Before the Babies Arrive: A Holiday Story of Collaboration
Jen Johnson • December 23, 2025
This holiday week, our community of partners proved once again that we do better work together.
One of the core components of our coordinated efforts at Homeward is “case conferencing.” During case conferencing, Homeward staff work with providers from across the community to address the needs of households experiencing homelessness and collaborate to meet their housing and service needs.
During this week’s Family Case Conferencing, we learned about a couple pregnant with twins and scheduled for induction after the holidays. In discussion, the partners identified an available shelter that could accommodate this growing family.
With partners working together, we were able to talk with the family, find transportation, and get them safely into shelter just in time for the holidays, and before their babies arrive.
Tonight, this family has a warm place to rest, supportive shelter staff, nourishing food, and the peace of mind to prepare for their next chapter together.
This is what collaboration looks like. We are deeply grateful for every partner and the generous community supporters who helped make this moment possible.
After more than 20 incredible years with Homeward, Melanie McDonald embarks on a well-earned retirement.
As the Richmond region continues to become a more expensive place to call home, we see elevated rates of poverty, housing instability, and homelessness.
The Richmond region got its first blast of winter recently. As the winter season approaches, we all brace for cold days and colder nights. Winter is always an especially difficult time for our neighbors pushed into homelessness. Homeward staff have been working diligently with Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) partners to prepare for the additional challenges that come with cold weather.
As we recognize Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from November 16th – 22nd, we’re reminded of the important role that emergency shelters play in our region’s coordinated and collaborative response to homelessness. In fact, many people are often surprised to learn how many emergency shelters operate throughout our region and the number of meals they provide.
Act Now to Preserve Critical CoC Federal Funding
At Homeward, we believe that all people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, especially individuals and families experiencing homelessness. They are our neighbors and members of our community. We all face varying levels of crisis and hardship throughout our lives, some of us more than others.
Housing works. We just don’t have enough.
This past week, case conferencing looked a little different - and the impact was undeniable. As we navigate a year filled with uncertainty and change, our team wanted to try something more intentional and focused. Instead of our usual agenda, we decided to zoom in on the top 8 individuals who have been staying the longest in emergency shelter across our CoC. These are often the most complex cases, where progress can feel slow and housing solutions hard to find. But we believed that by rallying more intentionally around them, we might be able to move the needle.
Sometimes, it’s the unexpected moments that reveal the strength of a system—and the compassion behind it.
“I truly enjoy helping people navigate through different circumstances and creating a space for them to be seen and heard.”
