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. 

More than 200 attendees, including public and private partners, are expected to gather to learn together and recognize the collective impact of our region’s coordinated response to homelessness. 

 

This year’s conference theme is Adaptive Collaboration, which highlights the innovative ways that homeless service providers align their efforts to maximize resources and serve more people. 

 

As the demand for homeless services rises, our regional network of providers continues to deliver proven programs. Homeward data shows that GRCoC agencies served 5,538 individuals between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. 

 

“Homeward’s regional Best Practices Conference brings together homeless services professionals to share critical insights and learn from one another so that our coordinated and compassionate network can serve more people,” said Kelly King Horne, Chief Executive Officer with Homeward. “As we focus on adaptive collaboration, this event offers an opportunity to highlight the impressive work of homeless service providers. GRCoC agencies support thousands of our most vulnerable neighbors.” 

 

The conference brings together homeless service providers, funders, community leaders, advocates, and others. Workshops will focus on sharing strategies to solve homelessness on a client, organization, and community level. Session topics range from collaborating with faith communities to serving veterans to sheltering the medically vulnerable to applying AI tools to homeless services. 

 

A keynote luncheon panel will focus on shaping the future of homeless services in our region. The panel will feature Kristen Dahlman, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia; Brian Koziol, Executive Director of the Virginia Housing Alliance; and Reggie Gordon, President and CEO of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation.  

 

Homeward’s 2026 Best Practices Conference is sponsored by Wells Fargo, Virginia Housing, Davenport, Virginia Credit Union, VCDC, and Humana. 

 

Additional information about the Best Practices Conference is available online: https://www.homewardva.org/conference. 


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