Preparing for This Weekend's Winter Storm
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.
That’s why Homeward’s team has been working with homeless service providers in our region to coordinate efforts and help the most people.
Our collaborative and compassionate system of homeless service providers works daily to serve as many people as possible and that urgency becomes even more acute as extreme weather approaches.
What Homeward is Doing
Homeward’s team is working with our partners in the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care – our region’s network of local homeless service providers – and other community partners to coordinate preparation in advance of the winter weather and a response for after the storm. Among our efforts:
· Communicating with network providers, especially street outreach teams, to identify what’s needed
· Using existing interagency meetings to quickly collaborate and coordinate among service providers and partners
· Ensure that emergency shelters are doing as many program intakes in advance of the storm as space and staffing allow
· Soliciting and collecting donations for those experiencing homelessness
How You Can Help
We appreciate the calls and emails from individuals, churches, and other groups asking what they can do. We invite members of the Greater Richmond community to join us as we prepare for this extreme winter weather. You can help with the following:
· Purchase items from this Amazon Wish List to provide supplies for those experiencing homelessness. Homeward will collect and distribute these supplies to our outreach and shelter partners.
· Donate items to Homeward, including gift cards for food and gas stations.
· Donate to homeless service agencies in our region.
· If you or someone you know needs help but isn’t yet homeless, contact Help 1 RVA, Senior Navigator, a local Department of Social Services office (Richmond DSS, Henrico DSS, Chesterfield DSS), NAMI Central Virginia, or Virginia 211.
We know that the need for homeless services and housing support far outpaces the capacity and resources in our region. Intentional and consistent coordination helps us have a bigger impact as a region. Working together, we can support our neighbors experiencing homelessness during this dangerous and extreme weather.
