Housing Is the "EpiPen" for Homelessness — But We Need Enough of Them
August 18, 2025
Housing works. We just don’t have enough.
In a recent Urban Institute article, experts caution that while calling in the National Guard might seem like decisive action against homelessness in Washington, D.C., it doesn’t address the root problem: a lack of housing resources.
The piece uses a striking and creative analogy:
One would not assert that EpiPens don’t save people from allergic reactions if a hospital only had five EpiPens but 25 people experiencing an allergic reaction.
The same is true for homelessness. We know that getting people into housing is a proven, life-saving intervention. But when there’s far less available housing than people in need, the solution can’t reach everyone.
The takeaway is clear: rather than relying on temporary stopgaps, our communities must invest in more permanent housing solutions and supportive services. With enough resources, we can ensure that everyone who needs “the EpiPen” of housing actually receives it.
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.
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.
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 – 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.
"Homeward is there to bring all the different pieces of homeless services together. "
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.
“It is rewarding and meaningful to know that accurate data directly impacts planning and service delivery for people experiencing homelessness.”
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.
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.
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.
