Endependence Center, Inc. - Norfolk, Virginia

10/30/2025

Virginia's Fuel Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible households with heating costs during the winter months, is accepting applications through November 14.

More information can be found on our website https://endependence.org/fuel-assistance-program/

10/30/2025

The Virginia Governor has declared a state of emergency, allowing the use of state funds for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November if the federal government shutdown continues. The press release is below, or you can read it here: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/vena/

October 29, 2025: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency allowing the use of state funds to issue Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers in November if the federal government shutdown is not resolved by November 1, 2025. Under VENA, 25% of a customer's monthly benefit will be issued on a weekly basis, so that in the event the shutdown ends sometime during November, normal distributions from the federal government will resume. Starting Monday, November 3, the following will take effect for SNAP customers:
Customers who receive their benefits on the 1st of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Mondays.
Customers who receive their benefits on the 4th of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Wednesdays.
Customers who receive their benefits on the 7th of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Fridays.

10/29/2025

TOMORROW! ECI will celebrate Halloween with a Staff & Participant Party! Join us for games, snacks, and a costume contest on Thursday, October 30, 2:00pm – 3:30pm. Costumes are not required, but encouraged. Costumes can be funny or spooky, but should not be excessively scary, noisy, obscene, or revealing. There is no cost to attend. Please RSVP to Katherine Keesler by calling 757-351-1569 or emailing kkeesler@endependence.org.

10/28/2025

TOMORROW! Group Peer Mentoring will be tomorrow at 2:00pm until 3:30pm at ECI. See you there!

10/27/2025

TOMORROW! Independent Living Skills Training on Podcasts will meet tomorrow at 3:00pm until 4:30pm at ECI. See you there!

10/24/2025

TOMORROW! Youth Independent Living Skills Training will be tomorrow at 1:30pm until 3:00pm at ECI. See you there!

10/23/2025

Group Peer Mentoring will be on Wednesday, October 29 at 2:00pm until 3:30pm at ECI. The monthly Group Peer Mentoring Discussion is an opportunity for participants to share experiences, provide information, and support one another to accomplish their goals.

10/22/2025

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th. HRT users ride FREE on Election Day. Includes bus, light rail, ferry, paratransit, and OnDemand rideshare services. For more information, visit the HRT website.

Ride Free with Hampton Roads Transit On select days each year, everyone rides Hampton Roads Transit services – for free. These days provide riders with an opportunity to experience transit services without paying a fare.

10/22/2025

📢☎️TONIGHT! Congressman Bobby Scott is holding a Telephone Town Hall on the Government Shutdown, on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00pm. To register to join the town hall or view a live stream during the event, visit

To join our next conversation, complete the form below and we will call you before the event starts. You can also come back here to listen online. Please note that you must sign up a minimum of 1 hour before the event's start time to be included.

10/22/2025

Independent Living Skills Training on Podcasts will meet on Tuesday, October 28 at 3:00pm until 4:30pm at ECI. Recording Session! We'll record both questions and responses.

10/21/2025

ECI will celebrate Halloween with a Staff & Participant Party! Join us for games, snacks, and a costume contest on Thursday, October 30, 2:00pm – 3:30pm. Costumes are not required, but encouraged. Costumes can be funny or spooky, but should not be excessively scary, noisy, obscene, or revealing. There is no cost to attend. Please RSVP to Katherine Keesler by calling 757-351-1569 or emailing kkeesler@endependence.org.

10/20/2025

Youth Independent Living Skills Training will be on Saturday, October 25 at 1:30pm until 3:00pm at ECI. We will celebrate the arrival of fall with activities! Costumes are not required, but encouraged. Costumes can be funny or spooky, but should not be excessively scary, noisy, obscene, or revealing. There is no cost to attend. Please RSVP to Amy Ouellette by calling 757-351-1597 or emailing aouellette@endependence.org by no later than 5:00pm on Wednesday, October 22.