The Power of Public Private Partnerships

Finding enduring solutions to homelessness is a challenging and complex process. The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) – our region’s collaborative and compassionate network of 34 mission-driven agencies supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness – has established a thorough system to research, identify, and implement proven solutions. Keeping individuals at the center of this process is crucial. GRCoC decisions are informed by the lived experience of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

A key component of the GRCoC’s strategy has been to leverage public private partnerships. Working together, public and private entities are able to maximize resources and help more people in need.

As the chair of the GRCoC Board of Directors and a community volunteer, I’ve seen these partnerships work firsthand. I am often asked how the public and private sectors collaborate when I talk about solutions to homelessness, so I thought it would be helpful to breakdown the importance of public private partnerships.

Let’s take a closer look at this form of collaboration and why it’s so powerful!

What Are Public Private Partnerships?

A public private partnership is a collaborative relationship between the public sector – i.e., government entities – and the private sector. Regarding public private partnerships to address homelessness in Central Virginia, these efforts are most often between local governments and nonprofit organizations with missions to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

What Role Do Local Governments Play?

Local governments play a critical role in how our region addresses homelessness, particularly through public private partnerships. Three roles come to mind immediately. First, elected officials serve as key advocates to lift up existing and proven community-based work. Second, they can shape public policy to reflect established best practices. Third, local governments are investors in community-based approaches to solving homelessness. By allocating public funds, local governments align their priorities with the deep expertise at the GRCoC. Local governments can make long-term investments that support the dignity of all their constituents.

What’s a Recent Example?

On December 12, 2022, the Richmond City Council formally approved an ordinance that included a $1,000,000 allocation to Homeward on behalf of the GRCoC. This funding will support homelessness services and was the result of months of collaboration between City leaders, Homeward, and GRCoC members. The money will specifically address the needs of individuals and families in the City of Richmond who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Any organization that wants to access these funds must demonstrate that their project will reduce unsheltered homelessness for City residents. Proposals are submitted to the GRCoC Ranking Committee for initial review. That ranking review

includes GRCoC members, Homeward staff, and representatives from the City. Funding allocation is endorsed by the Ranking Committee and submitted to the GRCoC Board of Directors for approval. This process ensures a community-led review that prioritizes lived experience and requires proposals to clearly demonstrate a path to success. Some of the types of programs that are likely to be funded include housing-focused case management, outreach, and emergency shelter operations. Thanks to the City of Richmond’s investment in the GRCoC its residents will have access to more high-quality services that create a path to a safe and stable home.

How Can I Help?

We always welcome individuals to help us advocate for and support our region’s most vulnerable neighbors. There are three ways you can help today:

1. Support Public Private Partnerships: Contact your City Council member or County Supervisor and tell them that you support more public resources to address homelessness. You also can tell them that you want to see increased support for high quality providers that are committed to utilizing best practices to address homelessness.

2. Educate Yourself about Solutions to Homelessness: We appreciate your interest in supporting our region’s efforts to solve homelessness and encourage you to learn more about proven programs that work. The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care website has a lot of great info. You also can check out the Fast Facts – PHA (pharva.com) on housing instability in our region. Be sure to share what you’ve learned with others!

3. Donate and Help: If you’re moved to donate your time and resources or want to identify additional ways to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, Homeward’s website has a great resource to give help.