent time listening directly with CAPUP’s team and other housing partners who are working directly with Virginians facing evictions.
Learn more here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/july-releases/name-1120864-en.html
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Serve Virginia Volunteer Hub
Serve Virginia has announced the launch of the Serve Virginia Volunteer Hub, a statewide platform designed to expand volunteer engagement, streamline recruitment and management for community organizations and provide Virginians with a secure system to track volunteer hours. The Serve Virginia Volunteer Hub was created in response to the new HR1 work and community engagement requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients.
Visit the Hub and learn more here: https://hub.servevirginia.org/
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OCS Affordable Housing and Supportive Services Demonstration (AHSSD) Notice of Funding Opportunity
The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) administers the Affordable Housing and Supportive Services Demonstration (AHSSD) program to expand access to supportive services for those living in affordable housing residencies. Grant recipients provide or coordinate access to resources including workforce development, health services, and financial capability supports.
Learn more about the program and upcoming NOFO here: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/239e6683-c301-4ee2-9794-cda512a24de5
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News: New State Budget Helps 200,000 Virginians Afford Health Insurance
Virginia's new budget includes $150 million to help Virginians afford monthly premiums for health insurance they will buy on the state-run marketplace next year to partly offset the loss of federal enhanced subsidies at the beginning of this year.
Read the article here (subscription required): https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_39732cda-82ce-41cd-b921-5ce9b50236bc.html
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Virginia DHCD Lead Hazard Reduction Trainings
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), in collaboration with the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA), is offering Lead Abatement Worker, Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP), and Lead Abatement Supervisor training in Chester, Virginia. DHCD partners and subcontractors participating in DHCD programs are eligible to participate. Use the class discount code "DHCD" to receive the tuition discount.
Lead Safety for RRP | August 5 | 8am-5pm | Registration code: 25131
Lead Abatement Worker Training | August 3-4 | 8am-5pm | Registration code: 25123
Learn more about the LHR program here: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/lhr
Register for the trainings here (account required): https://ccwa.augusoft.net/
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Member News
Hope Cupit, SERCAP CEO, Appointed to African American Advisory Board
Congratulations to VACAP Board Member Hope Cupit, CEO of the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP), who was appointed to the Virginia African American Advisory Board by Governor Spanberger!
VACAP Members Attend New Executive Director Summit
Last month, several VACAP members including Suzanne Bowers from Monticello Area Community Action Agency, Anthony West from VA Cares, and Amy Bowen from Appalachian Community Action and Development Agency, participated in the new Executive Director Summit in Arlington. They were joined by VACAP CEO Erik Johnston, Jennifer Daniels, and Alison Coleman.
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Upcoming Partner and Member Events
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August 12: 2026 Annual Region 3 ROMA Update, in Harrisonburg, VA
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September 2-4: NCAP 2026 Annual Convention, in St. Louis, MO
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October 5-7: VACAP Pathways from Poverty to Prosperity Summit, Richmond, VA
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October 14-15: Governor's Summit on Rural Prosperity, in Lexington, VA
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January 25-27, 2027: VACAP Legislative Conference, in Richmond, VA
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March 9-12, 2027: NCAF Washington Conference and Fly-In, Washington, DC
- Spring 2027 (new date): Boots on the Ground at Virginia CARES
Do you have an event, job posting, or RFP you'd like to share with the VACAP network in this monthly newsletter? Let us know at info@vacap.org.
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