Addressing Homelessness during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Homeward • Apr 03, 2020
Together, we are stronger.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in our region, all of us face new challenges and uncertainty. People experiencing homelessness are among our most vulnerable neighbors and need our assistance. Fortunately, Homeward and our extensive network of partners in the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) have been working tirelessly in recent weeks to find support and shelter for people who have been sleeping outside in crowded conditions and supporting an additional 330 people experiencing homelessness in shelters in Central Virginia. Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, we prioritized assistance for those experiencing homelessness who lived in close proximity to another and those not connected to the coordinated network of service and professional resources. Today’s announcement from the Governor offers additional support for this effort and will allow our community to continue to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors during this time. See the announcement here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/april/headline-855925-en.html
This response is targeted to people who have been or are unsheltered and at great risk during the public health crisis. If someone is in within three days of losing housing, or if they are already without housing, they should contact the Homeless Crisis Line (804-972-0813) to talk with someone about connecting to homeless services and other community resources. Calls to the Homeless Crisis Line are being handled remotely and people may need to leave a message to receive a call back. We understand that the pandemic situation is causing economic and housing crises for many people, and the regional network of homeless service providers are doing all that we can to increase safe shelter and case management resources for our neighbors in crisis. We will continue to provide updates as new resources come online. We encourage all of you to share resources and opportunities at info@homewardva.org. Together, we are stronger.
Richmond, VA – May 1, 2024 – 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, May 3, 2024 at The Westin Richmond hotel in Henrico County.
From experiencing homelessness himself to now helping others who are going through similar crises, Choice East brings invaluable empathy and insight to his work at Homeward.
The last week of February, Homeward hosted a series of learning opportunities in a Best Practices in Youth Services Summit. Over two days, GRCoC partners, YAB members, and TA support staff delved into the core competency topics of youth services, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), prioritizing joy for young people, and federal grant regulations.
Unsheltered Homelessness Continues to Rise as Housing Instability Remains a Top Regional Issue.
This post is part of a series that explores the ways in which the Richmond region addresses homelessness and provides context on how our collaborative and regional network operates. You can access other posts in this series on Access Versus Resources , Funding by The Numbers , and Keys to Helping More People .
This post is part of a series that explores the ways in which the Richmond region addresses homelessness and provides context on how our collaborative and regional network operates. You can access other posts in this series on Access Versus Resources , Funding by The Numbers , and Supporting Frontline Staff .
This post is part of a series that explores the ways in which the Richmond region addresses homelessness and provides context on how our collaborative and regional network operates. You can access other posts in this series on Access Versus Resources , Keys to Helping More People , and Supporting Frontline Staff .
This post is part of a series that explores the ways in which the Richmond region addresses homelessness and provides context on how our collaborative and regional network operates. You can access other posts in this series on Funding by The Numbers , Keys to Helping More People , and Supporting Frontline Staff.
Collecting reliable and consistent regional data about individuals and families experiencing homelessness is crucial in building an effective community-wide response.
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.
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end homelessness.
Useful Links
Contact info
info@homewardva.org
If you are within 3 days of losing housing, call The Homeless Connection Line: 804-972-0831 . If you are more than 3 days away from losing housing, call The Housing Resource Line: 804-422-5061