Home of Your Own Program

The Home of Your Own Program provides rental housing opportunities to people with all types of disabilities. In this program, the resident chooses where he or she wants to live. Unlike a group home or nursing home, they decide who lives with them, where their furniture goes, and who will be their care provider (if needed). Rush Homes does not provide services to residents in this program. If services such as home health care or companion care are needed, they must be arranged with a private provider prior to moving into the home.

Rush Homes acts as a concerned, advocate landlord. The homes are located in residential neighborhoods in Lynchburg and Madison Heights and look just like any other home. The homes are on or near the bus line and, if possible, close to shopping centers and restaurants. Rush Homes purchases, renovates, and maintains the home while the resident pays an affordable rent.

Currently, Rush Homes owns and manages 12 units in this program. Two more units are being renovated on Ruffner Place and 24 more are being built on Victoria Avenue. This development, known as Victoria Ridge, will provide fully wheelchair accessible and energy efficient apartments. Construction started in May 2010 and will finish in May 2011.

There are over 120 people on the Home of Your Own waiting list - the need is huge. Our board and staff are working to plan focus groups and a marketing study to better understand the needs of people with disabilities in the greater Lynchburg area. The results of our studies will determine the type, size, and location of our next development.

 Eligibility: 

To be approved for the Home of Your Own program, applicants must:

• have a permanent disability as documented by a physician or case manager
• meet low income guidelines as determined by HUD
• pass a background check, including: criminal records check, drug test, and landlord reference check
• have services in place (if needed)

 How to Apply:

To be added to our waiting list, you may call our office at (434) 455-2120 and speak to our staff directly OR fill out the online waiting list form and fax it to (434) 455-2001, email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or mail it to Rush Homes, PO Box 879, Lynchburg, VA 24505. Please note that being added to our waiting list does not mean you are eligible for this program. You will need to meet the above eligibility guidelines to be approved. Rush Homes is an equal housing opportunity. Rush Homes does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, or elderliness.

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Supportive Housing Program

Rush Homes received a McKinney-Vento grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish the Supportive Housing Program. This program was the first of its kind in Central Virginia. There are five housing units in this program that provide permanent affordable homes with support services for homeless adults with disabilities.

The purpose of the Supportive Housing Program is to assist homeless people with disabilities in the transition from homelessness to permanent housing, and to enable them to live as independently as possible. Rush Homes contracts with a local professional to provide case management to each resident. The case manager works to assess their needs such as money management, education, employment, etc., and to coordinate needed services.

This program fills the gap in the Continuum of Care, as developed by the Homeless and Housing Coalition representing Planning District 11. The five housing units provide a variety of choices for our residents. Several of these units are wheelchair accessible. Since many of those we serve have mental illness and, therefore, may have difficulty sharing living space, we offer single units with full amenities. Since our surveys indicate that a large number of our homeless population have children, we have space for residents with families as well. The design of the five units gives Rush Homes maximum flexibility in serving our residents. No additional units are being planned for this program at this time.

Eligibility:

To be approved for the Supportive Housing Program, applicants must:

• have a permanent disability as documented by a physician or case manager
• meet low income guidelines as determined by HUD
• pass a background check, including: criminal records check, drug test, and landlord reference check
• provide proof of homelessness

How to Apply:

Rush Homes does not maintain a waiting list for the Supportive Housing Program due to the transient nature of the homeless population. If you are interested in this program, you may call our office to see if there are any current vacancies. You can reach us at (434) 455-2120. Rush Homes is an equal housing opportunity. Rush Homes does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, or elderliness