GRCoC Commends City of Richmond for Expanding Shelter Services

November 30, 2023

On behalf of Homeward, we want to thank Mayor Levar Stoney, City Council President Michael Jones, Committee Chair and Councilmember Stephanie Lynch, all of the members of Richmond’s City Council, and the truly dedicated members of the City administration for making this significant and compassionate expansion of homeless assistance available. For 25 years, our community has come together across organizational and jurisdictional differences with a shared goal of reducing the crisis of homelessness.

The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care is a coordinated and compassionate network of homeless service providers in our region supporting our neighbors pushed into homelessness. More than 34 mission-oriented agencies participate in the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care. This collaboration starts with listening to the community. We talk with and listen to our neighbors pushed into homelessness and then work together to overcome obstacles to finding permanent, stable housing in our region. Our local homeless service agencies develop and deliver trauma-informed programming and tackle the complex challenges of securing funding and navigating large service networks in order to meet the needs shared with us by our neighbors. Homeless service providers use what we learn from our neighbors to say yes to helping as many people as possible, but the reality remains that we can’t give someone what we don’t have.

 

When we expand resources like we are seeing in action today, we can get more people on the pathway to a permanent home. 

 

Today represents a significant step forward on this pathway and we are pleased to support this effort and to be a part of such a compassionate community working to make it possible for all of our neighbors to have a safe place to call home. Here is a link to the remarks made at today’s event by Annette Cousins, the Chair of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care board. Here’s a link to the letter of support we shared in September and we are looking forward to having additional resources now to continue to our fight against homelessness: https://bit.ly/47U4zlH.

 

Again, we thank the City Administration and City Council for their strategic and compassionate partnership and collaboration on this important and difficult issue. We’ve seen that additional investments in proven solutions to homelessness result in more people receiving the help they need. We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home and commend City leaders for your continued commitment to support our most vulnerable neighbors.

 

To learn more about how to join us in these efforts as we approach winter, please visit: https://www.homewardva.org/help.

Compassion in Action: One MSW Student’s Experience in Homeless Services

By Elizabeth Handwerk • March 18, 2025
In honor of Social Work Month, we're highlighting Homeward's Coalition Support Intern and current MSW student, Ainsley Miller. We asked her about the connections she sees between social work and homeless services.

Homeward Releases Data from Winter Point in Time Count 2025

March 4, 2025
Homeward today released data from the January 2025 Point in Time (PIT) count, which shows that a significant number of individuals and families continue to experience homelessness in the Richmond region. Lack of housing and economic hardship remain persistent challenges and driving factors for the elevated rates of homelessness in Central Virginia. Additionally, it’s important to note that these numbers do not capture other regional residents who are unstably housed or worried about maintaining a roof over their head.

Statement from Homeward on Federal Funding Situation

January 29, 2025
As the designated planning agency for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, our region’s coordinated network of homeless service providers, Homeward works closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We have been following recent developments related to federal funding for homeless programs. We are collaborating with local, state, and national partners to assess the implications for the people served by the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care and to ensure that there are no further disruptions to support proven solutions to homelessness in our region. Federal funding from HUD has been critical to our local network’s ability to help thousands of regional residents get on the pathway to a permanent home. This person-centered and compassionate work has tangible impacts in our communities. We will continue to monitor this situation closely, update our partners, and support this important work. To learn more about the vital role of HUD funding and its impact in our region, read this recent blog post .

Richmond Region Receives Over $9.3 Million in Federal Funds to Address Homelessness

January 27, 2025
Amount Includes Over $1.5 Million in New Project Funds

Ways to Help People Experiencing Homelessness This Holiday Season

By Elizabeth Handwerk • December 4, 2024
The holidays are a time of joy, gratitude, and celebration. It is also a time that the reality of homelessness becomes more visible, standing in sharp contrast to the season's twinkling lights and jolly tunes. Many of us are inspired to reflect on our blessings and find ways to support our more vulnerable neighbors, whether that be with our time or our resources. Here are just a few ways you can help this holiday season:

Homeward Supports Regional Application for Federal Funding

November 15, 2024
The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) – our region’s compassionate and coordinated network of 34 local, mission-driven agencies addressing homelessness – recently submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the regional coordinated application for federal funding. This application is important to our area because federal funding from HUD accounts for the majority of public dollars allocated for homeless services.

Homeward Executive Director Honored with CEF BRAVO Award

October 30, 2024
Homeward's Executive Director, Kelly King Horne, was recognized earlier this month by the Chesterfield Education Foundation as an outstanding alumna of Chesterfield County Public Schools.

Homeward’s 2024 Gaps Analysis for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care Highlights Challenges and Strategies in Addressing Homelessness

October 15, 2024
As more and more people in our region face housing instability and are pushed into homelessness, the demand for homeless services is higher than ever before.

Summer Point in Time Count Records Increase in Rate of Homelessness in the Richmond Region

August 23, 2024
New Taskforce to Address Unsheltered Homelessness in Region to Launch

Local Funding Supports Regional Solutions to Homelessness

August 20, 2024
July 1st marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) and Homeward. New and existing resources that support proven solutions to homelessness will be deployed over the next 12 months to serve our region’s most vulnerable neighbors.
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