Collective Action Works

February 11, 2026

We often get questions about how people can help support the work of Homeward and homeless service providers in the Richmond region. One way we to help is talking to your elected representatives about the important work taking place and the need to fund proven, successful programs.

Collective action may seem like a small step, but it truly works! Lifting more and more voices to support our most vulnerable neighbors makes a difference. The final spending bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) programs – which passed Congress and was signed this week by the president – proves that. The final T-HUD bill provides over $77 billion for HUD programs and represents a $7.2 billion increase over the previous fiscal year. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has a great summary of the approved funding and what it means.


Importantly, this bill included provisions to protect CoC Program funding, which was under real and direct threat. We raised an alarm about this threat in October and encouraged people to contact their representatives and senators. Those calls and emails had an impact.


This outcome is a great reminder that collective action works. When we unite, we can make a difference!

Building the CASE to Solve Homelessness: Reflections from Our First In-Person CASE Session

By Jen Johnson • June 10, 2026
Earlier this week, Homeward held the first-ever in-person Collaborative Agency Support Exchange (CASE) session, bringing together homeless service providers, healthcare partners, outreach teams, local governments, and community organizations from across the region.

Intern Spotlight: Rayne Nappier

June 2, 2026
Rayne is a MSW student at VCU's School of Social Work and this year's Coalition Support Intern at Homeward. We asked for her perspective on the connections between social work and homeless services now that she's been with us for a few months.

Moving from Good Intentions to Real Impact: 5 Ways Our Community Can Address Homelessness

By Kelly King Horne • May 28, 2026
Iain De Jong of Org Code Consulting shared a video today “Want to help with homelessness? Do this. Not that.” This is one of the best summaries of how all of us can be a part of addressing the homelessness crisis in our community. The video is only 7 minutes, and Iain is always worth listening to but here is my summary of what touched me.

Homeward to Host Best Practices Conference for Homeless Service Agencies and Partners

April 28, 2026
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 the 2026 Best Practices Conference on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the DoubleTree Richmond-Midlothian hotel in Chesterfield County.

Staff Spotlight: Pam Kirby

By Elizabeth Handwerk • April 7, 2026
"Homeward is there to bring all the different pieces of homeless services together. "

Homeward Releases Data about Homelessness in the Richmond Region Based on the January 2026 Point in Time Count

March 19, 2026
Data from the January 2026 Point in Time (PIT) count show that homelessness in the Richmond region remained relatively steady. The January 2026 PIT count recorded 618 people experiencing homelessness, which is slightly lower than the January 2025 count that recorded 660 people experiencing homelessness.

Staff Spotlight: Kavita Tiwari

By Elizabeth Handwerk • March 17, 2026
“It is rewarding and meaningful to know that accurate data directly impacts planning and service delivery for people experiencing homelessness.”

Community Collaboration in Action

February 27, 2026
As the planning and coordinating agency of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC), Homeward staff members work closely with local leaders and community members in participating jurisdictions across our region. Greater Richmond is a diverse area and our localities range from urban to suburban to rural. The needs of those communities differ as well.

Current Homeless Services Programs Are Making a Difference

February 18, 2026
As housing instability and the cost of living continue to rise nationally, and especially in the Richmond region, we’ve seen increased pressure on homeless services. These larger economic forces push more people to the brink of homelessness and add further strain to our current support network for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Data with Purpose: Celebrating Margot Ackermann’s Retirement from Homeward

By Elizabeth Handwerk • January 30, 2026
After nearly two decades of dedicated service and impact on efforts to solve homelessness in the Richmond region, Margot Ackermann, Ph.D. is retiring from her role as Director of Research and Evaluation at Homeward . While we will deeply miss her leadership, compassion, and institutional knowledge, we also celebrate the legacy she leaves behind: one that has strengthened our community, shaped data-driven practice, and inspired countless colleagues and partners.