Addressing Homelessness: Funding by The Numbers
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.
Our region has underfunded homeless services for decades. As economic and housing instability has grown in recent years, that lack of funding becomes more and more evident.
So, how does our region fund homeless services?
Through a combination of private donations and public funding. The vast majority of the public money comes from the federal government. Those funds may flow through state and/or local governments but it originates at the federal level and is dictated by federal guidelines.
Since 2007, our region has been able to access tens of millions of dollars in federal Continuum of Care funding to support permanent housing programs that serve over 700 people each and every day in our region.
Historically, local governments’ direct funding of homeless services has been less than 1 percent of the money secured to serve individuals and family experiencing homelessness.
The end of additional pandemic era funding from the federal government and the wind down of both state and federal support programs (such as state rental assistance and eviction diversion) have created even larger gaps in the resources needed.
It’s important to recognize that localities have begun to dedicate more money to homeless services, which we support. However, those funds aren’t nearly enough to address the current need.
