United Way updates supervisors on eviction-reduction work, Community Assistance Network

Sharvala West, president and CEO of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, told the James City County Board of Supervisors on April 21 that the United Way27s Community Assistance Network (CAN) and eviction-reduction efforts are helping to stabilize households and keep people in their homes.

West said the United Way focuses on ALICE households (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) and reported that 40.1 percent of Peninsula households fall at or below the ALICE threshold regionally and that 30.4 percent of households in James City County are at ALICE or below, according to the United Way27s data citation. She said the CAN centralized phone line and referral network now mobilizes roughly 150 partner organizations and has provided outcome-based referrals and more than $73,000 in direct assistance so far in 2025 to county residents.

Why it matters: West framed CAN and the United Way27s eviction-reduction pilot—funded primarily by the state Department of Housing and Community Development—as part of a multi-sector approach that local government, courts and nonprofits use to reduce executed lockouts and landlord filings. She reported a 20 percent decline in landlord filings in the region across six quarters and said the percentage of households in Williamsburg and James City County who are locked out by sheriffs after filing is about 14 percent, among the lowest in the region.

Program highlights and numbers - CAN: a single, regional phone line and referral system connecting callers to financial assistance, housing stabilization, childcare and other supports; more than 12,000 people helped on the Peninsula from CAN inception through 2024. - 2025 (year-to-date at time of presentation): CAN helped more than 200 county residents with nearly 250 outcome-based referrals and mobilized more than $73,000 in assistance. - Eviction-reduction pilot: United Way said the number of landlord filings decreased about 20 percent over the past six quarters and that executed lockouts also are trending down.

United Way operations and partnerships West described United Way27s role as a convener and fundraiser that supports 38 certified partner agencies; in the prior year, 25 certified partners served 24,517 county residents. West highlighted collaborations with county social services, housing teams, the local eviction court navigator and philanthropic partners that extended service hours and transportation for youth employment pilots.

Supervisor comments Supervisor Susan Larson and Supervisor James McLennan praised the United Way27s communication and the CAN service, noting increased call volume in recent months and the value of a single access point for residents seeking assistance.

Ending West thanked county staff for long-running county support and an annual grant that funds United Way programs locally and said United Way stands ready to expand services as needs change.