Richmond Region Receives Over $4.4 Million Federal Grant to Address Youth Homelessness

“Placing young people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing can change the trajectory of their lives,” said Secretary Marcia L. Fudge in a press release issued from HUD. “With this funding, HUD is targeting federal resources to meet local needs and support community-driven efforts to end youth homelessness and improve outcomes through stable housing and services.”

HUD representatives announced the grant award this morning at Homeward’s office in the City of Richmond. The announcement was one of three national events that HUD held to release details about this year’s grant recipients. 

Homeward led the application development and submission as the GRCoC’s coordinating agency. Additional partners who supported the application include Commonwealth Catholic Charities, St. Joseph’s Villa, Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, GRCoC Youth Action Board, Counties of Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield Departments of Social Services, and the City of Richmond Department of Social Services.

“This grant award highlights the important work that the GRCoC and our partners have done to conduct meaningful engagement with youth and young adults in our region,” said Frances Marie Pugh, Special Projects Manager with Homeward. “This has been a collaborative process with a wide array of community partners and these additional funds will transform our ability to serve youth experiencing homelessness.”

This award marks the first time that the Richmond region received dedicated youth funding from HUD. The GRCoC was also the only group in Virginia to receive a grant this year. YHDP funding supports selected communities in the development and execution of a coordinated approach to prevent and end youth homelessness. As defined by the program, the population served by YHDP funds is youth experiencing homelessness, including unaccompanied youth as well as pregnant or parenting youth. 

“As a young person with lived experience of homelessness, I’m thrilled that our region has been selected for this grant and that the youth perspective will be a central part of this work,” said Shiloh Tillman, a member of the GRCoC Youth Action Board.

As part of the YHDP funding, Homeward will coordinate a community-led planning process to identify the needs of youth experiencing homelessness in the Richmond region. A community plan will be developed and submitted to HUD. Once approved by HUD, funding will be used to support programs that address youth needs outlined in the regional plan. 

“This significant federal funding is a game changer for our region,” added Kelly King Horne, Executive Director with Homeward. “These resources will help our system expand its capacity to serve more youth. Importantly, youth voices and those with lived experience will inform our regional plan.”

Additional information about the GRCoC and community-based efforts to reduce homelessness, including an application to join the GRCoC, is available at endhomelessnessrva.org.