Norfolk Urban Outreach Ministry

Providing Affordable Independent Housing

Welcome to NUOM

The original goal of Norfolk Urban Outreach Ministry (NUOM) continues to be: “To meet the needs of the people of the greater urban community whose needs cannot be met by existing agencies and resources.” Those needs have changed greatly since NUOM’s inception in 1975.

Norfolk Urban Outreach Ministry officially began its programs on January 1st, 1975, working from 1st Lutheran Church on Colley Ave. in Norfolk. It was the Episcopal component of an ecumenical group known as The Church Social Ministry Resource Center. NUOM offered referral services and counseling to “street people”, the unchurched, the gay community, and the downtown business community. It published a weekly newsletter for downtown office workers, known as “Urban Line”, provided a chaplain to the Norfolk City Jail, and a “Lay Street Chaplain.”

Norfolk Urban Outreach Ministry, in conjunction with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has developed four low income elderly housing complexes. In 1984 NUOM opened its first HUD housing facility in Norfolk. Tucker House provided 80 subsidized apartments for low income elderly. In 1988 NUOM opened a Phase II to Tucker House, with an additional 47 apartments. In 1992 NUOM opened Trinity Woods in Emporia, Virginia, providing 71 subsidized elderly apartments for that community. In 2000 NUOM opened Magnolia Gardens in Suffolk, Virginia to provide 69 additional apartments for the elderly. In 1988 NUOM created a “sister corporation”, Partners in Management, to manage its housing programs.

In 1992, needing additional space, NUOM moved its offices to its present location at 972 Norfolk Square, Norfolk, VA. Continuing evaluation of NUOM’s programs has resulted in a streamlined organization that can move quickly to address special needs.

NUOM has avoided becoming dependent upon grants and agencies, preferring to maintain a broad base of community support. This has proven to be successful to this organization and has allowed it the flexibility to adjust to the direct needs of the community.

The Executive Director of Norfolk Urban Outreach Ministry is Rev. Richard O. Bridgford.