City of Richmond Social Services
Marshall Plaza Building
900 E. Marshall Street
Richmond, VA
23219 USA
Customer Care Center:
Call 3-1-1
(804) 646-7212 (Outside Richmond Area)
Adult Protective Services:
(804) 646-7405
After normal business hours
(888) 832-3858
How do I apply for benefits?
Call: (855) 635-4370
www.commonhelp.virginia.gov
Fax paper application to:
(804) 646-7018
Drop Box at Marshall Plaza
(900 E. Marshall Street)
Drop Box at Southside Plaza
(4100 Hull Street)
Downtown:
Marshall Plaza Building
900 East Marshall Street
Richmond, VA 23219-1538
South Richmond:
Southside Community Services Center
4100 Hull Street Road
Richmond, VA 23224-1745
The Division of Economic Support and Independence focuses on promoting economic stability and independence for single adults and families.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program assists low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy. The program consists of three components: Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance, and Cooling Assistance.
Apply for Energy Assistance Online
Fuel Assistance
Fuel Assistance helps eligible households with the costs of heating their homes.
Eligibility
- Must meet income guidelines;
- Must meet resource maximums;
- Must meet guidelines for living arrangements;
- Household must be responsible for paying the heating bill.
Fuel Assistance applications are accepted from the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November. Fuel Assistance applications are processed as soon as possible and applicants should expect notification of their eligibility determination by mid-December. Apply for Fuel/Heating Assistance Here.
Cooling Assistance
Cooling Assistance helps eligible households with the costs of cooling their homes.
Eligibility
- Must meet income guidelines;
- Must meet resource maximums;
- Must meet guidelines for living arrangements;
- Household must be responsible for paying the cooling bill;
- Household must contain at least one vulnerable person who is 60 or over, disabled or under the age of 6;
- There must be a cooling need.
What does Cooling Assistance Cover?
- Purchase of a portable or installed fan;
- Purchase and installation of an air conditioner;
- Payment of an electric utility security deposit;
- Payment of the electric bill to operate the cooling equipment.
Cooling Assistance applications are accepted from June 15 through August 15 to help eligible households with their cooling needs. Apply for Cooling Assistance Here.
Crisis Assistance
Crisis Assistance helps eligible households in emergency energy situations, which cannot be met by Fuel Assistance or other resources.
Types of crisis assistance may include: cost to repair or replace heating equipment.
Eligibility
- Must meet income guidelines;
- Must meet resource maximums;
- Must meet guidelines for living arrangements;
- Household must be responsible for paying the heating bill;
- There must be a heating emergency.
Crisis Assistance applications are accepted from November 1 through March 15. All crisis assistance is based on availability of funds. Apply for Crisis Assistance Here.