The Virginia Department of Social Services informed HOPE Community Services via an emailed letter Tuesday afternoon that the department is “moving forward to formally de-designate HOPE Community Services as a community action program.”

HOPE has 30 days to request a review by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Herald was told on Tuesday that HOPE will request that federal review and fight to keep its status and, regardless of that outcome, it will not give up on its mission to provide community services to those in need.

See The Herald’s Friday edition, published Thursday afternoon, for front page story with full details.