Homeless shelters across Virginia, including roughly 14 in the Roanoke and New River valleys, will benefit from nearly $9 million in state grants. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development allocated grant money to about 122 shelters for help in running the programs.

Four Roanoke shelters will see some grant money as will two shelters in Wytheville, two in Christiansburg and shelters in Radford, Salem, Covington, Rocky Mount, Bedford and Martinsville.

Some of the grant money is designed to help provide child care for homeless families while parents work or attend educational or job training programs. Shelters will also see some money to make sure that children there get the education and medical care they need.

"The homeless population in Virginia is among the most vulnerable in the state," Gov. Tim Kaine said in a statement. "These grants will help them make positive changes ... to become more productive members of the community, to strengthen their families through times of crisis and to care for their children."

The area's largest recipient was The Salvation Army of Roanoke, which will get $156,305 from the state.

Jonathan Lee, the organization's development director, said the money will go to two shelters: Turning Point, for abused women and children; and The Salvation Army Red Shield Lodge, for men.

"That will include everything from providing food and meals for the residents in each shelter, providing utilities, making sure we're able to provide heat, water," he said.

Both shelters have 60 beds, most of which are full.