Hampton Roads Community Action

Hampton Roads Community Action, a tax-exempt nonprofit community development corporation headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, is a prime recipient of federal grants across housing stability, workforce development, and tax assistance programs, with $296.6 million obligated across 51 awards since 2007 and no federal contract presence.

The organization operates exclusively as a grant recipient rather than a contractor. Prime grant awards represent 86% of the footprint, with seven sub-award relationships predominantly routed through Virginia state agencies — the Virginia Department of Social Services (appearing on CSBG, employment advancement, and child and adult care food program sub-awards), the Virginia Housing Development Authority (housing counseling), and the Virginia State Board of Health (child and adult care program funding). The organization competes in unrestricted federal grant programs; no set-aside certifications are noted in the source material.

Concentration is split across four primary federal grantors, accounting for 73% of awards. The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Under Secretary for Health leads with 11 awards under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (CFDA 64.033), spanning $222,989 (August 2022) through repeated annual project grants providing case management, outreach, and temporary financial assistance to very low-income veteran families. The Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service holds 10 awards under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program, a matching grant funded cyclically from fiscal 2021 through October 2025, extending tax preparation services to low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, non-English speakers, Native Americans, rural residents, service members, and elderly taxpayers. The Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary for Housing Federal Housing Commissioner provided six awards, including a fair housing organization initiatives grant (January 2022, completed December 2022). The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families placed five awards: a Head Start and Early Head Start project grant (June 2023, running through May 2028), a $996,000 Whole Family Pilot Program expansion grant under the Social Services Research and Demonstration program (CFDA 93.647) from August 2024 to August 2025 to provide employment services and transportation resources to low-income families in Virginia, and a two-generation/whole-family services cooperative agreement (September 2021, completed December 2022). The Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration awarded a Pathway Home 3 workforce development grant (July 2022 through December 2025) serving 466 participants across five Virginia counties with pre- and post-release support, education, financial literacy, certifications, and temporary housing.

Activity volume has moderated in recent years — six awards in 2021 and 2024, but only two in 2025 year-to-date — with two awards reaching ultimate completion in the next twenty-four months. The organization is not positioned on federal contract vehicles and holds no prime federal contracts; business development interest should focus on grant sub-award opportunities through Virginia state agencies and direct HHS, VA, HUD, and IRS grant applications in community action, housing stability, veteran support, and workforce development sectors.