Homeward to Host Best Practices Conference

April 18, 2023

Richmond, VA – April 20, 2022 – Homeward – the planning agency for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC), a network of homeless service providers that deliver coordinated and compassionate solutions to homelessness in the Richmond region – will host its annual Best Practices Conference on Friday, April 28, 2023 at The Westin Richmond hotel in Henrico County.

The conference also marks the beginning of celebrations for Homeward’s 25th anniversary.


More than 150 attendees, including public and private partners, are expected to gather to learn together and recognize the collective impact of our region’s coordinated response to homelessness.


Notably, these collaborative efforts have a long-term impact. Homeward reported that 80 percent of people who exited shelters and other GRCoC programs did not return to homelessness within a one-year period.


“This conference brings together leaders in homeless services to share critical insights so we can support more of our region’s most vulnerable neighbors,” said Kelly King Horne, executive director of Homeward. “Plus, we can take a moment to celebrate the incredible progress made over the past 25 years while acknowledging significant work is still needed to meet our region’s growing needs.”


The conference brings together homeless service providers, funders, advocates, and others. Workshops focused on connecting people facing homelessness to federal, state, and local supportive services, including addiction resources, youth employment programs, and school-based resources.


Additional topics include sessions about affordable housing policies and how our regional network can support the efforts to increase deeply affordable housing in the Greater Richmond area.


Horne added, “The knowledge shared will empower homeless service agencies to work smarter, connect the dots, and maximize limited resources.”


For additional information about the Best Practices Conference, please email info@homewardva.org.


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 .

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