Data Leads the Way

Published: 26 October 2018

Homeward has long expressed the importance of data in the work of reducing and ending homelessness. Tracking data on homelessness helps us to understand the causes of homelessness, identify gaps in services, build strategic partnerships, and measure the performance of our network of care. Additionally, tracking data allows us to compare the outcome of our community’s network with that of networks across the state and nation.

Earlier this month, The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) released several interactive tools that help visualize data on homelessness in communities across the country.

With HUD’s tool USASpending, users can click on an interactive map to view a snapshot of any Continuum of Care’s (CoC) data from the 2017 Point-in-Time count. NAEH’s tool, State of Homelessness provides statewide data on the total number of people experiencing homelessness, as well as the rate of homelessness per 10,000 people.

A quick look at Virginia reveals that at 7.2 persons per 10,000, we have one of the lowest rates of homelessness in the nation. By adding a historical layering tool we see that homelessness in Virginia has been reduced by 38% since 2007. This should make each of us proud of the hard work done each day to end homelessness across the Commonwealth.

However, Homeward is committed to and focused on ending homelessness specifically in the Richmond region. NAEH’s tool has the capacity to break down state data into CoCs. When viewing data on the capital region, we see that the rate of homelessness is lower than the state average. At 6.2 persons experiencing homelessness per 10,000 people, the Richmond region has the lowest rate of homelessness of any major metropolitan area in Virginia. This rate is also lower than many smaller metro areas in the state.

This outcome is not arbitrary. For 20 years, Homeward has used data and collaboration to drive system-wide change in how our community solves the issue of homelessness. By hearing from people in crisis, coordinating service providers, and helping local programs remain competitive for federal and state dollars, Homeward has filled the role of lead agency in a data-informed, outcome-driven, collaborative network of homeless services.

We are grateful for our supporters and provider partners who have helped make such a meaningful impact in the work of getting people off the streets and into safe, stable housing. We look to a future where by applying best practices and aligning our resources, the Richmond region is one where homelessness is brief, rare, and one-time for anyone who experiences it.

National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference

Published: 03 August 2018

Last month the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) held their annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. The staff of many Richmond homeless service providers and agencies attended the conference, with several local professionals serving as panelists at conference sessions.

Each year, Homeward sends staff members to the national conference in order to build the local, state, and national partnerships that will continue to facilitate the decrease in number of people experiencing homelessness in our region. Through our participation in the conference we come to better understand:

• The changing nature of homelessness in other communities
• What innovative collaborations are delivering effective solutions to homelessness
• How we can further build on the success of our homeless service programs in Richmond

Want to know more? Here's what you can do to learn:

1) Take a look at the conference agenda to understand the focus of the sessions

2) Visit NAEH’s website to see how the data-driven model of best practices in a coordinated homeless services system is supported and implemented at a national level.

3) Keep an eye on Homeward’s blog, website, and newsletter to see how the ideas we engaged with at the conference will be translated into services designed to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness overcome their crisis.

How College Students Can Help End Homelessness in RVA

Published: 24 August 2018

Fall semester is kicking off this week for many of our local universities. If you are one of the thousands of college students in our region, Homeward welcomes you to the community.

Each year, we hear from college students who want to get involved with the work to end homelessness in our community. As many of you know, homelessness is a complex issue and cannot be solved by any one person or agency. That’s why we invite you to participate in our region’s collaborative approach to providing solutions to homelessness.

Here are four ways that students can get involved:

• Educate yourself and your student colleagues on best practices in homeless services.

Our region has a highly-developed, data-driven network of homeless service providers. The more you know about it, the better prepared you will be to help someone in need.

You can view the data that Homeward has collected on homelessness in greater Richmond on our website.

• Seek a volunteer or internship opportunity with a local homeless service organization.

Many homeless service organizations look for help with their programs during the academic year. Visit the HandsOn Greater Richmond website for volunteer opportunities and sign up for the connectva.org newsletter to stay up-to-date on internship openings.

• Support your local nonprofit homeless service organization.

We know that funds can be tight for a lot of students, but you can also support the work being done to end homelessness in Richmond by leading a donation drive through a student-led organization. Homeward is happy to help your organization identify the needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness, as well as assist with getting the collected items into the hands of the people who need them.

• Connect people who are panhandling with helpful resources.

Many of you attend college in an urban setting where you will encounter people who will ask you for money or help. Visit the Homeward “Panhandling FAQs” webpage to learn more about this topic and understand the best ways to give help to those in need.

There is a lot of information in these links and we know you probably have questions. You can send questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Best of luck this semester! We look forward to connecting with you. 

Why PIT Count Matters

Published: 06 July 2018

Twice a year, Homeward leads our community in a Point-in-Time (PIT) count, a one-day census of people experiencing homelessness in our region. To accomplish this we recruit over 200 volunteers to survey the residents of emergency shelters, guests of community meal programs, and people living on the streets. We often communicate that the data we collect from the PIT count helps support the network of services that can help our neighbors living in shelters and on the streets get into housing. Today, we want to share with you what we mean by this in more detail.

A few years back, the PIT survey was updated to collect information about the accessibility of technology for people experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this update was to learn how people access resources and services. Based on the outcome of this survey, our community was confident that a majority of clients had access to a cell phone. In 2017, this finding inspired our community to launch the Shelter Diversion Line, a hotline which focused on problem-solving in order to prevent a client from entering homelessness.

In 2018, a follow up PIT question showed that an even stronger majority of clients had access to cell phones. Based on this data, the Shelter Diversion Line was expanded to be the primary access point for emergency shelter referral in Greater Richmond and was rebranded as the Housing Crisis Line.

As we worked towards easier access to homeless services for clients in the counties, without transportation, or unable to come to a set location, we also expanded our PIT volunteer base. We increased the number of community members that we engaged and gave them the ability to offer unsheltered people the option to be entered into our community-wide data system. Through this database, we are able to match clients with the services they need.

During the street outreach portion of the 2018 winter PIT count, one of our volunteers connected with a veteran who had been living outdoors in one of the counties for over two years. The man had only change in his pocket and no means to come to the city to seek services; however, he did have a cell phone. He was willing to take the survey and allowed our volunteer to take his information for the database. Days later, this vet was matched with an open shelter bed and was on the path to housing. By administering the surveys and connecting unsheltered clients with our data system, our volunteers are contributing to the programs that get people like this veteran off the streets and into housing.

Our summer 2018 PIT count is in two weeks and we still have a huge need for volunteers. Please help support the work of your local homeless service nonprofits, and help your neighbors overcome their crisis. Sign up to volunteer at the PIT count today!

*Photo by nickseitz.com