Homeward’s 2024 Gaps Analysis for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care Highlights Challenges and Strategies in Addressing Homelessness
October 15, 2024
As more and more people in our region face housing instability and are pushed into homelessness, the demand for homeless services is higher than ever before.
Homeward’s 2024 Gaps Analysis for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) highlights critical challenges and strategies in addressing homelessness. The rising cost of housing, exacerbated by the long-term affects of the pandemic, has intensified the crisis, pushing more people into homelessness.
Key recommendations include:
- Focus on deeply affordable housing for individuals earning less than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), the most vulnerable population.
- Align funding with GRCoC strategies, prioritizing emergency shelters and case management to improve transitions out of homelessness.
- Increase support for rapid rehousing programs, which have successfully housed 80% of participants.
- Expand Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units to meet growing demand.
- Encourage flexible funding and targeted prevention efforts to help individuals stay housed and avoid the trauma of homelessness.
Addressing these gaps is vital to ending homelessness and ensuring stability for Richmond’s most vulnerable.
Read the full Gaps Analysis here.
For more data on homelessness, see here.
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.
There is incredible compassionate collaboration that happens with trained street outreach professionals and Homeward - the dedicated planning agency for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) – each and every day, but especially on days with extreme weather.
Most of us have seen the weather reports for this weekend’s winter storm. Any accumulation, let alone what’s forecasted, is disruptive for everyone, especially our neighbors facing homelessness.
Later this month, Homeward will organize the Winter 2026 Point in Time (PIT) count for our region. The PIT count takes place annually and has been managed by Homeward since 1999.
“There are so many people who are one check or one job loss away from homelessness. We all need to be kind to each other.”
This holiday week, our community of partners proved once again that we do better work together.
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.
