Statement on Homelessness

October 6, 2025

At Homeward, we believe that all people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, especially individuals and families experiencing homelessness. They are our neighbors and members of our community. We all face varying levels of crisis and hardship throughout our lives, some of us more than others.

Individuals and families pushed into homelessness are trying their best to navigate trauma and a housing crisis. Our response as a community should be to support and empower them. As human beings, everyone has inherent value and dignity.


Homelessness is traumatic, and we should acknowledge and respect the resilience needed to transition from experiencing homelessness to a safe, stable, and permanent home.


Building pathways to permanent homes can be challenging. Fortunately, there are a great many homeless service providers, social workers, and others who make an impact every day. These dedicated professionals work tirelessly to support the individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability. These frontline workers provide comfort, guidance, and support.


We know how to solve homelessness in our region. There are a number of programs with proven track records of success in moving people from homelessness to safe and stable homes. These programs work, but we need additional investments in these solutions, including more housing and supports, such as job training and housing or financial counseling.


You can help by supporting local nonprofits that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our region: https://www.homewardva.org/our-partners.

Building the CASE to Solve Homelessness: Reflections from Our First In-Person CASE Session

By Jen Johnson • June 10, 2026
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.

Intern Spotlight: Rayne Nappier

June 2, 2026
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.

Moving from Good Intentions to Real Impact: 5 Ways Our Community Can Address Homelessness

By Kelly King Horne • May 28, 2026
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 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.

Staff Spotlight: Pam Kirby

By Elizabeth Handwerk • April 7, 2026
"Homeward is there to bring all the different pieces of homeless services together. "

Homeward Releases Data about Homelessness in the Richmond Region Based on the January 2026 Point in Time Count

March 19, 2026
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.

Staff Spotlight: Kavita Tiwari

By Elizabeth Handwerk • March 17, 2026
“It is rewarding and meaningful to know that accurate data directly impacts planning and service delivery for people experiencing homelessness.”

Community Collaboration in Action

February 27, 2026
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.

Current Homeless Services Programs Are Making a Difference

February 18, 2026
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.

Collective Action Works

February 11, 2026
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.