Staff Spotlight: Frances Marie Pugh

June 25, 2025

"In every aspect of homeless services, the principal question is always how decisions will impact someone who is currently experiencing homelessness."

Q: How did you get into homeless services as a field of work?

A: I started in homeless services as an AmeriCorps VISTA through Virginia Housing Alliance. My background is in economics, public policy, and direct service through volunteerism, so homeless services turned out to be an unexpectedly natural fit!


Q: What’s your job at Homeward and has it evolved since you first joined?

A: When I first started at Homeward, my role was a little bit of everything. I found my niche in writing coordinated funding applications and have helped our community secure an additional $3.8 million in competitive funds dedicated to homeless services. In my current role, I mostly focus on ways to improve the efficiency and efficacy of coordinated funds in our community, in addition to supporting our competitive funding competitions and grants administration.


Q: What are some parts of your job that you enjoy?

A: I most enjoy the opportunities that I have to be in-person with our partners! In my role, I see the system from a very different perspective than from those on the ground doing the work, so it’s incredibly valuable to me to learn from our partners and the amazing professionals who serve in contexts that I don’t normally see.


Q: Is there anything you wish more people knew or understood about homeless services as a field of work?

A: As a field of work, I wish that more people understood just how person-centered the work is. In every aspect of homeless services, the principal question is always how decisions will impact someone who is currently experiencing homelessness, especially in policy and funding decisions.


Q: What motivates you?

A: I am motivated by the knowledge that the work we do at Homeward makes a positive difference in the lives of our neighbors experiencing homelessness, both presently and in the future. I also am motivated by the hope that the work we do will not only reduce the total number of people experiencing homelessness in our region, but strengthen our community’s integrated safety net resources to respond when someone experiences a housing crisis at any level.

Cookies, Coordination, and a Path to Housing: How This Week’s Case Conferencing Took a Different Turn

By Jen Johnson • July 29, 2025
This past week, case conferencing looked a little different - and the impact was undeniable. As we navigate a year filled with uncertainty and change, our team wanted to try something more intentional and focused. Instead of our usual agenda, we decided to zoom in on the top 8 individuals who have been staying the longest in emergency shelter across our CoC. These are often the most complex cases, where progress can feel slow and housing solutions hard to find. But we believed that by rallying more intentionally around them, we might be able to move the needle.

When the System Comes Together: Supporting a Grandparent Through Crisis

By Jen Johnson • July 28, 2025
Sometimes, it’s the unexpected moments that reveal the strength of a system—and the compassion behind it.

Staff Spotlight: Terri Lawson

July 1, 2025
“I truly enjoy helping people navigate through different circumstances and creating a space for them to be seen and heard.”

Staff Spotlight: Vicki Wise

May 22, 2025
“Engaging with people and building community motives me.”

Compassion in Action: One MSW Student’s Experience in Homeless Services

By Elizabeth Handwerk • March 18, 2025
In honor of Social Work Month, we're highlighting Homeward's Coalition Support Intern and current MSW student, Ainsley Miller. We asked her about the connections she sees between social work and homeless services.

Homeward Releases Data from Winter Point in Time Count 2025

March 4, 2025
Homeward today released data from the January 2025 Point in Time (PIT) count, which shows that a significant number of individuals and families continue to experience homelessness in the Richmond region. Lack of housing and economic hardship remain persistent challenges and driving factors for the elevated rates of homelessness in Central Virginia. Additionally, it’s important to note that these numbers do not capture other regional residents who are unstably housed or worried about maintaining a roof over their head.

Statement from Homeward on Federal Funding Situation

January 29, 2025
As the designated planning agency for the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, our region’s coordinated network of homeless service providers, Homeward works closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We have been following recent developments related to federal funding for homeless programs. We are collaborating with local, state, and national partners to assess the implications for the people served by the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care and to ensure that there are no further disruptions to support proven solutions to homelessness in our region. Federal funding from HUD has been critical to our local network’s ability to help thousands of regional residents get on the pathway to a permanent home. This person-centered and compassionate work has tangible impacts in our communities. We will continue to monitor this situation closely, update our partners, and support this important work. To learn more about the vital role of HUD funding and its impact in our region, read this recent blog post .

Richmond Region Receives Over $9.3 Million in Federal Funds to Address Homelessness

January 27, 2025
Amount Includes Over $1.5 Million in New Project Funds

Ways to Help People Experiencing Homelessness This Holiday Season

By Elizabeth Handwerk • December 4, 2024
The holidays are a time of joy, gratitude, and celebration. It is also a time that the reality of homelessness becomes more visible, standing in sharp contrast to the season's twinkling lights and jolly tunes. Many of us are inspired to reflect on our blessings and find ways to support our more vulnerable neighbors, whether that be with our time or our resources. Here are just a few ways you can help this holiday season:

Homeward Supports Regional Application for Federal Funding

November 15, 2024
The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) – our region’s compassionate and coordinated network of 34 local, mission-driven agencies addressing homelessness – recently submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the regional coordinated application for federal funding. This application is important to our area because federal funding from HUD accounts for the majority of public dollars allocated for homeless services.