The Virginia Association of Realtors and Hampton Roads Realtors Association, in coordination with the Partnership for Housing Affordability and the national Realtor Relief Foundation, are offering direct official financial assistance for housing relief to Virginians affected by October’s Hurricane Matthew and resultant damage.

Residents of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight and York may apply for the aid, which is limited to one month of assistance, up to $1,500 per applicant, and only one grant per residence, provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Assistance is available to qualified applicants towards one of the following options:

• Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by Hurricane Matthew;
• Or cost of temporary shelter due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the hurricane.

Applications will be reviewed continually until resources are fully distributed. Visit www.varealtor.com/relief for full instructions regarding downloading and submitting the application for assistance, whether online or via mail.

Grants will be jointly payable to applicant and mortgage lender/landlord.

“Our hearts go out to our communities who were affected by the flooding,” said Becky Claggett, 2016 HRRA chairman of the board. “It is our hope that these Realtor funds will help ease the ongoing challenges our neighbors face as they put their lives back together.”